Inspired by the Frecce Tricolori watch that Breitling created for the hotshots of the Italian Air Force’s aerobatic fleet in 1983, the Super Chronomat is a supercharged, all-purpose sports watch that’s elegant enough for the evening as well. True to the original Chronomat, the rider tabs protect the sapphire crystal. The ones at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock are interchangeable, so the wearer can use them for countdowns as well as count-ups. With a case measuring 44 mm in diameter, the Super Chronomat collection is the boldest of its kind.
Key new features include a stainless steel bezel with a ceramic insert —a first on a Chronomat— plus the choice of a Rouleaux-inspired rubber strap or the iconic metal one with a butterfly clasp. The new rubber strap is created with state-of-the-art injection molding techniques. Its three distinct textures —matte, slick, and woven- giving it a very distinctive look.
The Super Chronomat B01 44 comes in three versions. Two are encased in stainless steel with blue or black dial-and-bezel combinations. The third is a rich brown dial-and-bezel combination with a case in 18K red gold. All feature contrasting silver chronograph counters powered by the COSC-certified Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, which provides about 70 hours of power reserve. This Super Chronomat is water-resistant up to 200 meters.
For those wanting something extra special, there’s a black dial version with a UTC module embedded in a Rouleaux bracelet. Referring to Universal Time Coordinated, this provides a way to keep track of a second time zone and is a quirky Breitling feature dating back to the 1980s.
As its name implies, the Breitling Super Chronomat 44 Four-Year Calendar has a semi-perpetual calendar mechanism that needs adjusting just once every leap year —or every 1461 days. It comes in two versions: a black dial with tone-on-tone chronograph counters, a stainless-steel bezel with a black ceramic bezel insert, and 18K red gold elements, or a blue dial featuring tone-on-tone chronograph counters and a bezel in 18 k red gold with a blue ceramic insert. Water-resistant up to 100 meters, this timepiece is powered by the Breitling Calibre 19, a COSC-certified chronograph movement with a semi-perpetual calendar with day, date, month, and moon phase indicators.
When Breitling introduced its Chronomat in 1984, it signified the comeback of mechanical Swiss timepieces after quartz watches had dominated the market throughout the 1970s. The impressive new mechanical watch proved to be a winner —challenging its skinny quartz rivals with its bold proportions and becoming an icon of its era. The Chronomat also helped Breitling celebrate its centenary in style, marking the return of the mechanical chronograph on which the brand had built its global reputation. This technical legacy, combined with particularly stylish design codes, made the Chronomat the ultimate sport-chic watch of its time.
Today, it’s doing it again for everyday superheroes in pursuit of the next great adventure. The new Breitling Super Chronomat B01 44 Chronographs are powered by the Breitling Manufacture Calibre 01 with a column-wheel mechanism, vertical clutch, 1/4th second, 30-minute, and 12-hour counters. This automatic movement provides a power reserve of 70 hours while beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph.
Sticker Price $8,500 USD for Super Chronomat B01 44 on a strap, $10,000 USD for B01 44 on a stainless steel Rouleaux bracelet with UTC module, $14,600 USD for Super Chronomat 44 Four-Year Calendar on a strap, $17,250 USD for Super Chronomat 44 Four-Year Calendar on two-tone Rouleaux bracelet, and $23,650 USD for 18K red gold model on a strap. For more info on Breitling click here.
