Chronomat Airborne

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its flagship Chronomat model, Breitling is launching a special series with a resolutely technical and professional look. It encapsulates the entire spirit of this legendary chronograph that has become a reference in the field of pilot’s instruments.

In the early 1980s, Ernest Schneider – to whom Willy Breitling had just sold his firm –learned that the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian airforce aerobatics team, had issued a bid for tender on their first official watch. He accordingly decided to create a brand-new aviation chronograph specifically designed for pilots’ needs. This instrument was developed in close cooperation with the squadron. All details of the construction and exterior were designed to meet the demands of aviation professionals – be it the sturdiness of the case, the profile of the lugs, the readability of the dial and the ergonomic shape of the pushpieces and crown. Won over by this ultra-functional,
avant-garde and elegant chronograph, the Italian flying aces voted in its favor and the official Frecce Tricolori watch was launched in 1983.

The leading Breitling collection
Keenly aware of having created an instrument enshrining the brand’s entire philosophy and mission, Ernest Schneider chose to make this model the new flagship of the Breitling spirit. In 1984, the firm celebrated its 100th anniversary in grand style by launching its mainstream Chronomat collection. Over the past three decades, this exceptional chronograph has witnessed an evolution in its aesthetic expressed through a sequence of subtle adjustments – all the while maintaining its immediately recognizable character and style. Breitling has constantly improved its performances in terms of sturdiness, functionality, precision and reliability. In 2009, the Chronomat was the first model in the range to host the new Manufacture Breitling calibers. As the leader of the Breitling collection, it has established itself as an authentic horological classic – the embodiment of a world dedicated to performance, great feats and transcending existing limits.