The Breitling Chronomat was initially released in 1941 in Switzerland by Breitling SA.[1] Since then it has been one of the best selling watches produced by Breitling.[2] Its set of four bezel rider tabs became a Breitling signature design detail, seen as well in the Breitling Colt.[3] Chronomat is a trademark and collection line first released in 1942,[1][4] and is one of the company's best-selling models.[5]

Breitling Chronomat Blackbird

History

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The first Chronomat had a circular slide rule and its design followed the tension of the era for military watches.[1] The movement of the first Chronomat was the Venus 175 with 17 jewels, a manual wind movement.[citation needed]


The Chronomat was a patented design introduced in 1940 by Willy Breitling and the world's first two-pusher chronograph wristwatch.[6][7]

 
Breitling Chronomat men's watch ref. B13050 Made in Switzerland

The first model of the Chronomat collection had a circular slide rule and its design followed the appeal and design cues of the era for military watches.[1] The movement of the first Chronomat was the Venus 175 with 17 jewels, a manual winding movement.[8]


The current Chronomat was released in 2009, and was the first watch produced entirely by Breitling, featuring the in-house B01 caliber.[9][10] The B01 movement has a 70-hour power reserve and COSC certification.[6]

In the 1990s the two-tone, steel-and-yellow-gold model with a dark blue dial and Rouleaux bracelet was worn by Jerry Seinfeld.[11] The Rouleaux bracelet was discontinued for several years and re-introduced in 2020 in the Chronomat B01 42.[11]

Current model

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The current Chronomat was released in 2009 and was the first watch produced entirely by Breitling, featuring the in-house B01 caliber.[12] The previous model had a Valjoux "7750" movement.[citation needed] The B01 movement has a 70-hour power reserve and COSC certification.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Brunner, Gisbert (2014-04-17). "5 Milestone Breitling Watches, from 1915 to Today". WatchTime. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  2. ^ Adams, Charlotte (2013-10-02). "Top 3 Best-selling Breitling Watches". Male Standard. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  3. ^ Breitling Colt Chrono24
  4. ^ "Breitling's new Chronomat is a tribute to the watch that saved the company". British GQ. 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  5. ^ Adams, Charlotte (2013-10-02). "Top 3 Best-selling Breitling Watches". Male Standard. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  6. ^ a b c Richter, Martina (2012-04-10). "Pilot's Watch Review: Breitling Chronomat GMT". WatchTime. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  7. ^ Hanson, Dana (2019-05-29). "The History and Evolution of the Breitling Chronomat". Money Inc. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  8. ^ "The Complete History of the Chronograph Movement: 1940s–1980". revolutionwatch.com. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  9. ^ Jones, Roy. "The Breitling B01". Men's Health. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  10. ^ Kauzlarich, Mark. "Introducing: Breitling's Chronomat GMT May Be The Sleeper Hit Of The Year (Live Pics)". Hodinkee. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  11. ^ a b "Breitling (Re)Introduces the Chronomat with Rouleaux Bracelet". SJX. April 16, 2020.
  12. ^ Jones, Roy. "The Breitling B01". Men's Health. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2014-06-02.