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All the watch news, reviews, videos you want, brought to you from fellow collectors
In the 1980s, the Breitling Chronomat was created for the Italian Air Force aerobatic squadron, the Frecce Tricolori. It gained immense appreciation for being a high-performance mechanical instrument capable of withstanding extreme forces while maintaining a strong visual presence beyond aviation use. Over time, it evolved from a professional pilot’s chronograph into one of Breitling’s most recognisable sports watches. The brand has now introduced a new series of the Chronomat, with subtle yet significant refinements aimed at improving wearability, ergonomics, and integration without altering the model’s core identity. For this novelty, Breitling has launched the “Feel the Detail” campaign, featuring ambassadors like American actor Austin Butler, Nigerian-Greek basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland.
Austin Butler
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Erling Haaland
It was during the height of the quartz crisis, in 1983, shortly after Ernest Schneider acquired Breitling, that the Chronomat was conceived. Schneider, himself a pilot, collaborated with the Frecce Tricolori to create a robust analogue chronograph that could function reliably in the cockpit while remaining refined enough for formal wear. At a time when quartz watches dominated the market, Breitling chose to develop a mechanical chronograph with dive-watch capability and resistance to forces reaching an astonishing 20G – significantly beyond the approximate 7G forces tolerable by the human body. The watch combined professional functionality with a bold aesthetic, featuring rider tabs and a Rouleaux bracelet, which remain central to the Chronomat identity today.
A year later, in 1984, the Chronomat was released to mark Breitling’s centenary, and it quickly became a commercial success, particularly in Italy under distributor Gino Macaluso. Its popularity spread internationally throughout the 1990s, appearing prominently in American television series such as Friends and Seinfeld and gaining visibility within Japanese pop culture through the manga Kaiji. The timepiece had high-profile wearers such as Gordon Ramsay, Bernard Tapie, and Jean-Paul Belmondo. American Vogue eventually referred to it as “the great new watch for the nineties.”
Chronomat B01 42
For the 2026 editions, three models in different materials and colour combinations have been launched – Chronomat B01 42, Chronomat Automatic B31 40, and Chronomat Automatic 36. There are stainless steel, two-tone steel-and-gold variants, as well as full-gold variants, and the colour palette includes white, green, blue, anthracite, ice blue, and brown dials. The ice-blue versions retain the brand’s signature platinum bezel configuration.
Chronomat Automatic B31 40
Breitling has streamlined the overall architecture of the watches while improving comfort and integration. The watches now come with a fully integrated bracelet instead of the earlier semi-integrated one. Nevertheless, Breitling has allowed alternative straps to remain compatible by concealing the lugs behind the case. This practical solution is rarely seen on integrated-bracelet sports watches.
Chronomat Automatic 36
The signature Rouleaux bracelet has also been updated on steel and two-tone models with a new micro-adjustment system integrated into the concealed butterfly clasp. This allows the bracelet to be extended by one link on each side while still being worn, enabling quick adaptation to wrist expansion caused by pressure changes during flight. On the chronograph models, the bezel construction has also been simplified; previously composed of 18 separate components, the bezel ring, insert, rider tabs, and screws are now integrated into a single-piece assembly.
The Chronomat B01 42 remains the flagship chronograph model within the lineup. Its case thickness has been reduced from 15.1 mm to 13.77 mm. The 1/100 scale from the rehaut has been removed, simplifying the dial layout and improving legibility. The crown guards have also been reduced in size, making winding and setting more comfortable. The watch is powered by the COSC-certified Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 automatic chronograph movement, offering a 70-hour power reserve.
The Chronomat Automatic B31 40 marks the first appearance of a simple time-and-date Chronomat, offered in a 40 mm case with a slim 10.99 mm profile. Also a first, Breitling’s new in-house COSC-certified B31 automatic movement powers a Chronomat watch, delivering a 78-hour power reserve.
The Chronomat Automatic 36 has likewise been refined, with the case thickness reduced from 10.01 mm to 9.68 mm. Adding jewellery-oriented interpretations to the collection, this 36 mm timepiece offers natural mother-of-pearl dials and gem-set bezels. It is powered by the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 10, based on a Sellita automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.
Images: Courtesy Breitling
In the 1980s, the Breitling Chronomat was created for the Italian Air Force aerobatic squadron, the Frecce Tricolori. It gained immense appreciation for being a high-performance mechanical instrument capable of withstanding extreme forces while maintaining a strong visual presence beyond aviation use. Over time, it evolved from a professional pilot’s chronograph into one of Breitling’s most recognisable sports watches. The brand has now introduced a new series of the Chronomat, with subtle yet significant refinements aimed at improving wearability, ergonomics, and integration without altering the model’s core identity. For this novelty, Breitling has launched the “Feel the Detail” campaign, featuring ambassadors like American actor Austin Butler, Nigerian-Greek basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland.
Austin Butler
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Erling Haaland
It was during the height of the quartz crisis, in 1983, shortly after Ernest Schneider acquired Breitling, that the Chronomat was conceived. Schneider, himself a pilot, collaborated with the Frecce Tricolori to create a robust analogue chronograph that could function reliably in the cockpit while remaining refined enough for formal wear. At a time when quartz watches dominated the market, Breitling chose to develop a mechanical chronograph with dive-watch capability and resistance to forces reaching an astonishing 20G – significantly beyond the approximate 7G forces tolerable by the human body. The watch combined professional functionality with a bold aesthetic, featuring rider tabs and a Rouleaux bracelet, which remain central to the Chronomat identity today.
A year later, in 1984, the Chronomat was released to mark Breitling’s centenary, and it quickly became a commercial success, particularly in Italy under distributor Gino Macaluso. Its popularity spread internationally throughout the 1990s, appearing prominently in American television series such as Friends and Seinfeld and gaining visibility within Japanese pop culture through the manga Kaiji. The timepiece had high-profile wearers such as Gordon Ramsay, Bernard Tapie, and Jean-Paul Belmondo. American Vogue eventually referred to it as “the great new watch for the nineties.”
Chronomat B01 42
For the 2026 editions, three models in different materials and colour combinations have been launched – Chronomat B01 42, Chronomat Automatic B31 40, and Chronomat Automatic 36. There are stainless steel, two-tone steel-and-gold variants, as well as full-gold variants, and the colour palette includes white, green, blue, anthracite, ice blue, and brown dials. The ice-blue versions retain the brand’s signature platinum bezel configuration.
Chronomat Automatic B31 40
Breitling has streamlined the overall architecture of the watches while improving comfort and integration. The watches now come with a fully integrated bracelet instead of the earlier semi-integrated one. Nevertheless, Breitling has allowed alternative straps to remain compatible by concealing the lugs behind the case. This practical solution is rarely seen on integrated-bracelet sports watches.
Chronomat Automatic 36
The signature Rouleaux bracelet has also been updated on steel and two-tone models with a new micro-adjustment system integrated into the concealed butterfly clasp. This allows the bracelet to be extended by one link on each side while still being worn, enabling quick adaptation to wrist expansion caused by pressure changes during flight. On the chronograph models, the bezel construction has also been simplified; previously composed of 18 separate components, the bezel ring, insert, rider tabs, and screws are now integrated into a single-piece assembly.
The Chronomat B01 42 remains the flagship chronograph model within the lineup. Its case thickness has been reduced from 15.1 mm to 13.77 mm. The 1/100 scale from the rehaut has been removed, simplifying the dial layout and improving legibility. The crown guards have also been reduced in size, making winding and setting more comfortable. The watch is powered by the COSC-certified Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 automatic chronograph movement, offering a 70-hour power reserve.
The Chronomat Automatic B31 40 marks the first appearance of a simple time-and-date Chronomat, offered in a 40 mm case with a slim 10.99 mm profile. Also a first, Breitling’s new in-house COSC-certified B31 automatic movement powers a Chronomat watch, delivering a 78-hour power reserve.
The Chronomat Automatic 36 has likewise been refined, with the case thickness reduced from 10.01 mm to 9.68 mm. Adding jewellery-oriented interpretations to the collection, this 36 mm timepiece offers natural mother-of-pearl dials and gem-set bezels. It is powered by the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 10, based on a Sellita automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.
Images: Courtesy Breitling
