Breitling Chronomat B01 Chronograph

The new Breitling Chronomat B01 Chronograph will soon officially go on sale. In a nutshell, it rocks.

As much as I like the Breitling SuperOcean collection of diving watches, I resent their numerous editions of pilot’s or racing watches.

They just look way too busy, defying the very concept of the instrument, which is to offer a dial layout that allows you to grasp current reading at a glance.

Try to do this feat with the Breitling for Bentley or the Navitimer with its famous slide rule and you’ll see, what I mean. They are just too busy with lots of decoration and a great deal of information pouring upon your head.

And, adding insult to injury, models with white dials are not contrast enough for an average eye.

However, there is something captivating about the new Breitling Chronomat B01 chronograph watch. It is still busy with information and I highly doubt that you will be able to tell the time in a bright day without squinting and swearing under your breath, but I like it, especially, the one, which is made in stainless steel and gold mixte.

What I like the most about the steel/gold version, is that the number of golden parts is limited to the crown, a pair of chronograph push-pieces, four details on the bezel, as well as the Roman numerals on the dial and all five hands. There are also golden links in the mirror-polished stainless steel bracelet.

The modest amount of the precious metal provides the new Breitling Chronomat B01 with an elegant look, without actually screaming ‘Look, look, look at me,’ which is a problem with most Breitling’s watches wholly crafted in gold.

But the main head turner here is their new COSC-certified Caliber B01 chronograph movement, which was developed solely in-house. Although the caliber still needs to pass the test of time in order to prove its reliability and robustness, there seems to be no doubt as to its accuracy.

According to initial press releases, the German watch magazine Uhren-Magazin is going to rave about the caliber’s accuracy in its upcoming printed issue. The publication says that, during their tests, the watch demonstrated such a high degree of precision that it even created the impression that “the Chronomat [was] equipped with a quartz movement.”

That says something, right?

Photos: Breitling

Breitling Chronomat B01 Chronograph watch specification:

Price range: €7500
Movement: Breitling B01, automatic, 28,800 vph, 47 jewels, COSC-certified chronometer
Complications: Chronograph, date
Power reserve: 70 hours
Case material: Stainless steel, gold, solid case back
Case size: 43.5 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: White, with three chronograph totalizers
Water resistance: 500 m
Strap: Barenia leather, crocodile leather, Ocean Racer, Diver Pro II / Pilot
Crystal: Sapphire, domed, anti-reflective on both sides