A New Lightweight Breitling Chronomat Arrives – Meet the Chronomat 42 and Super Chronomat 44 Watches

The new titanium Chronomat 42 and Super Chronomat 44 watches from Breitling are the perfect solution for collectors who felt the steel models were too hefty. Here’s all the information you’ve been waiting for.

Breitling’s Blockbuster Hit

If you know Breitling, you know the Chronomat. There is no mistaking its iconic design. Drawing inspiration from the brand’s archetypal pilot’s watch DNA, the model has become one of the most distinctive timepieces in history. The Breitling Chronomat has a history that spans over 70 years and was originally outfitted with the famous slide rule bezel that now features on the Navitimer models. Top models from the collection feature in-house developed calibres and offer functions like the chronograph complication and GMT function. That initial slide rule bezel is where the Chronomat collection takes its name, combining the words “chronograph” and mathematics” into one name. The Chronomat that we have all come to recognise today, however, is the later version, released in 1984. It marked Breitling’s 100th anniversary and ever since then, has remained consistent. Some of its key features include a large onion-shaped crown at 3 o’clock and four bezel rider tabs at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. Saying that the collection did receive an overhaul in 2020 with a slew of cool, captivating colours and a new case design to match its revamped bracelet. The lugs became a little more straightened, serving as a throwback to some of the collection’s earlier models.

Above all, the Chronomat watch by Breitling is a solid and approachable design. On the wrist, it feels imposing and confident but not uncomfortable. Aside from being a wholly functional companion for the wrist, people love the Chronomat’s design because it’s so easy to identify. Today, the Breitling Chronomat is offered in stainless steel or rose gold options, as well as bracelet versions and rubber straps. The Rouleaux bracelet alone is a signature design feature of the Chronomat. The famous rolled links seen in the bracelet were developed exclusively for the series in 2020 and are an element that tastefully brings the entire design together. One of the advantages of the Chronomat is its B01 movement – a solid workhorse that promises an impressive power reserve and COSC certification for guaranteed accuracy. The movement is often exposed through the back of the case via a sapphire crystal glass exhibition feature. It shows off the beautiful architecture of the engine and the mesmerising chronograph functions at play inside the model’s water-resistant case.

The Lightweight Breitling Chronomat 

The new Breitling Chronomat watches, released just before the annual Watches and Wonders event, due to take place next week, continue to tell the story of the Swiss watchmaker’s all-purpose watch. This time, however, the watch is released in two sizes made from titanium for a lightweight finish on the wrist. The design, like all models from the collection, stands as a symbol of perseverance and endurance, since the Chronomat of 1984 was released during the golden era of ultra-flat quartz watch. Breitling overcame the crushing effects of the Quartz Crisis by placing a bet on a relatively bold and chunky mechanical watch. The series today is offered in several coloured dials not to mention stainless steel models and the more opulent 18ct rose gold. This latest lightweight titanium option, however, is ergonomically focused, ensuring comfort on the wrist during hours and hours of wear.

The new titanium design of the Breitling Chronomat is available in a 42mm and 44mm options and is inspired by the original 1980s versions that were initially based on the Freece Tricolori watches developed for the famed Italian aerial squadron. Of course, the larger of the two takes on the Super Chronomat name and features several ceramic inserts. You can spot these on the bezel itself, equipped with the four iconic order tabs located every fifteen minutes around the scale, along with the push-pieces at 2 and 4 o’clock and the crown itself. While the matching titanium bracelet is a more opulent, refined package, the Rouleaux-inspired black rubber band donates a slightly sportier finish.

The Breitling Chronomat 42 and Super Chronomat 44

Both the new 42mm and 44mm Chronomat and Super Chronomat watches respectively have an anthracite-coloured dial. The layout of the display, however, closely follows that of other previous Chronomat watches, with baton indexes around the hour track and a set of central hour and minute hands. All of these features have been treated with a generous coating of Super-LumiNova in white, giving off a rich glow during the night or when wearing the watch in dark conditions. Both models are the chronograph type, with a central chronograph seconds hand that identifies itself by a very pale chalky light blue hue. The Breitling “B” logo acts as the counterbalance for the end of the hand, matching the Breitling logo at the 12 o’clock location.

The two new Chronomat and Super Chronomat watches in titanium feature a tachymeter bezel around the flange and sub-counters placed at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. The 3 o’clock location is where you can find the 30-minute scale, while the 12-hour totaliser features at 6 o’clock. The small seconds sub-dial resides at the 9 o’clock location in what is considered a legible and well-proportioned dial. Head back over to the 6 o’clock dial and you can find a date window incorporated into this scale. These features all lie underneath an anti-glare and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass front – a material that is repeated on the underside of the watch too. Behind this glass is the Breitling 01 Manufacture movement. It performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations and provides a power reserve of 70 hours.

While the push-pieces and crown of the 42mm option are unadorned, black ceramic features in the 44mm option add to a slightly sportier luck, combining nicely with the unidirectional rotating bezel for measuring elapsed time. Both options come with a choice of a black Rouleaux rubber strap or a titanium bracelet. Despite having their own benefits, either option will pair well with a sophisticated suit or with formal attire in the evening.

The lightweight titanium case on the new Breitling Chronomat 42 and Chronomat 44 models is an exciting prospect for many a collector, changing up the way in which the timepiece feels, looks and wears on the wrist. If you’d like to learn more about the watch, you can head on over to the Chronomat collection at Jura Watches here, or call and speak to a member of our sales team on 01335 453453. Alternatively, you can drop us an email at help@jurawatches.co.uk.