Breitling’s Chronomat collection release updates the brand’s 1980s-inspired sports watch with slimmer cases, cleaner dials, improved bracelet comfort, and new chronograph, 40 mm time-and-date, and 36 mm models. The 22-piece refresh keeps the Chronomat’s signature bezel tabs and Rouleaux bracelet while making the collection more wearable for modern buyers.
Originally introduced in 1942 before being reimagined in the 1980s, the Breitling Chronomat became one of Breitling’s most recognizable watches alongside the Navitimer and SuperOcean. Developed in partnership with an elite Italian Air Force aerobatics team during the height of the quartz crisis, the modern Chronomat stood out for using an old-school mechanical chronograph movement at a time when battery-powered watches dominated the industry. Its distinctive raised bezel tabs and “Rouleaux” bracelet made up of rounded links quickly became signature design elements, helping the Chronomat establish a cult following through the late 1980s and 1990s.
Breitling’s 22-Piece Chronomat Collection Refresh
Now Breitling has announced a major update to the Chronomat collection, introducing a new 22-piece lineup that includes revised chronograph, time-and-date, and smaller case models. The refreshed range centers on the Chronomat B01 42, Chronomat Automatic B31 40, and Chronomat Automatic 36, with Breitling focusing on slimmer proportions, improved wearability, and a more integrated overall design. The latest update builds on the Chronomat redesign Breitling unveiled in 2020, adding slimmer proportions and several refinements intended to improve wearability without substantially changing the watch’s character.
Slimmer Cases and Better Bracelet Comfort
The new Chronomat introduces a sleeker, more integrated case-and-bracelet design while still allowing strap changes thanks to concealed lugs built into the case. Steel and two-tone bracelet models also receive a new micro-adjustment system that lets the wearer extend the bracelet slightly while on the wrist for improved comfort. The flagship Chronomat B01 42 remains the centerpiece of the collection. As mentioned in our Breiting Chronomat review, this model is powered by Breitling’s COSC-certified Manufacture Caliber 01 chronograph movement, the updated model offers a 70-hour power reserve and a noticeably slimmer profile than its predecessor.
Case thickness has been reduced from 15.1 mm to 13.77 mm, while the removal of the 1/100 scale from the rehaut improves dial legibility. Breitling also downsized the crown guards to make the watch easier to operate and more balanced visually. Breitling is offering the B01 42 in multiple configurations, including stainless steel models with black, blue, green, and white dial options, as well as two-tone, red gold, and platinum versions, the latter pairing an ice-blue dial with either a metal bracelet or rubber strap.
40mm and 36mm Chronomat Models
The Chronomat Automatic B31 40 meanwhile introduces the first time-and-date Chronomat in a 40 mm case size. Powered by Breitling’s manufacture Caliber B31, first introduced in 2025, the watch delivers a 78-hour power reserve in a slim 10.99 mm case. Breitling will offer the model in stainless steel with white, blue, or green dials, along with platinum-accented versions featuring ice-blue dials. The Chronomat Automatic 36 rounds out the lineup with a thinner 36 mm case aimed at a broader range of wrist sizes. Variants include blue and mother-of-pearl dials, two-tone configurations, and several models featuring lab-grown diamond-set bezels and hour markers.
Chronomat Pricing and Campaign Details
Breitling is supporting the launch with a new “Feel the Detail” campaign focused on the Chronomat’s finishing and design details, starring Oscar-nominated actor Austin Butler, NBA champion and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. Pricing for the collection starts at $5,950 for entry-level stainless steel Chronomat Automatic 36 models and rises to $49,900 for top-tier precious-metal versions of the Chronomat B01 42 chronograph.
The Chronomat’s Modern Chapter
Breitling’s latest Chronomat update does not reinvent the collection as much as it refines what already made it recognizable. The slimmer cases, improved bracelet comfort, cleaner dials, and expanded size options make the Chronomat more wearable while preserving the bold design language that helped define the model in the 1980s. With chronograph, 40 mm time-and-date, and 36 mm options now included in the range, the collection gives Breitling a more versatile Chronomat lineup that feels modern without losing the character of the original.
