Breitling Transforms Its Core Sports Watch Collection with Improved Wearability and Modernity

Breitling’s Chronomat has long been a niche interest. The original debuted in 1984 in the wake of the steel sports watch trend, and ever since its 2020 relaunch, it has been overshadowed by flagship collections like the Superocean and Navitimer.

But in 2025, Breitling signaled a shift to the forefront by featuring the Chronomat in marquee partnerships with the NFL and (European) football superstar Erling Haaland.

Breitling

Now, that shift has come to fruition with a full relaunch, featuring three models with 22 distinct references, and headlined by what may be the esteemed Swiss watchmaker’s new most desirable chronograph.

Let’s start with the new Chronomat B01 Chronograph 42, because how could we not?

Its dial is essentially unchanged from the preceding 44mm iteration, with a classic 1960s motif in line with the Daytona and Autavia. But an updated case, which is smaller, sleeker and lands closer to the 1984 original, makes all the difference.

Breitling

The Chronomat was originally based on a special-edition chronograph called the “Frecce Tricolori” that the brand’s CEO had designed for Italian jet pilots in the early 1980s. It became a regular production model to mark the brand’s 100th anniversary.

It is best known for introducing Breitling’s Rouleaux steel bracelet, comprised of interconnected steel tubes with hemispherical ends. The ends have been flattened on the modern iteration, but the smooth, flexible look and feel that made the design a cult hit remain intact.

Don’t call it comeback

This 2026 revision both removes and adds details found on the 1984 debut.

Breitling

Along with the bracelet, the bezel was the other novel design element that distinguished the Chronomat. It featured steel nubs for enhanced grip and removable Rider Tabs that allowed the 45 and 15 to be switched, interchanging between a count-up and count-down bezel.

The Rider tabs were already faux on the modern Chronomat, and they are smoothed off on the newest version, while the grip nubs have been deleted altogether.

Breitling

Meanwhile, the crown has reverted to its original onion-esque shape, and the screw-down pushers of the previous generation now look like the 1984 version with the fluting removed.

Pandas and platinum

The Chronomat B01 Chronograph 42 debuts with six dial options. The standard steel case and bezel come with a traditional black-on-white panda, along with blue and green alternatives featuring sunburst brushing.

Breitling

There is a two-tone steel-and-18-karat red gold version with an anthracite dial and a full 18-karat red gold version with a brown sunburst dial.

Saving the best for last, there is the steel case with a platinum bezel and a sunburst sky blue dial. Anyone pining for an elusive platinum Rolex Daytona may find this a worthy substitute.

Breitling

There is only one small dial update, aside from the scaled-down size, but it is a tasteful refinement. The script “B” logo counterbalance on the seconds hand is gone, and the coloring is relegated to the arrow tip.

It is powered by the same Breitling Caliber B01 automatic movement found in the Navitimer collection, which beats at 4Hz and provides a 70-hour power reserve.

Where the rubber meets the wrist

Complementing the refined Chronomat case is a new rubber strap, essentially a rubber mold of the steel Rouleaux bracelet. It features the same micro-adjustable steel butterfly clasp as the bracelet.

Breitling

It is available on all B01 Chronograph cases, as well as the platinum B31 Automatic 40mm. The panda, two-tone and platinum references come with black, while the other rubber straps are color-matched to the dial.

The only time

The other two-thirds of the new Chronomat collection is comprised of the 40mm Chronomat B31 Automatic and the 36mm Automatic.

Both models feature the same case shape and Rouleaux bracelet as the chronograph, along with matching hands and indices on the dial. The bezel shows the same refinements, with only the 15-minute graduation removed, and it also uses the original Chronomat crown.

Breitling

The 40mm is powered by Breitling’s in-house Caliber B31 automatic movement, offering an impressive 78-hour power reserve. It is available with a dial in matte white, sunburst blue and sunburst green, as well as the same platinum bezel and sunburst sky blue combination as the chronograph.

Finally, there is the 36mm version, powered by the old, reliable Breitling Caliber 10 automatic, which beats at 4Hz and has a 40-hour power reserve.

Breitling

Unsurprisingly, the smallest model has a predominantly feminine lean. There is one barebones sunburst blue dial, joined by a white mother-of-pearl dial with red gold accents available in full steel or two-tone, a smoky gray mother-of-pearl dial with a diamond-encrusted bezel and a sunburst brown dial with a two-tone case and diamond-encrusted bezel.

Availability and pricing

I’m frankly unimpressed by the time-and-date Chronomat variations, but the chronograph blows me away. The smoothed-off silhouette, the more accommodating size and the callback crown and pushers are all brilliant adjustments. I’m a lifelong Navitimer fanatic, but this might be my new favorite Breitling.

The new Chronomat collection is available now from Breitling, with prices ranging from $5,950 for the 36mm steel up to $49,900 for the full-gold chronograph.

Breitling

Breiltling Chronomat (2026)

Specs

Case Size	42mm, 40mm or 36mm
Movement	Breilting Caliber B01, B31 or B10 automatic
Water Resistance	200m or 100m

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