When Breitling launched the all-new Chronomat in the year 2020, watch enthusiasts had no idea that merely a few months after that the Swiss watchmaker would release yet another tantalizing watch that would topple the previous ones. Breitling came out with the all-new Super Chronomat in a 44 mm wide case size. This new release consists of various new versions, like the UTC module bracelet, one made of 18-carat red gold, and lastly, a pair of references using the brand’s uncommon Four-Year Calendar.
The watch is a real-life interpretation of the saying “the bigger the better.†In a way, this new watch is Breitling’s way of acknowledging the brand’s long-standing heritage in the world of big-sized pilot’s chronographs.
The All-New Breitling Super Chronomat
As a brand, Breitling’s whole identity revolves around making top-notch chronographs. It’s like Chanel and haute couture, and the Chronomat is Breitling’s ‘little black dress’. Chronograph’s being the watchmaker’s core competency, it goes without a saying that the Chronomat collection is a flagship. Features such as polished surfaces, rider tabs, baroque crowns, analogue-digital time format, unique high-tech bracelets, bold displays, and bright colors are prime attributes.
The Breitling Chronomat is a watch that came out in the 1980s, 1982 to be more precise. This was a time when the world was getting crazy about flying and jets. The watch itself was a 39 mm tribute to a 1983 design created specifically for the Italian Jet Team Frecce Tricolori. This was an era filled with sleek looking Citizens, unapologetic Seikos, gorgeous Rolexes, and of course, bulky Breitlings.
The new 2021 Super Chronomat is essentially the classic 1980s design on steroids. The watches that have been made available are as follows –
- Super Chronomat B01 44 in black or blue with either rubber, steel, or steel with the super rad UTC module.
- B01 Chronomat in 18-carat red gold with a brown dial and bezel with either bracelet or rubber.
- Super Chronomat 44 Four-Year Calendar black or blue/two-tone with either rubber strap or steel bracelet.
First Impressions
The all-chronograph versions have the name B01 associated with them. These iterations are 44 mm wide, 14.45 mm thick, have see-through case backs, and offer a 200-meter water resistance. They house Breitling’s own B01 automatic COSC-certified chronograph column wheel and a vertical clutch mechanism. The bezels use ceramic inserts which is a first for the Chronomat. The rider tabs at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock are swappable. This allows the bezel to be used for either elapsed time or for count down purposes. This feature was also present in the original Chronomat.
The second in this line-up is the Super Chronomat Four-Year Calendar. The size remains the same at 44 mm. The thickness, however, increases to 14.55 mm. The water-resistance stands at 100 meters. The Chronomat uses Breitling’s Caliber 19 mechanism. It is based on an ETA 2892-A2. The Caliber 19 has been seen in several previous models from the Swiss watchmaker. The calibre uses a module that offers a chronograph as well as a calendar movement which accounts for everything but a leap year.
The calendar execution is definitely uncommon. The sub-registers are running double shifts. They are keeping tack of day, date, month, and moonphase, while keeping tabs on the 12-hour chronograph.
Honest Opinion
The functionality aspect is, without a doubt, top-class. Breitling has once again nailed another chronograph and done the honors of making it available to the masses.  But that aside, it is true that the Breitling Super Chronomat is not everyone’s cup of tea. The 44 mm size is going to be too big for some people. The Super Chronomat looks extremely good, but what is more important here is that it looks like a proper Breitling. That is what amazes me about this launch. After a long time, a luxury watchmaker has decided to be what it is truly known for rather than simply cater to public opinion.
Into the Details
The Super Chronomat B01 44 mm uses a Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 offering feature such as hours, minutes, small seconds, a 12-hour chronograph with central seconds, and lastly, a date display. The automatic movement musters up a power reserve of about 70 hours and runs a 28,800 vph.
The Super Chronomat 44 Four-Year Calendar is powered by the Breitling Caliber 19. The mechanism offers features such as hours, minutes, seconds, day display, date display, month, and of course, a moonphase. The automatic movement offers a power reserve of 42 hours and runs at 28,800 vph.
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