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Two new models from Breitling represent different sides of the Swiss luxury watchmaker’s personality. Both are retro-inspired, but they’re rooted in very different decades, have distinct looks and purposes and employ different technologies. The new Chronomat B01 42 chronograph and the new Superocean Heritage ’57 dive watch, however, are both very “Breitling” in their own bold and sporty ways.
The Chronomat was born in 1984, and it looks like it — in a good way — with its bezel’s “rider tabs” and, here, the very throwback feel to its “Rouleaux” bracelet. The newer Chronomat collection featured the B01 automatic movement when it was first introduced over a decade ago, and it’s powering the new Chronomat B01 42 too, with its column wheel and vertical clutch, automatic winding and a 70-hour power reserve.
At 42mm wide, the updated Chronomat is also 2mm smaller than the existing models. Ten SKUs in total offer choices in steel beginning at $8,100 and a limited edition model for Bentley, two-tone models with gold elements, and even an all-gold version topping out the collection at $20,200.
The Superocean Heritage ’57 Capsule Collection, on the other hand, consists of a dive watch that takes its inspiration from the 1950s and ’60s. Breitling has tweaked the design not only of the dial, but the 42mm-wide case has also been reworked for improved wearability with shorter lugs and a thinner profile.
Here, a sourced, three-hand automatic movement based on the ETA 2892 helps offer a lower price point. It’s COSC chronometer-certified, like all Breitling watches are, and helps keep the case relatively thin at just 10mm — pretty good for a dive watch, though this one is rated only to 100m of water resistance.
In total, there are four models of the Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57, including those with traditional blue and black coloring as well as one with gold highlights — but the fourth model is a limited edition with highlights done up in rainbow colors. Prices start at $4,835 and go up to $5,690.
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