Breitling Watches Collection Guide

We take a look in greater detail at the collections of famed Swiss watch brand Breitling.

Navitimer

The Breitling Navitimer is perhaps the brand’s most iconic watch, having been in production for the longest of all their ranges, after launching in 1952. With a clear open face design, and a circular slide rule on the bezel and dial, the Navitimer is a classic sports chronograph watch with a retro aesthetic.

With characteristic 1950’s looks the Breitling Navitimer was originally designed with aviation in mind; the slide rule feature enabling a pilot to perform all the calculations that a flight plan required. Other pieces from the collection feature a second time zone, such as the GMT world, and the Cosmonaute, with a 24-hour dial.

The hero piece of the collection, the Navitimer 01, combines original design with Breitling’s technical expertise, with an in-house Calibre 01 movement for absolute accuracy. Distinguishes by its steel case, black dial and red second hand, it is also available as a rose gold version. The bi-directional, ratcheted rotating bezel ensures smooth and easy handling of the famous slide rule.

Water resistant to just 30m, the Navitimer is not designed for diving.

Sizes range from 43mm to 48mm.

Price: £4710 to £17,520.

Chronomat

With a chunkier, heavier looking case, the Chronomat is a more robust watch; water resistant to 500m and designed to be an all-rounder. Featuring a diver’s bezel and chronograph, it comes in steel, steel and gold or gold. Including models such as the Chronomat 44, nearly every piece in the collection incorporates an in-house Breitling movement. The Chronomat collection is highly customisable with a broad selection of dials, straps and bracelets.

Sizes range from 38mm to 47mm.

Price: £5250 to £41,820.

Transocean

The Transocean collection is a contemporary take on classic midcentury design. With a nod to the retro but a more understated look, it incorporates Breitling’s in-house chronograph movements in the majority of the range. The dial is clear and easily readable featuring applied hour-markers, finely recessed counters and an inscription of the B initial on the dial, which for many years served as the brand’s symbol. Models also include the very distinctive looking Transocean Unitime, also featuring a chronograph mechanism.

Sizes range from 38mm to 46mm.

Price: £3,780 to £23,410.

Avenger

In comparison to the Chronomat, the Breitling Avenger features a simpler case design, with a diver’s bezel and either an automatic or automatic chronograph movement. Although the Avenger doesn’t boast an in-house movement, it is still hand finished by Breitling to their same exacting standards.

The Avenger 11 Chronograph comes in several dial colours (black, blue and grey) with stencil numerals or hour-markers, on a rubber strap or on a bracelet. The steel case is water-resistant to 300m with screwed-in pushpiece guards and a self-winding chronometer-certified chronograph movement.

Sizes range from 44mm to 48mm.

Price: £2,760 to £6,480.

Tip: If you’re a fan of the Avenger but looking for an entry level price point, we would recommend looking at the Colt collection.

Superocean

Breitling’s dedicated diver’s collection, the Superocean features a highly legible dial, luminous markers and in the case of the Superocean Chronograph M2000, the only diver’s chronograph which can be used for timing underwater.

Equipped with a sturdy 44 mm steel case, this latest-generation diver’s watch is distinguished by its exceptional water resistance to a depth of 1,000m. Housing a chronometer-certified self-winding movement, the Breitling Superocean also features a highly legible black or blue dial with oversized numerals and luminescent hands. A security valve equalises the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the case.

Sizes range from 42mm to 46mm.

Price: £2,550 to £5,670.

Colt

Equipped with a Breitling SuperQuartz™ movement, ten times more accurate than standard quartz, the Colt is the entry price point model for Breitling and a fantastic watch to start your collection. With a uni-directional bezel, engraved hour-markers and water resistant case to 200m, the Breitling Colt is a sturdy, reliable and functional watch.

Sizes range from 36mm to 44mm.

Price: £1,880 to £3,950.

Professional

Breitling’s Professional collection includes the highest level of technical expertise often required by pilots and men of action including the Emergency, Cockpit B50 and Aerospace ranges. The Emergency is the world’s first wristwatch with a built-in dual frequency Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), which can both issue alerts and guide search and rescue missions and is an essential survival instrument for adventurers.

Equipped with a SuperQuartz™ movement, which is ten times more accurate than standard quartz, it also comes in a black titanium “Night Mission” version featuring an anti-glare stealth-type look designed for the riskiest operations.

Sizes range from 43mm to 51mm.

Price: £2,440 to £12,040.

Montbrillant

With classic midcentury looks and the famous aviation slide rule, the Montbrillant 01 chronograph was named after the building on Ruelle Montbrillant in La Chaux-de-Fonds which housed the original Breitling workshops.

Equipped with a high-performance in-house Breitling Calibre 01 movement, along with a silver dial featuring hollowed counters, the caseback is embossed with a medallion depicting the historical Montbrilliant building.

Available in a single size of 40mm.

Price: from £5420.

Galactic

Designed for men and women who don’t require the functionality of a chronograph, the Galactic is a sporty and versatile collection. With a distinctive double-window calendar providing an optimal date display, the Galactic collection features a self-winding movement housed in a sturdy case, water resistant to 300m.

Prices start from about £2500 Sizes range from 29mm to 41mm.

Price: £2,500 to £12,150.

To see more of the Breitling collections, visit thewatchgallery.com for more information.