Breitling Chronomat

The Chronomat is one of Breitling’s most seminal – and most popular – models, an aviation-inspired sports watch that helped define the brand’s identity and was an early forerunner of its legendary Navitimer. Its name derives from CHRONOgraph for MAThematicians.

Launched in 1941, the original Chronomat earned a patent as a clever instrument whose circular slide rule made it relatively easy to perform various time/speed measurements and mathematical operations. It was a big hit with sporting and technical professionals.

Breitling’s 100th anniversary in 1984 saw the release of a modern Chronomat created for the Frecce Tricolori aerobatics team. The revamp replaced the circular slide-rule with a new design featuring four “rider tabs” on the bezel, making it easier to grip and turn.

Since 2009, all Chronomat models run on Breitling’s in-house movement. An in-house chronograph movement – meaning a watch movement with stopwatch function, built by a watchmaker entirely under one roof – is something quite special.