Tag: Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42

The Premier collection stands out and apart from Breitling’s classic pilot and dive watches, while still leaving all its distinctive Breitling features intact. We review the flagship model of this recently launched line, with original photos by Olaf Köster. In marked contrast to the Navitimer 1 with its instrument-like tracks around the dial, or the Chronomat with its structural unidirectional rotating bezel, the timepieces in Breitling’s Premier collection embody understatement. But if we look to the past, we can see they’re clearly identifiable as Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 . Most people who choose a Breitling Premier today weren’t even born when the original Premier watches were launched in the 1940s. During that time of turmoil and new beginnings, watches in the Premier line were intended to convey reliability, value and a touch of elegance. These merits are welcome today as well and give us a chance to step away from our fast-paced world for a bit of peace and quiet.

And so the Premier collection not only recalls a different era with its name but also hits the same marks with its design as it did back in the 1940s. It is also “the first modern Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 collection that stands for elegance in everyday life,” according to Breitling CEO Georges Kern. Our test watch, the Premier B01 Chronograph 42, is the flagship of the collection. Its name makes it abundantly clear that it is equipped with Breitling manufacture movement 01, available with either a silver or blue dial with black counters. A special Bentley version is available with a British racing green dial and the Bentley Centenary Limited Edition is also available with a brown dial and a red-gold case. Our test watch was housed in stainless steel. For the sake of clarity, let us mention here that the collection also includes chronographs with ETA/Valjoux 7750-based movements and various three-hand watches with a small seconds subdial or weekday/date displays.

Speaking of the date, on the Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 , it is easily legible at its location at 6 o’clock. Its prominent placement is made possible thanks to the reduction of displays with the chronograph movement 01, which omits the 12-hour counter and lets the offset position of the date between 4 and 5 o’clock shift to a straight up-and-down position at 6 o’clock. The two black subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock present an attractive and readable “panda” face on a white background. This bicompax arrangement places the chronograph minutes counter at 3 o’clock and a permanent small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock. This gives the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 a very balanced appearance and follows the current trend of chronographs with only two counters. Of course this only allows the timing of intervals of up to 30 minutes, but let’s be honest – who among us in these rapid-fire times needs to record extended time spans, especially since the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 was designed for “powering down.” Powering down is no problem with this Breitling manufacture movement. With its power reserve of 70 hours, the timepiece can easily be taken off the wrist and set aside for an extended “time out” without any worry of its stopping, especially since the rate results are shown to be stable despite gradually falling amplitudes. The same is true for the operation of the chronograph. The timepiece runs at an average rate of +2.4 seconds per day with amplitudes around 265 degrees. It provides chronometer-level quality in every situation, a long-standing Breitling standard for all of its timepieces. But the Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 shows the instrumental nature Breitling is known for – more than merely chronometer performance. The center-mounted stopwatch hand has a red tip that travels around a delicate but fully legible tachymeter track, which is expertly printed on the black flange ring around the dial, and glides above the seconds track that is divided in thirds to reflect the 4-Hz rhythm of the Caliber 01 automatic movement. The precision and accuracy Breitling is known for is beautifully staged beneath a domed anti-glare sapphire crystal that reveals a certain retro charm. It is a nod to the past, just like the Premier logo on the dial: Premier models in the 1940s were the first Breitling watches to bear the product name on the dial. Its understated elegance extends even as far as the minimal application of luminous material on the hour and minutes hands – enough to barely read the time in poor lighting conditions. By contrast, legibility during the day is excellent. The watch’s sporty stainless-steel case boasts both polished and brushed-finish surfaces and is pressure-resistant and water-resistant to 10 bar (100 meters). Its 42.5-mm diameter meets current tastes – while it’s not nearly as large as other Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 , it’s definitely not small. Its 13.81-mm height is not readily apparent thanks to carefully considered architecture that ensures that the watch doesn’t look overpowering. A narrow, stepped bezel and angular threaded caseback with a sapphire viewing window overlap a smaller midsection with engraved grooves along its body. The crown does not screw down and is easy to grasp and turn for manual winding, and can be pulled out smoothly and firmly into the individual operating positions. The modern-looking, elongated square pusher at 2 o’clock requires some pressure to start the chronograph function. It’s much easier to stop and reset using a similar pusher at 4 o’clock. The lugs are steep and angular; polished top surfaces add to the overall elegance of the Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 . It also fits well and snugly on a smaller wrist as the lugs bend downward. The leather strap is fastened to the lugs with curved spring bars. But for a larger wrist, the strap almost feels a bit too short – especially if you need to insert the prong into the last hole to fasten it. Otherwise, the solution is comfortable with side buttons to open the elegantly simple, single-sided folding clasp.
The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 delivers a timeless elegance that is not typical of other Breitling models. Equipped with a powerful, modern in-house movement that shows superior rate results, it is worth taking a fresh look for anyone who has ever found Breitling watches to be too bold.

The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 collection stands out and apart from Breitling’s classic pilot and dive watches, while still leaving all its distinctive Breitling features intact. We review the flagship model of this recently launched line, with original photos by Olaf Köster. In marked contrast to the Navitimer 1 with its instrument-like tracks around the dial, or the Chronomat with its structural unidirectional rotating bezel, the timepieces in Breitling’s Premier collection embody understatement. But if we look to the past, we can see they’re clearly identifiable as Breitling watches. Most people who choose a Breitling Premier today weren’t even born when the original Premier watches were launched in the 1940s. During that time of turmoil and new beginnings, watches in the Premier line were intended to convey reliability, value and a touch of elegance. These merits are welcome today as well and give us a chance to step away from our fast-paced world for a bit of peace and quiet.

And so the Premier collection not only recalls a different era with its name but also hits the same marks with its design as it did back in the 1940s. It is also “the first modern Breitling collection that stands for elegance in everyday life,” according to Breitling CEO Georges Kern.
Breitling’s horological journey through three generations of the founding family was “very much the history of the chronograph,” notes the brand’s historian Fred Mandelbaum. When Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 revived the historic Premier line in 2019 after a 50-plus-year hiatus, the brand aimed to capture that vintage flair in a modern interpretation. Today, the Swiss heritage watchmaker is adding six new Premier models, each in a 42mm case. Five are made of stainless steel and one of 18K rose gold, and all feature a COSC-certified manufacture caliber B01.
Breitling is synonymous with the chronograph. Through the early 20th century, the brand progressively developed its form and function with multiple patents as a utility timekeeper for the masses. But it was the third-generation leader Willy Breitling who elevated the family specialty, strategically turning the tool-watch chronograph into a style icon that we know today. Willy drew upon his business savvy to carve out a new category in the market for his dual-pusher chronograph as an everyday dress watch. Then came the Premier collection in 1943, which touted top-of-the-line quality and elegance for the fashionable set. These watches featured simple, clean designs inspired by the Art Deco style that was popular at the time. They were designed to be more refined and understated than Breitling’s other collections, which were primarily geared toward pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
Fast forward to 2019. Under the new management of Georges Kern, Breitling revived the Premier line to pay homage to the brand’s glorious past. Mike did a detailed review of the Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 here. Staying true to the original “Premier” spirit, the remake boasted “the best caliber, best material, and best design.” In 2021, the brand brought back the full 1940s lineup with four new styles in the Premier Heritage collection, which Ben delved into in a showdown here. Breitling has also collaborated with several notable figures and organizations to produce limited-edition Premier watches. Among them are Bentley Motors and the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows aerobatic display team.
But the Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 shows the instrumental nature Breitling is known for – more than merely chronometer performance. The center-mounted stopwatch hand has a red tip that travels around a delicate but fully legible tachymeter track, which is expertly printed on the black flange ring around the dial, and glides above the seconds track that is divided in thirds to reflect the 4-Hz rhythm of the Caliber 01 automatic movement. The precision and accuracy Breitling is known for is beautifully staged beneath a domed anti-glare sapphire crystal that reveals a certain retro charm. It is a nod to the past, just like the Premier logo on the dial: Premier models in the 1940s were the first Breitling watches to bear the product name on the dial. Its understated elegance extends even as far as the minimal application of luminous material on the hour and minutes hands – enough to barely read the time in poor lighting conditions. By contrast, legibility during the day is excellent.

Breitling’s horological journey through three generations of the founding family was “very much the history of the chronograph,” notes the brand’s historian Fred Mandelbaum. When Breitling revived the historic Premier line in 2019 after a 50-plus-year hiatus, the brand aimed to capture that vintage flair in a modern interpretation. Today, the Swiss heritage watchmaker is adding six new Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 models, each in a 42mm case. Five are made of stainless steel and one of 18K rose gold, and all feature a COSC-certified manufacture caliber B01.
Breitling is synonymous with the chronograph. Through the early 20th century, the brand progressively developed its form and function with multiple patents as a utility timekeeper for the masses. But it was the third-generation leader Willy Breitling who elevated the family specialty, strategically turning the tool-watch chronograph into a style icon that we know today. Willy drew upon his business savvy to carve out a new category in the market for his dual-pusher chronograph as an everyday dress watch. Then came the Premier collection in 1943, which touted top-of-the-line quality and elegance for the fashionable set. These watches featured simple, clean designs inspired by the Art Deco style that was popular at the time. They were designed to be more refined and understated than Breitling’s other collections, which were primarily geared toward pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 collection was also notable for its use of chronograph complications, which allowed wearers to measure elapsed time with a high degree of accuracy. This made the watches popular with athletes, scientists, and other professionals who needed to measure time precisely. Over the years, the Breitling Premier collection continued to evolve and improve. The watches were updated with modern materials and technology while still maintaining their classic and timeless design.
Fast forward to 2019. Under the new management of Georges Kern, Breitling revived the Premier line to pay homage to the brand’s glorious past. Mike did a detailed review of the Premier B01 Chronograph here. Staying true to the original “Premier” spirit, the remake boasted “the best caliber, best material, and best design.” In 2021, the brand brought back the full 1940s lineup with four new styles in the Premier Heritage collection, which Ben delved into in a showdown here. Breitling has also collaborated with several notable figures and organizations to produce limited-edition Premier watches. Among them are Bentley Motors and the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows aerobatic display team.

The freshly unveiled Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 model we see today is essentially the 2019 execution with a cosmetic makeover in line with the 2021 Heritage releases. The design details of the new Premier are more faithful to the distinctive features of the ancestral models. The signature grooves on the sides of the predominantly brushed case are here to stay, as are the slender fixed bezel and the rectangular pushers. On the twin-register dial, the applied Arabic numerals and the lumed syringe hands recall the vintage touches. A running small seconds sub-dial sits at 9 o’clock with a 30-minute totalizer mirroring it at 3 o’clock. The central chronograph seconds hand has a red tip, just like its 2019 predecessor. The date window also remains at 6 o’clock under the model name. Up close, all the contrasting textures are mesmerizing, and the detail work and finishing are impeccable.
Size-wise, the new Premier measures 42mm in diameter and 13.6mm in thickness. From lug to lug, it measures 50mm, and the lugs’ curvature works wonders to help wrap the watch around the wrist. On the side, its non-screw-down crown is fitted with two gaskets to ensure a water resistance rating of 100 meters. The case is further sealed by sapphire crystals on both sides, and the top cover is treated with a double-sided antireflective coating. Visible through the exhibition case back is the in-house automatic caliber B01. This latest iteration of the Breitling manufacture caliber 01 that powers the new Premier chronographs was redesigned in 2022 with a more compact oscillating weight.
Having first debuted in 2009, the B01 is one of Breitling’s most significant achievements in its long history of watchmaking. Needless to say, it has become one of the company’s signature features. It boasts a 334-part construction, including a column wheel and a vertical clutch. The latter controls the engagement of the chronograph function. It eliminates the “jumpy” start that can occur in chronographs with a lateral clutch, while the column wheel allows for smoother and more precise operation of the chronograph functions.

This chronograph caliber has been tested to superior technical standards and COSC-certified for accuracy within +6/-4 seconds per day. Breitling also subjects the movement to rigorous tests that emulate 16 years of regular use. These include shock (approximately 60,000 shocks at 500 G), the crown (more than 100,000 winds), rotor winding (3,456,000 turns), and the chronograph pushers (approximately 5,840 start-stop-reset engagements). The movement beats at a frequency of 28,000vph (4Hz) and provides a power reserve of 70 hours.

The B01 movement is used in several Breitling watch collections, including the Navitimer, Chronomat, and, of course, the Premier. It has become one of the brand’s most significant selling points as it demonstrates Breitling’s commitment to precision engineering and quality craftsmanship.
The six new Premier B01 Chronograph 42 models take after the classy tone-on-tone dial aesthetics of the Heritage collection. The stainless steel model offers five dial variations in salmon, blue, green, black, and cream. Rounding out the new lineup, the last version in 18K rose gold comes with a cream dial. All models are available with either a classic brown alligator strap or a seven-row metal bracelet with a folding buckle.

These new additions to the Breitling Premier collection offer a dressier character compared to the slightly sportier versions from 2019. That said, the bracelet ensures that they’re not a one-trick pony and remain versatile. The question is, though, which color do you choose? Do you go for classic black or blue? Or perhaps the salmon is proving to be too irresistible? Make sure to let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to say which strap option you’d go for as well!