In the new Breitling Chronomat 44 Raven, Breitling wraps its manufacture Caliber 01 chronograph movement in a case that employs striking contrasts to achieve excellent legibility and a bold interpretation of the brand’s signature instrument style. Let’s take a closer look.
The satin-brushed, 44-mm steel case wears a carbon-based coating that resists the elements. The unidirectional rotating bezel features orange rubber-inlaid numerals that can be seen from across a room. The case is water-resistant to 200 meters, or 660 feet.
The orange highlights on this new Breitling Chronomat carry over to the inner tachymeter bezel, and to the central chronograph seconds hand and the counter pointers. These subdials include continuous seconds at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute totalizer at 3, and a 12-hour totalizer at 6. The date appears at 4:30. The hands and hour markers are matte black, as is the dial, but attractive cream-color lume makes everything easy to read day or night. The case can be fitted with either a rubber Diver Pro strap with a traditional pin buckle, or a rubber Ocean Racer strap with a folding clasp.
Visible through a transparent sapphire caseback, the in-house Breitling Caliber 01 movement is fitted with a black oscillating weight enhanced with orange markings that attest to the movement’s status as a chronometer, officially certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute). The movement runs at 28,800 vph in 47 jewels with a 70-hour power reserve.
The Breitling Chronomat 44 Raven is available at retailers now, priced at $9,825.
Any idea of what is going to happen to all these beautiful watches that do not have their own mechanisms? Are spares going to be available in the near future and why these great small watch makers still keep using eta and similar products? Is there an alternative? Thank you, Spiros
I love Breitling chronographs as they are lovely watches, yet quite affordable.
Unlike some watch brands, Breitlings do not cost an arm and a leg.
That’s true, and they are beautiful timepieces, but they still cost enough that one would expect a better job of luminescence on the dial and hands. The poor lume on Breitlings are a deal-breaker for me, especially when I’m spending $3K+ for a watch. Many cheaper brands have excellent lume on them. Why not Breitling?