Breitling has issued a diamond-set version of its cash-cow: the Chronomat automatic chronograph. The Chronomat 01 Diamondworks is available in white gold and rose gold cases and bears enough diamonds either to rebuild the Republic of Haiti or to finance a manned mission to Mars. Thankfully, the chronograph is delivered in two versions with a more modest one having the use of diamonds limited only to its signature diving bezel.
Pilot's
Oris BC4 RHFS Limited Edition (ref. 674 7616 4284 Set)
Oris has devoted the 2010 limited-edition BC4 RHFS (ref. 674 7616 4284 Set) chronograph to the 4e Régiment d’Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales (4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment) that was established in August, 2009 and is now based in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Despite being an “aviator” (well, it is not your classic B-Uhr, but it is still styled like a plane’s instrument gauge,) the new BC4 RHFS is presented in a comparatively compact body and is equipped with a natural-born chronograph movement.
Reliable and Precise: the Bell & Ross Vintage Original BR 126 Black Officer Chronograph
Being biased towards chronographs (at least, when it comes to so-called ‘aviators’,) I must admit that I am almost in love with this mirror-polished Bell & Ross Vintage Original BR 126 Officer Chronograph. Offered in a refined mid-sized body that is inspired by pilot’s watches of the pre-WWII era, this iteration of the BR 126 model brings you a convincing combination of a relatively clean, easy-to-read dial and a slightly modified version of a reliable and precise Swiss-made automatic movement.
Fortis B42 Black Mars 500 Limited Edition
The 2010 limited-edition Fortis B42 Black Mars 500 is the German-based brand’s yet another attempt at monetizing its long-standing partnership with the Russian Roscosmos Federal Space Agency that dates back to the year 1994.
Longines Lindbergh’s Atlantic Voyage chronograph
It is not the first time that Longines brushes off some dust of its vintage-styled Charles Lindbergh chronograph model. First introduced in 1933 to mark its collaboration with the famous aviator, the Lindbergh’s Atlantic Voyage (L2.730.4.11.0) was re-issued several times with some minor tweaking to its vintage-style dial layout.
Archimede Pilot S 36mm Automatic (UA4919-A1.5D)
Archimede, a privately-owned German brand that primarily specializes in making homages to historic “aviators” of the WWII era, has finally issued a version of their signature series in a unisex case. Till now, the collection had only three sizes starting from a “mere” 39 mm for the most compact Pilot M, 42 mm for the mid-size Pilot, and going all the way up to an almost gigantic 45 mm for the Pilot XL. Now, the gadget is available as a lot more compact Pilot S (ref. UA4919-A1.5D) version that comes in a tiny 36-millimeter body suitable both for women and men of smaller stature.