Century of quality chronographs
The expertise of Breitling has long-included crafting sophisticated timers, whose first wrist chronograph appeared in 1915.
The brand hails its founder, Leon Breitling, as inventing the modern chronograph, which went on to include an independent chronograph pushpiece, followed by separating the stop/start function from that of resetting and creating a second independent reset pushpiece.
After a century, the Swiss watchmaker reinforces its heritage with 2015 models designed for sky-high and underwater operations, with performances of the chronographs certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute).
The black-clad Superocean Chronograph M2000 has been bestowed the title of Dark Knight of the Ocean, while the retro Chronoliner is described as an authentic flight captain’s watch, and the Colt Chronograph Automatic a born-for-action timepiece.
Breitling’s association with aviation began in the 1930s when its on-board chronographs were placed in cockpits, including those of fighter planes. Its chronographs then became standard equipment on propeller-driven planes and jet airliners due to the boom in commercial aviation in the 1950s and 60s.
Inspired by a mid-20th century model, t he Chronoliner features a chronometer-certified chronograph to measure flight times, with its performances displayed on counters at 12, 9 and 6 o’clock.
The second time zone is easily readable due to a red-tipped hand and a rotating bezel with a graduated 24-hour scale equipped with a precise ratcheted system.
A scratch-resistant black ceramic bezel is perhaps the most distinctive feature, with a star-shaped cut-out to enable handling while white ceramic numerals ensures optimal contrast. Likewise, the white luminescent hour marker and hands stand out against the dial’s black background.
The oversized 46mm model is presented in a steel case, whose back bears stylised planes as Breitling’s signature and a tribute to aviation.
Initially designed for the armed forces, Colt debuted in the 1980s. Its sturdiness, functionality and readability appealed to a broader audience, with the Colt becoming the most accessible Breitling product as well as a sporty model associated with the Red Bull Air Race, in which the brand’s team pilot Nigel Lamb is the reigning champion.
Similar to the Chronoliner, the self-winding Colt Chronograph comes with functional counters positioned at 12, 9 and 6 o’clock.
With satin-brushed finishes and engraved hour-markers, the broad unidirectional rotating bezel is distinguished by four “rider tabs” — a signature Breitling feature — ensuring excellent handling and optimal protection of the glare-proof sapphire crystal.
The 44mm watch comes in three variations, differing in the black, blue or silver dial. The design combines a fine circular raised motif and luminescent oversized hands and hour-markers, to give dimension to the face.
Featuring a large screw-locked crown with protective reinforcements, Colt Chronograph’s steel case is water-resistant to 200m. Superocean Chronograph M2000 however can outdo that by plunging 10 times deeper into an abyss.
Breitling is also a developer of instruments for professional divers, with the Superocean claimed as the ultimate diver’s watch capable of operations at 2,000m.
Previously in a polished steel case, the sporty timepiece is bolder in black, achieved by a high-resistance carbon-based treatment.
Available in 250 pieces, the 46mm blacksteel version is equipped with a patented magnetic pushpiece system that enables the chronograph controls to be handled via the metal of the case, making this model functional in the deep water.
Equipped with a built-in decompression valve to vent helium, the sturdy case is fitted with 4mm-thick glareproof sapphire crystal for a clear view of the dial, whose luminescent oversized hands and hour-markers ensures readability.
The movement however is a thermo-compensated SuperQuartz, chronometer -certified by the COSC, to offer a degree of precision ten times higher than that of ordinary quartz.