Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter Titanium

Last week, I bought a 2024 Breitling Aeropsace. In some respect, it was a bit of an impulse buy. A friend, who was helping a retired veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces move a few watches, sent me the pics. Less than forty-eight hours later it was in the mail, destined for my front doorstep. However, looked at from another perspective, it was a quick decision made after months of scouring the Internet, “window shopping.” I moved a few of my own watches recently to gather funds and make way for a birthday purchase. I was more than prepared to make a move. I just didn’t know what the move was. I won’t bore you with the details of my browsing history, or the candidates at the top of my list. What I will tell you is that the Breitling wasn’t among them. In short, serendipity stepped in. A week before I was presented with the Aerospace, I listened to Episode 178 of The Grey NATO podcast (The Breitling Challenge). Toward the end of the show, a brief exchange concerning the Breitling Aeropsace took place, where co-host James Stacey lamented the sale of his early 40mm model. This got me thinking about the Breitling Aerospace ads I used to ogle in my teenage years—images of pilots in full flight suits, anonymously helmeted heads behind reflective goggles, a wing tip over their shoulders against hazy, pale blue horizons. The Aerospace was released in 1985 just before the movie Top Gun hit screens around the world. Although Cruise wore a Porsche Design by Orfina in the film, images of Breiltlings and fighter pilots are invariably jumbled together with my memory of the cocky Maverick (and, admittedly, the lovely Kelley McGillis).

I know how badly my thirteen-year-old self wanted to be a pilot at that brief moment in time, if only to be cool. Don’t we all long to be cool at thirteen? The Breitling Aeropsace is a staple in Breitling’s Professional Series. These are among the brand’s toughest, hard-wearing models, designed to perform in the field. As such, the Aerospace is not just a nod to the pilot watch aesthetic. It is a watch built for pilots. Dozens of air-squadron specific limited editions attest to its heritage, from the RAF Gulf War Combat Air Wings, to the F16 Falcon Pilots, and the Royal Navy Air Rescue, to name but a few. Originally, upon launch, the watch was called the “Navitimer Aerospace.” However, unlike its iconic namesake, the Aerospace was Breitling’s first dedicated quartz-powered pilot. The ana-digi display was quintessential 80s. The Calibre B56 offered the added benefit of a digital second time zone, a chronograph function, and a perpetual calendar. The watch, built from titanium even then, measured 40mm in diameter, and came in just over 9mm thick. It had a unidirectional, rotating bezel and a hardened mineral crystal. This early model offered only 30m of water resistance, however.

A decade later, in 1996, the movement was upgraded to the Calibre B65. The crystal became sapphire, and water resistance was bumped up to 100m. In 2001, again, the movement was improved to the Calibre B75. During these years, there were also small changes in dial fonts and labeling. However, the watch remained largely true to its initial design in size and aesthetics right up to 2004. The greatest innovation in the Breitling Aerospace line came between 2005 and 2007, when for a brief period the watch added the term “Avantage” to its name. Breitling introduced its Calibre B79 at this time—a movement it uses to this day in the latest iteration of the Aerospace, known as the EVO. The movement offers a gamut of functions, including a chronograph, GMT, countdown timer, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, backlight, and alarm. More importantly, the B79–based on the ETA 988.352—is thermo-compensated to resist changes in temperature. Breitling refer to it as SuperQuartz.

It is COSC chronometer certified and officially accurate to within ten seconds a year. Anecdotally, however, the watch often outperforms its own specs. This makes the B79 up ten times more accurate than a regular quartz movement. At the moment, only radio-controlled watches can outperform thermo-compensated quartz; however, this is not because of the movements’ superior quality, but rather because radio-controlled watches make periodic adjustments through communication with a better clock elsewhere.

The digital count adjustment method used by the B79, therefore, is a minor miracle of engineering—especially given that it was devised more than a decade ago. Today, only a handful of calibres, like the Citizen A660, lay claim to better accuracy. The 2007 Breitling Aerospace, and the models after it until 2013, grew to 42mm in diameter. It also thickened somewhat to 10.4mm. However, because of its titanium construction, it remained under 38g. The model I own (E79362), even with its slash-cut titanium bracelet weighs in at a mere 84g. To put that into perspective, my SPB143 and Aquastar Deepstar—when on their bracelets—tip the scales at 161g and 180g, respectively. By comparison, the Breitling Aerospace feels like you are wearing air. It should also be noted that even at its increased dimensions, the watch remains 4mm thinner than the two aforementioned divers. The svelte case of the Breitling Aeropsace , coupled with the ease and accuracy of its quartz movement, make for an ideal daily wearer. I haven’t taken it off but to sleep since I received it. And that includes my workouts at the gym. I have no doubt—having another titanium watch in my stable already—that the Aerospace will be more than capable of taking a knock or two. As for its functionality, the entire watch is run from its crown. A simple push activates the minute repeater. A quick spin in either direction changes it from mode to mode. A slower rotation activates the backlight. One push to start the chronograph, another to stop. Hold it down for a reset. I have the GMT set to Melbourne, where my sister lives. The alarm goes off at 5am…and you can’t miss it. Additionally, the rehaut has an easily legible 24-hour scale, should you need it. I like the ratcheting bezel, as well. It’s not the hard snap of a Seiko diver, but it does have 120 solid clicks. With 100m of water resistance, and a healthy dose of Super-LumiNova on both its hands and indices, the Aerospace could easily pull double-duty as a skin diver. But the crystal…well, I have never seen AR like this. From most angles you would swear there was no sapphire glass at all. Breitling outline the process behind their crystal manufacturing on their website in a detailed article. In it, they claim their double-sided “glareproofing” eliminates 99% of all reflections. I don’t know how this is measured, but I believe it. In terms of styling, there is no doubt that with the exception of the 4 applied block numerals (an improvement over earlier fonts, IMO), the timepiece still speaks very much an eighties language. The bold, knobby bezel grip points, the brash dial markings, and the assertive logo all have an in-your-face quality. Admittedly, this is not for everyone. Like the continued ana-digi display, these design cues are an acquired taste—an odd jumble of elements that are at once retro and futuristic, as though we are observing a bygone era’s vision of the future. I call it “geeky cool.” And yet, for lack of a better term, I want to describe it as a very masculine design. Its predominantly brushed appearance (the only polish is a thin, broken line around the crystal) and tactical layout, give it a toolish, industrial quality, right down to the bezel screws. The only note of true superfluity might be its contentious bracelet. The angled links can be polarizing among Breitling aficionados, but I think it’s all part of the ugly duckling’s charm. Ultimately, there is only one design choice I can’t get behind, and that’s the hands. It’s a small thing, but while the thin pencil set is better than the partially skeletonized development in the EVO, it still lacks gravitas among so much brazen activity. Practically speaking, I understand the need to maintain visibility of the digital screens—and I don’t have a ready alternative—but it seems to me that something just a little more aggressive is necessary to achieve balance.

Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 44

The Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 watch embodies the distinctive aesthetics and precise essence of the brand. This item was recently incorporated into Breitling’s collection. By fusing traditional allure with contemporary sophistication, this model establishes itself as a benchmark within the luxury watch industry. This recent addition endeavors to appeal to both watch enthusiasts and trendsetters by fusing functionality with sophistication. Strong in construction and fashionable in appearance, it is a one-of-a-kind accessory for any occasion.

With a limited run of 500 pieces, the Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 watch is an uncommon discovery that was introduced exclusively in the United Kingdom. There are two variations of these, with 300 featuring a stainless steel band and 200 featuring a black polyurethane strap; each cost between $5,253 and $5,443. Collectors and fashionable individuals find it even more desirable due to its limited quantity. This recently launched timepiece merges exclusivity and luxury into one.
A classic stainless steel bracelet or a contemporary, functional black rubber strap are both viable strap options for this timepiece. Obtaining one is an uncommon opportunity, as only 500 are produced. The watch’s design allows it to cope with depths of up to 300 meters, making it suitable for professional diving or a brief swim. This Superocean Automatic 44 clock features a Breitling Caliber 17 movement with a power reserve of 38 hours. Its stainless steel body makes it ideal for long-term wear. Furthermore, this clock is suitable for both daringly adventurous sports and regular work.

With its conventional and contemporary elements, the Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 watch breathes in a multifunctional character.
Initially established in 1884 by Léon Breitling, the firm specialized in sports and industrial timing chronographs. Breitling’s swift association with the aviation industry gave way to its production of pilot precision instruments. With excellence and innovation, the organization has maintained its leading position in the watchmaking sector. During the 20th century, Breitling’s fame grew as their chronographs gained popularity among pilots and astronauts. Inventions such as the first autonomous chronograph push piece catapulted the brand to prominence.

Apart from upholding its legacy, Breitling is dedicated to stretching boundaries. Breitling clocks are distinguished by their superb workmanship, precision, and sophistication. The reputation of these timepieces is further backed up by the brand’s relentless commitment to brilliance.

This timepiece is destined to be the favorite of watch devotees owing to its restricted supply and unique traits. While expanding its historical roots, Breitling continues to demonstrate its commitment to superior quality with the Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 watch.

Victoria Beckham Designed A Collection Of 36mm Breitling Chronomats

It’s funny to think that Victoria Beckham’s “entry” into the fashion business started with a denim line named VB Rocks in the early ’00s. The brand gained infamy by pricing its jeans at $300 a pop. Early aughts designer denim brands like Diesel and True Religion were already charging triple digits for jeans. Beckham’s price point, however, was leaps higher than the rest, leaving customers bewildered with sticker shock but also paving the way for what was to become an aggressively profitable segment of the industry. We laugh in hindsight, given the current pervasiveness and frankly exorbitant prices of today’s designer denim. This was before Balenciaga or Gucci or Bottega Veneta was making and incorporating entire lines of denim into their commercial collections. How very prophetic of Beckham.
VB has always been slightly ahead of the curve. A main staple of the cultural lexicon since the ’90s, Beckham’s career trajectory began as one-fifth of the most famous girl band to have ever existed (fight me on this, I dare you) and parlayed into her becoming the matriarch of a global Beckham dynasty. Today, Beckham is also known for being a legitimate force in the fashion industry as the founder and creative director of her eponymous fashion label. Victoria Beckham presents its ready-to-wear collections every season in Paris and retails in 230 stores in 50 countries worldwide.
Last week Beckham presented us with her latest design conquest by releasing a collection of watches in collaboration with Breitling. The Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham collection includes six variations and is limited to 1,500 pieces. It’s quintessential Chronomat with its vertebrae-like rouleaux bullet bracelet that makes you want to run your fingers across the polished grooves every time you come close to touching it (maybe that’s just me?), and has the traditional raised rider tabs at the 15-minute mark. The limited collection comes in two metals: stainless steel and yellow gold – a metal which was brought back from the dead for Breitling, specially for VB. Swiss watch brands, please take note!

The new dial colorways are inspired by Beckham’s own Spring/Summer 2024 palette, including peppermint, midnight blue, dove gray, and sand. The watches feature the Breitling logo on the dial and Victoria Beckham’s initials on the seconds hand. The watches are equipped with self-winding Breitling Caliber 10, which features a date window at six o’clock. The movement has approximately 42 hours of power reserve and is COSC certified.
Despite being a very modest 36mm, the Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham watch still has a lot of heft. It’s chunky in that perfectly ’90s Breitling way – a look we know Beckham aligns with when wearing her personal watches: “Typically I do like a more masculine watch,” she says, “but one that does have a sense of femininity, a sense of elegance.” I can relate to Beckham, as I too prefer a watch with more heft, but it has to be that perfect meet-in-the-middle proportion, that balance of heft and legibility but also of curvature and wearability. The contrast of wearing a larger, more “masculine” watch a little loose on your wrist could in turn make you feel more feminine. Like wearing oversized clothing to make you feel smaller: it’s the boyfriend jean effect.

The watch is by no means a total redesign – it’s a revamp of a classic. Which by the way is fine, Breitling is not looking to reinvent the brand, they’re looking to appeal to a new demographic by tweaking the existing offering. “It was just taking what Breitling does so well and putting my little spin on that,” explained Beckham, “you know, ultimately making the watches that I as a woman desire to wear.”
This partnership isn’t as unlikely as it seems. VB has been wearing watches proudly since her early days of pop stardom. What started as a stainless steel Cartier Tank Française worn in tandem with her then boyfriend David Beckham’s matching Française, developed into a yellow gold Yacht-Master (again, matching with Becks). Then came the countless diamond-set Jacob and Co. Five Time Zone, which eventually, with time, snowballed into a pretty serious watch collection.

VB has always been part of the pop-culture and watch Venn diagram. Given gen Z’s obsession with rehashing ’90s visual cultural ephemera on Instagram, her watch choices from decades past have been immortalized online. The now very famous airport paparazzi pictures of Victoria and David Beckham in 1997 wearing the aforementioned matching Cartier watches even served as inspiration for Gucci’s most recent Creative Director Sabato De Sarno debut campaign for the house late last year. This is the power of the Beckhams. In recent years we have come to know Beckham as a bonafide watch collector; she has been spotted wearing a Nautilus Ref. 7118/1300R-00 and a ref. 116505 Everose Daytona, amongst others. Now Beckham has come to create her own line of watches. Because surely making, not just wearing the product is how you wield real influence in 2024? It’s interesting to note that her new collection of watches is actually a partnership between Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham and her ready-to-wear brand, not VB the woman. Which makes total sense. It’s a way for Beckham and Breitling to cross pollinate watches and the wider world by focusing on design and not just celebrity. Victoria Beckham seems like an obvious choice, but by using her brand as the platform and eliminating herself as the focal point (note, she is not featured in the campaign), it becomes a slightly more earnest and almost more respectable way of speaking to the woman consumer. This is not a collaboration-cum-ambassadorship style gimmick but a fully fledged fashion brand collaboration with a heritage Swiss watch brand.

To be frank, Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham would need to pull a stunt like this because I personally don’t know any women purchasing Breitling watches in 2024. This is a topic brand CEO Georges Kern is very transparent about: “We are predominantly a male brand but why should we close ourselves towards 50% of the market? But we want to be the cool and relaxed alternative in this male [dominated] market and we want to have the same positioning with women’s watches… [A] relaxed alternative to the very conservative and classic Swiss watchmaking.” Beckham understands how to speak to women. Today her look is polished and pristine. Her ready-to-wear line consists of relaxed, slightly deconstructed city tailoring, perfectly cut wool coats and fluid, ankle-grazing silk dresses. It’s for grown-ups. And with a luxury fashion brand comes highly sophisticated campaign imagery – a tactic that Beckham clearly carried over to Breitling for the release of this collection. It seems she was vehemently in control as creative director too, choosing Mario Sorenti to shoot the campaign. Sorenti is a highly esteemed fashion photographer who has spent the last three decades capturing fashion campaigns (with clients including Calvin Klein, Chanel, Saint Laurent) that are forever imprinted onto our memories, by choice or not. Beckham also brought on one of her model-muses to star in the campaign and used full Victoria Beckham looks and accessories to style the shoot. Why waste a perfectly solid marketing opportunity that benefits both brands? And what’s more, why not cultivate imagery that a modern woman with spending power can identify with? I scrolled through countless pictures of VB in multiple listicles all titled something along the lines of “75 best Victoria Beckham outfits of all time.” It became clear to me that despite a few wild card choices in the ’90s (matching his and hers sarongs anybody?), her style has remained consistent since the turn of the millennium. Beckham has, for example, always understood the power of a simple Alaïa dress or the routine of sticking to the same black bug eye sunglasses. It’s her take on a uniform, and often that uniform includes a watch. All of this to say VB’s power in fashion is omnipotent. This may only be a small 1,500 piece dent for now. but let’s see if this yields as much influence as VB is truly capable of.

Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham

Music, fashion, skincare—is there anything Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham can’t do? The 49-year-old designer and business mogul has built an empire over the past 25 years with one unifying idea: if she likes it, others might, too. “Ultimately, I like to create what I desire myself,” Beckham says over Zoom. And thus far, it’s worked out swimmingly—the Brit has parlayed her posh style into a successful brand, her one-liners into covetable t-shirts, and her enviable skin into a beauty line. Now, she’s turning her attention toward Father Time. Beckham has partnered with Breitling on a limited-edition watch—with only 1,500 units available—inspired partly by the designer’s spring 2024 Victoria Beckham collection.
Watch fans will recognize the silhouette of the collaboration piece as Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham model—a sleek, androgynous style that Beckham felt fit squarely into her aesthetic. “When it comes to fashion, everything I do is originally inspired by menswear,” she says. “Then it’s about getting that perfect balance between masculinity and femininity.” Available in stainless and a yellow gold specially revived by Breitling for this collaboration, the watches have a “cool” and “effortless” feel that Beckham yearns for in her designs. “A very slight feminine touch” is in the mix via watch faces done in color—the hues were plucked from her most recent collection—like peppermint, midnight blue, dove gray, and sand.

Beckham herself is partial to the gold watch with the sand face, as the shades blend together for an almost monochromatic look (as seen on model Annemary Aderibigbe, who is featured in the Mario Sorrenti-shot campaign for the collaboration). “I’m a minimalist,” the designer says, which is also why you won’t find an excess of Beckham’s own branding on the watch, just a VB found on the second hand, and her name engraved subtly on the bracelet. “I didn’t want anything overly branded. I wanted to keep it quite simple and clean, but then add a little something for some edge. I think that comes through with the colored faces—they’re unexpected.”
When discussing the watch, it’s easy to tell Beckham has a fondness for this specific accessory—and her husband, David Beckham, is partially to thank for that. “My husband has bought me lots of watches over the years, and they all take me back to the moment when he gifted me them,” she says. Victoria still holds on to all of those gifts, and now the Breitlings will be added to her collection, not only for her future self to enjoy, but for her four children as well. Because while her clothing pieces from the ’90s may come and go out of style, watches are—for lack of a better term—timeless. She admits she donated a lot of her and David’s wardrobe to charity a few years ago, pieces she assumed were too dated to ever be worn again. “The kids are like, ‘I can’t believe dad got rid of this or that,’ but we obviously thought whatever [David] was wearing in the Nineties, he would never wear again,” she explains with a laugh. Watches, though—especially her collaboration with Breitling—will remain in her archive, because they’re classics, of course, but also for a much more sensible reason. As Beckham puts simply: “It’s always good to be on time.”
Als Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham im Jahr 2008 ihre eigene Modemarke lancierte, wurde sie von vielen nicht ganz ernst genommen. Als Girlband-Mitglied und Spielerfrau wurde Posh Spice, so ihr Spitzname bei den Spice Girls, gesehen, nicht aber als ernstzunehmende Designerin. Alle kritischen Stimmen wurden schnell eines Besseren belehrt: Die cleanen, scharf geschnittenen, aber immer femininen Entwürfe der heute 49-jährigen Britin überzeugten nicht nur Kundinnen, sondern auch Mode-Expertinnen wie die «Vogue»-Chefin Anna Wintour. Das Angebot umfasst heute neben Kleidung auch Schuhe, Taschen und Brillen.
Die Zusammenarbeit mit Breitling hat die Designerin als sehr angenehm empfunden: «Es war wundervoll, wie die Handwerkskunst und die Innovation von Breitling mit meinen Ideen zusammenfanden, um etwas so Elegantes und Frisches zu kreieren», lässt sie sich zitieren.

Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII

With one of America’s biggest sporting events of the year around the corner, Breitling thought to join in on the fun. As such, the Swiss luxury watchmaker has revealed its Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII.

What makes the limited-edition timepiece extra special is it being created as a tribute to Julius “Boomer” Esiason – who is a former NFL quarterback and a longtime ambassador of Breitling. In addition to the tribute, the watch’s creation is in support of the Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF), which supports the cystic fibrosis community.

The striking timepiece appears in a 42mm case crafted from 18-karat red gold with a dark blue dial and black subdials. What also compliments those details is a matching 18-karat red gold Rouleaux bracelet or black rubber strap. Another standout feature of the watch is the Super Bowl LVIII logo appearing on the case back alongside a “LIMITED EDITION” engraving.

In celebration of this year’s Super Bowl, the timepiece is limited to 58 units. Also, the first of the 58 watches will be sold at an exclusive BEF auction where 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Boomer Esiason Foundation. 10% of the remaining watch sales will also benefit BEF.
Among the various luxury watches that you actually see on people’s wrists here in the United States, Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII is easily one of the most frequently spotted brands. Additionally, despite being Swiss, Breitling has a long history of producing U.S. market-exclusive models and even creating timepieces that pay tribute to various aspects of American culture. Just ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, Breitling has created a limited-edition version of the Chronomat that celebrates America’s premier sporting event and the brand’s longtime partnership with former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason. Crafted from solid 18k red gold, the new Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII Edition will be produced as a limited edition of 58 examples, and proceeds from the sale of each watch will benefit the Boomer Esiason Foundation and its mission to cure cystic fibrosis.
At a quick glance, the new Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII Edition could best be described as an 18k red gold version of the current-production 42mm Chronomat B01 that has a similar colorway to the 44mm limited edition from 2023 that was produced exclusively for the United States. Just like other 42mm models from the Chronomat collection, the new Super Bowl LVIII Edition measures 42mm in diameter by 15.1mm thick, with 22mm lugs and an overall lug-to-lug profile of 50.5mm. A cambered sapphire crystal protects the dial of the watch, while a unidirectional rotating timing bezel sits along its perimeter, although unlike the 44mm model from last year that was created for the U.S. market, the bezel on the new Super Bowl LVIII Edition is entirely red gold, rather than having a black ceramic insert.
Just like the rest of the current 42mm Chronomat series, the new Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII Edition features a screw-down crown flanked by a set of oval-shaped pushers on the right-hand side of the case. Additionally, the double gasket system for the winding crown helps to ensure a fairly generous 200 meters of water resistance, which should be more than enough to protect against virtually all forms of moisture contact. Unlike the standard-production versions of the Chronomat B01 42, the new Super Bowl LVIII Edition features a caseback that has a red and purple Super Bowl LVIII logo printed on the underside surface of its display window, and the caseback also has each watch’s individual limited-edition number out of 58 examples engraved along its outer perimeter.
The dial of the new Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII Edition is very similar to the 44mm U.S. market-exclusive model that was launched last year, and it features a dark blue sunburst surface paired with contrasting black sub-dials and a matching back chapter ring that has a tachymeter scale printed in white. The luminous baton-shaped hour markers and hands all appear in red gold to match the case, and small bright red accents are placed within the chapter ring and on the centrally-mounted chronograph seconds hand to help provided a vibrant and casual touch to what is otherwise a rather refined and elevated rendition of the brand’s multi-purpose sports chronograph.
Just like the rest of the chronograph-equipped models from the Breitling Chronomat collection, the new Super Bowl LVIII Edition is powered by the brand’s in-house Caliber B01 automatic chronograph movement, which is a COSC-certified chronometer and runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 70-hours. The Caliber B01 serves as the go-to option for the majority of Brietling’s current-production chronograph watches, although the decoration on the Cal. B01 can vary depending on the specific model. Given its solid 18k gold construction, the Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII Edition receives one of the more decorated versions with Geneva stripes on its uppermost bridge and a gold-finished rotor; however, the large Super Bowl LVIII graphic printed on the display window of the caseback hides a significant portion of it from view.
The new Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII Edition is available with the option of either the collection’s signature Rouleaux bracelet in matching full 18k red gold or a black rubber strap, which features a textured design that is inspired by the shape of the links on the Chronomat’s Rouleaux bracelet. While the bracelet tapers from 22mm at the case down to 20mm at its clasp and is very much just the solid gold version of what you will find among the standard-production 42mm models, the black rubber strap is the textured style that is typically fitted to the larger 44mm Chronomat models, rather than the smooth style with a raised central section that is normally fitted to the 42mm Breitling Chronomat B01 watches.
The first of the new Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII Edition watches will be sold exclusively through an auction organized by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the foundation itself. Additionally, the NFL will host a special fundraiser via NFL Auction in February that will include another example of the Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Super Bowl LVIII Edition, and the proceeds from that sale will also entirely benefit the foundation (the NFL does not profit from the sale of items via NFL Auction). As for the other watches that make up the 58 total examples (a reference to Super Bowl LVIII), 10% of the proceeds from every single sale will be donated to the Boomer Esiason Foundation and its fight against cystic fibrosis.

Breitling Super Chronomat B01 44

Having re-launched the Chronomat collection this time last year (with 32, 36, and 42mm models), Breitling is now following up with the full-fat option, the new Breitling Super Chronomat in a whopping 44mm case. That new size spans several new versions, including one with the UTC module bracelet, a version in 18k red gold, and a pair of references using Breitling’s uncommon Four-Year Calendar. The physical manifestation of “large and in-charge”, the new Super Chronomat is classic Breitling and a knowing nod to the brand’s long-standing dominance in the world of super-sized pilot’s chronographs.
For Breitling, tool watches are a core competency. And I think they are at their best when the brand isn’t afraid to be itself, with bold displays, bright colors, polished surfaces, baroque crowns, rider tabs, ana-digi layouts, and distinctive high-quality bracelets. The results don’t always fit my wrist, but the brand has an incredible history in sport watches and the return of the Chronomat speaks not to their postmodern legacy, but to something more modern.

Born in 1984, the original Breitling Chronomat was a 39mm tribute to the era’s fascination with fast-flying jet aircraft. Based on a design created in 1983 for the Italian Jet Team Frecce Tricolori, the Chronomat spoke to the era of Top Gun (1986) and when the Blue Angels started flying the McDonnel Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (also 1986).
As a boy born in this era (also 1986), the peak of my social calendar was attending air shows – and some of my earliest memories of cool watches were imprinted on the grounds of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Funky Citizens, stoic Seikos, plenty of Rolex, and, of course, big brash Breitlings.

New for 2021, the Breitling Super Chronomat takes that original ’80s design and lights the afterburner. Versions available include the Super Chronomat B01 44 in black or blue (you can pick rubber, steel, or steel with the super rad UTC module), the B01 chrono in 18k red gold with a brown dial and bezel (again, your choice of bracelet or rubber), and the Super Chronomat 44 Four-Year Calendar in either black or blue/two-tone (same option of rubber or steel).
The pure chronographs (which have B01 in their name) are 44mm wide, 14.45mm thick, have display case backs, 200 meters of water resistance, and house Breitling’s B01 automatic COSC-certified chronograph movement with a column wheel and a vertical clutch. The bezels use ceramic inserts (the first time on a Chronomat) and the rider tabs at three and nine are swappable, allowing the bezel to be used for elapsed time or count down (this is a feature common to the original Chronomat).

As for the Breitling Super Chronomat Four-Year Calendar, sizing remains at 44mm but thickness is up a hair to 14.55mm. Water-resistance is down to 100 meters, and this calendar-packed Chronomat uses Breitling’s Caliber 19 movement. Based on an ETA 2892-A2, the Caliber 19 has been seen in several past models from Breitling and it uses a module to offer not only a chronograph but also a calendar movement that accounts for everything except leap year.
As with most complicated calendars (especially those packed into sport watches), there’s a lot going on in terms of dial design, and most of the sub-dials are running double duty to keep track of both a 12-hour chronograph measure and day, date, month, and moon phase. It’s an uncommon calendar execution, but I get the appeal, offering most of a perpetual calendar without all of the cost. To be clear, the Caliber 19 (which is sometimes identified by Breitling as the 1461) is not an annual calendar (which requires adjustment… annually). Rather, as the name suggests, the Four-Year Calendar would only need to be adjusted for Feb 29th.
Functionality aside, while I know that the 44mm sizing will be too big for my tastes (I will forever be more of a 40mm Aerospace kind of guy) the Super Chronomat looks good, but more importantly, it looks like a proper big Breitling.

Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Highlands

The Scottish Highlands are unlike any place on Earth. Known for its rocky coastline, beautiful pine trees, and picturesque mountaintops, the region has one of the lowest population densities in Europe, so its scenery is the reason to visit, which many do. It’s the reason why Breitling chose the wide-ranging topography of the Highlands as the sole inspiration for its latest collection, as part of its Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Highlands line.
Available in four dial colors with matching bezels, the Scottish Highlands collection aims to touch on each aspect of the region’s natural features. While the blue variant obviously evokes the oceans surrounding the majority of the Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Highlands , the brown model evokes the craggy shoreline. On the other hand, the mustard variant brings the region’s countryside to your wrist, while the green reference is reminiscent of the Scots pine forest that dominates certain areas as well. To enhance the Scottish references, each timepiece comes with a silk and wool tweed strap (in addition to the stainless steel mesh bracelet) that matches the main color.
Debuting in 2020, the Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Highlands joined the Superocean range and was tasked with hosting the brand’s vintage-inspired (and -named) dive watches, with their stylish mesh bracelets, concave bezels, arrow-shaped hour hands, and large indices. However, at 42mm, many retro fans may have been clamoring for Breitling to release something a bit more period-correct. Luckily, the latest Scottish Highlands capsule brings that downsized fit with a 38mm case made of stainless steel and 18k red gold, while maintaining 100m of water resistance. These watches may be losing a bit of their modern-day dive quality but gaining more vintage charm in the process.

The Same Ownership As Breitling

While many once-defunct watch brands have relaunched over the past decade-plus, one name in particular has remained the white whale: Universal Genève. Today, a revival that’s been dreamed of for years has become reality, as Universal Geneve is being reborn. Partners Group, the ownership group behind Breitling, has announced its acquisition of Universal Genève from Stelux Holdings, the Hong Kong holding company that has owned the brand since 1989.

“As excited as we are, we are also fully aware of the task at hand and the profound heritage we are set to uphold,” said Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling. high quality replica watches
“Universal Genève was once hailed as the couturier of watchmaking, renowned for its in-house movements and mythical models. It is a brand that watch enthusiasts have dreamed of seeing make a permanent comeback,” added Alfred Gantner, Co-Founder of Partners Group and Chairman of Breitling’s board. Partners Group is a private investment firm based in Zurich and is the largest shareholder in Breitling. Ownership in Breitling first changed hands in 2017 when the Schneider family sold a majority stake to CVC Capital Partners. In 2022, Partners Group increased its stake in high quality replica watches Breitling to become the brand’s largest shareholder, in a deal that Bloomberg reported valued the watchmaker at $4.5 billion. At the time, it was reported that there were plans to take Breitling public on the Swiss Stock Exchange in 2027.
Universal Geneve’s history dates to 1894, when it was founded in Le Locle, Switzerland, as Universal Watch. Soon, it opened a branch in Geneva, officially changing its name to Universal Geneve in the 1930s. By then, the brand had become an industry leader with its chronographs, highlighted by the Compax line. By the 1940s, the Henri Stern Agency, distributor of Patek Philippe in the United States, began distributing Universal Genève, an endorsement of the brand’s quality. At the time, UG’s headquarters sat between Rolex and Patek in Geneva. Through the 1950s and ’60s, Universal Genève continued to sit at the cutting edge of watches. It introduced a micro-rotor automatic movement, then in 1954 launched the Polerouter (nèe Polarouter), one of the first designs from a promising young designer named Gérald Genta.
But like so many other Swiss watch brands, the so-called Quartz Crisis spelled the eventual collapse of the proud manufacturer. It high quality replica watches partnered with Bulova and began to use its tuning fork technology before pursuing quartz. But the Universal Geneve of the 1970s and ’80s was far from the brand that had once produced watches to compete with Rolex, Heuer, and others.

In 1989, Stelux Holdings, a Hong Kong-based investment holding company, acquired Universal Genève. Since then, the brand has made a couple of ill-fated attempts at a relaunch, first for the brand’s 100th anniversary in 1994 and then again in 2005. While the brand still makes watches today, they’re nothing like the watches from the golden age of the 1940s–1960s. Still, collectors have kept the interest in Universal Geneve alive over the years, sharing research, scholarship, and enthusiasm for the vintage brand across forums, social media, and, of course, on this very site.
Rumors of business people or enthusiasts trying to acquire Universal Genève have been frequent over the years, but they never seemed to get very far. These rumors usually hinted that Stelux seemed content with the status quo and had no interest in selling. Now, Breitling’s leadership, led by CEO Georges Kern, will be in charge of one of the most anticipated brand revivals in the Swiss watch industry.

Kern’s experience should prove valuable. Since taking the helm at Breitling in 2017, sales have surged, and it’s now one of the 10 largest Swiss brands by revenue. In 2022, sales approached $1 billion, increasing about 40 percent year-over-year according to Morgan Stanley. Breitling’s success is attributable to its focus on simplifying its product line, producing watches in more modest sizes, and a focus on its historically important models. This marketing and aesthetic overhaul is complemented by Breitling’s continued technical innovation, illustrated with developments like the manufacture caliber B01 chronograph. He’ll look to use a similar formula for the relaunch of Universal Genève.

“Rebuilding a brand with such a rich narrative is not a quick endeavor—it is a meticulous labor of love that we high quality replica watches anticipate will unfold over the coming years. A dedicated team will be brought on board to allow Breitling and Universal Genève to operate as separate maisons,” Kern said.

Breitling Chronomat 40 DMT

Breitling’s Chronomat was relaunched in 2020 and quickly became one of the most integral parts of the Breitling brand. From the brand’s large 44mm chronograph offerings down to the small 32mm ladies’ models, Breitling has built up a solid lineup of Chronomats to choose from. But the collection has always jumped from 42mm to 36mm with nothing in between. That is, until today. The new 40mm Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT fills a gap in the collection in more ways than one. First, it brings a more reasonable size with a new 40mm diameter, 11.77mm thick, 47.4mm lug-to-lug stainless steel watch. You get all the standard Chronomat styling, including the classic “onion” crown and rouleaux bracelet, along with 200m water resistance worthy of a sports watch you can take from the air to the sea with ease. The second new addition is the inclusion of Breitling’s Caliber 32 GMT movement, a “caller” with an independently set GMT hand that was previously built off the workhorse ETA 2893-2 movement, plus added refinements and finishing. Previously, the Chronomat lineup featured only three-hand watches and giant chronographs, but no longer. The Caliber 32 movement provides approximately 42 hours of power reserve to fuel the GMT, hours, minutes, seconds, and date functions on the watch. Breitling’s Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 comes in five color options: black, blue, green, white, and anthracite. Each of these dials features a “tone-on-tone” 24-hour scale, matching the dial to the rehaut instead of going for a multi-color bezel. Breitling believes this increases legibility, letting the red GMT stand out.
I’ve had mixed feelings in the past about Breitling’s Chronomats. While apparently sales hits for the brand, the chronographs always wore too large to me. The vintage Chronomats, a kind of cult classic, often feel a bit “janky” for lack of a better term, from the bracelet to the bezels. All that made me unable to separate the vintage and very anachronistic vibe of the watches – especially the rouleaux bracelet and crown – from the modernized direction Breitling was taking the collection. Here, we see that new direction in full force: elegance, comfort, and sportiness, with good build quality in a design language that is quintessentially Breitling. And to top it off, a competitive price point I expect we will see more of in the future. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised – of course, there would be improvements over time and these modern bracelets would have better tolerances and less flex – but the first thing I noticed was how well the watch wore, from the comfortable bracelet to the slimmed-down and more wearable case. There’s a reason so many Rolex GMT-Master II owners have embraced jubilee bracelets over the “classic” oyster bracelet. In the same way, the shorter distance between links allows the bracelet to wrap well around your wrist.

I’m a bracelet geek but I’d imagine that the sunray-esque dials will be the stars of the show for most potential buyers. The iridescent sheen, especially the blue and green, is captivating (and, if you’re buying watches and hoping to photograph them, frustratingly reflective). The blue dial goes very deep blue, almost black in a darkened environment, and then pops to life with any splash of light. No matter the locale, the green is dramatic and eye-catching. The sleeper hit might be the anthracite grey dial, which blends in well with the case and picks up a bit of warmth and brown tones from the light in an environment. The white and black dials didn’t get much mention (or photo time, apologies) because while solid options, the comparatively matte finish didn’t garner as much attention from me in my short time, hands-on.

The simplified placement of the 24-hour markers on the rehaut is a nice touch. For all the good a GMT does, I don’t find a big difference in my day-to-day life between catching the time at a glance and spending five seconds looking more closely for a second time zone. And not that the general population takes issue with wearing sport watches in more formal environments, but the lack of bulky bezel with any colors or numbers adds a certain level of elegance.

There’s not a ton to say about the movement, based on the ETA 2893-2, which is pretty standard across the industry. I will say, the more I actively review GMTs and pay attention to specifications, the more it surprises me that there aren’t more “flyer” GMT movements on the market. With the introduction of the ETA caliber C07.661 and Miyota 9075, I’m hopeful we’ll see more brands switch away from the 2893-2 in future iterations. That said, this is pretty standard and should be reliable, albeit with a 42 hour power reserve that might be a point of contention for some buyers.
All of this feels like a very cognizant and measured decision from Breitling, taking the opportunity to highlight a collection with one of the purest throughlines of modern Breitling DNA with a new option that is both eye-catching and even more wearable and versatile than before.

Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44

It’s now been well over a year since the arrival of Georges Kern as CEO of Breitling. The first releases after his arrival fell into the new “Navitimer 8” series and while they were nice, some felt that they were a touch plain.

Personally speaking, I like them and I think the neutral reception from most was based more upon the shock of seeing Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 that weren’t in the vein of the blingy Bentley series than anything else. Still, it was clear that the watch world was waiting for something earth shaking and triumphant as a result of Kern’s leadership. While today’s subject still likely lacks the “shock and awe” that most seemingly desire, a closer look will hopefully convince you that Breitling is in far safer hands than it has been in a very long time. If nothing else (although I strongly feel there’s something far more at work here), the new Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph should be taken as a positive omen that serious goodness will continue to come from the revamped Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 brand.
One thing that so many of us watch curmudgeons disliked about Breitling over the past 20 years was its apparent disregard for its back catalog. Sure, the company was happy to proudly display its founding date, but they consistently threw sand into the eyes of the faithful in several ways such as wrongly reporting the year of the first Navitimer. Then, abominations such as the wrist-colossus Bentley pieces made their way to the market and it felt as if the brand had reached a point of no return; we’d never see nods to the brand’s glorious past. Well, enter 2017 and Georges Kern joined. In his prior role, he made IWC extremely successful, but some would say at the expense of keeping the brand’s subtle, technical, teutonic styling intact. So, what would we get with Kern at Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 ?
It’s no secret that I have a strong affinity for Breitling’s history and its simply ridiculous library of vintage chronographs – heck, I dedicated a good bit of my vacation to compiling the lengthy “Breitling Expert Interviews”. Furthermore, I “virtually” hang out with a gang of Breitling collectors and it’s no secret as to who leads this band of thugs: Fred Mandelbaum. What I can share with you is that prior to Kern’s arrival, it was as if someone was constantly poking a voodoo doll in the guise of Fred. Whether it was the release of another ginormous monstrosity from his most favorite marque or, worse, seeing TAG Heuer grab its, by comparison, relatively slim history by the horns and run with it, it was clearly bothering Fred. And so, when Georges Kern came on the scene, we heard that he had reached out to Fred and all of us slept a bit better that night. While I am not here to comment on Fred’s involvement with Breitling and its new designs, (we know that he travels extensively with the brand to help shed light on its history to collectors and dealers) something tells me that he at least threw down some guiding opinions on the new Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph.
The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph joins a number of other new models within the reissued Premier line. In addition to the in-house 42mm B01-powered models (there are several dial variants including a beautiful green Bentley version – yes, a beautiful Bentley version), there are 42mm ETA 7750-powered models, 40mm automatics with sub-second dial, and 40mm day-date models. All of the models can be had on either leather or a stainless bracelet featuring links that are “cut on the bias” as a former boss once said. Today, though, we’re only here to talk about the range-topper and that’s the Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 .