The New Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Limited Edition Watch

Want to get your hands on a UK-exclusive Breitling Chronomat watch? Here’s how to do it.

Breitling has been paying lots of attention to the UK recently. Right on the heels of the release dedicated to Victoria Beckham, the esteemed Swiss watchmaker is treating us to another UK exclusive – the Breitling Chronomat B01 42 in black and grey. Its monochromic silhouette is certain to impact the wrist with a lot of professionalism and sophistication. The new Breitling watch from the Chronomat series has a tone-on-tone stainless steel bracelet, a signature knurled crown, and a tanned bezel for easy grip. Let’s meet the new Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Limited Edition watch. 

Breitling’s Blockbuster Hit

There are no two ways about it. The Chronomat is Breitling’s blockbuster hit. Its distinctive design is leveraged by chronometer-certified accuracy and complications that include chronographs and GMTs for those looking for something extra. Interestingly, the watch which launched in 1941 was fitted with the watchmaker’s famous slide rule bezel that now features on the iconic Navitimer watch. It underscores the collection’s roots in manufacturing expert pilot watches, along with its aviation heritage. The Chronomat watch that we all instantly recognise today, however, was released in 1984. It launched as part of Breitling’s 100th-anniversary celebrations and featured an onion-shaped crown and rider tabs on the cardinal points of the bezel. The top of the watch was capped with a sapphire crystal glass top and was even made available in rose gold and two-tone designs incorporating a mix of gold and steel. 

Why Buy a Breitling Chronomat?

There are many reasons why collectors continue to invest in the Breitling Chronomat watch. The range caters for male and female enthusiasts and has a sporty style that often comes fitted on the iconic Rouleaux bracelet. Breitling specialists engineered the bracelet specifically for the Chronomat range. Ever since then, it has served as a key design code to the series. More technical versions are the GMT variation and the classic chronograph iteration, which features in the latest releases we’re covering today. Breitling Chronomat watches are also respected for their in-house movements, which are also certified to COSC standards, offering an impressive 70-hour power reserve once fully wound. 

The Breitling Chronomat Chronograph version is also a great choice for Breitling fans in general. It doesn’t skip breakfast. These watches wear larger on the wrist than they measure, creating more of an impact. This is mainly down to the push-pieces on the side of an already chunky case design. These characteristics are all part of the personality of this watch. The architecture of the Breitling Chronomat is unbelievably masculine. Whether you like the stainless steel bracelets from the range or have an affiliation with the rubber band, the Chronomat is a very photogenic and Instagram-friendly watch that has gained huge global popularity with young and mature collectors over recent years. As well as its strong presence on the wrist, the Chronomat wears solidly and weighs a substantial amount on the arm. It gives you the feeling that the watch is manufactured from quality materials, is expensive, and will stand the test of time. All of which is true, of course.

The key adjustments to the collection from the 1980s onwards were the Rouleaux bracelet with naturally rounded links and the rider tabs that were made adjustable. All great choices, I must add. Those tabs, located at 15 and 45-minute locations on the bezel, were held into place by screws and could swap places depending on whether the wearer required a countdown or a count-up function.  It was a super modification to an already clever and functional design.

The New Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Limited Edition

With all that in mind, it’s clear to see why new designs like this UK-exclusive Breitling Chronomat B01 42 watch are just as popular today as they ever were. There is a nice mix of brushed and polished surfaces on the case and bracelet of this Breitling Chronomat release. The watch feels and looks premium. But it is the dial that is the main focus here. All elements on the display have been positioned meticulously to give the reader the best layout. To give the best access to those important timekeeping features and stopwatch functions. The date window, for example, is kept to the same colour scheme as the dial – a rich black that enables it to pop assist the anthracite-coloured chronograph sub-counters positioned at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. In fact, if the only thing to change about this watch was its baton hour markers, swapping them for Arabic numerals – you could be forgiven for mistaking this as a Dirty Dozen watch! 

As mentioned earlier, many of Breitling’s Chronomat watches are powered by an in-house movement. This Breitling Chronomat B01 42 watch reveals the engine in its title. The B01 self-winding Calibre is COSC-certified and is capable of producing an impressive power reserve of 70 hours once fully wound.  Its functions include hours, minutes small seconds, central 1/4th of a second, a 30-minute counter, and a 12-hour totaliser. 

The baton hour markers and the hands of this newly released Chronomat UK-exclusive watch are all treated with Super-LumiNova. They glow richly in the dark, granting you 24-hour access to the time no matter what the situation. I also like the fact that Breitling has retained all those lovable features on the case. The polished and brushed finishing, the knurled and onion-shaped crown and the aforementioned rider tabs, to name just a few. The case of the watch is also integrated with 200-meter water resistance and measures a 42mm diameter and a height of 15.1mm. 

As this watch is a limited edition, there are only 250 pieces and the model is also exclusive to the UK. Suffice it to say, if you want to be one of the first to flaunt this new rare timepiece on your wrist, you’ll have to move quickly. It comes fitted on the beautiful Rouleaux bracelet with a foldable clasp engraved with the iconic Breitling logo upon its surface. 

If you’d like to learn more about the new Breitling Chronomat, you can explore the B01 42 Limited Edition black and grey watch today online or view the entire Breitling Chronomat collection for more inspiration. Alternatively, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453 or email us a question at help@jurawatches.co.uk