Chronomat B01 Chronograph 42
The all-purpose sports chronograph: rider tabs, Rouleaux bracelet, and the line that helped Breitling return to mechanical watchmaking.
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Story & heritage
Breitling’s official Chronomat story places the modern line at a pivotal moment: in 1983, as extra-thin quartz watches dominated the market, Ernest Schneider worked with the Frecce Tricolori aerobatics team on a robust mechanical chronograph built for pilots.
The Chronomat then became the brand’s all-purpose sports watch, known for four raised rider tabs on the bezel and the rounded Rouleaux bracelet. The current B01 42 keeps that muscular profile while housing Breitling’s in-house chronograph movement.
Materials & craft
The current Chronomat B01 Chronograph 42 pairs a 42 mm stainless-steel case and Rouleaux bracelet with a sapphire crystal and 20-bar water resistance. Inside is the Breitling 01 manufacture self-winding chronograph caliber, specified by Breitling with an approximately 70-hour power reserve.
How to choose & style
The Chronomat is the everyday Breitling if the Navitimer feels too cerebral: sportier, cleaner and bracelet-forward. Green gives the steel case a contemporary edge; black or blue are easier daily choices. It looks strongest as a one-watch rotation piece with denim, tailoring or technical outerwear.
