Description

The Breitling Chronomat, an iconic pilot’s watch, has enjoyed a long and illustrious journey since the name was first used by the brand in 1942. Lauded for its precision, durability and style, it initially gained popularity amongst aviators for its innovative features and superior performance. The Chronomat's chronograph function enabled pilots to measure elapsed flight time, enhancing its appeal.


The Chronomat began life as a watch that looked remarkably similar to today’s Navitimer, another legendary Breitling chronograph. Its dial featured an integrated slide rule calculator and a telemetre scale—indeed the dial included so many numbers that the original Chronomat name was a contraction of “Chronographe Mathematique”.


It also came with the notched bezel that is now a signature style of the Navitimer and is no longer used for the Chronomat.


The early 1980s saw the birth of the Chronomat as we know it today. Breitling’s then chairman, Ernest Schneider, learnt that the Italian Frecce Tricolori jet team was seeking a watch for its pilots and, as an avid pilot himself, he was the perfect candidate to spearhead the project.


Schneider spent time with the elite acrobatics team, learning about their specific requirements and the problems they had with their existing timepieces. One thing he discovered was that pilots often broke the crystals of their watch by accidentally bashing it when they extended their arm to open the canopy of their plane.