Colt was born in the 1980s and initially intended for the armed forces – like other Breitling watches such as the Navitimer and the Chronomat – before winning over a broad audience through its sturdiness, its reliability and its readability. It has since established itself as the most accessible Breitling model. The newly revamped Colt features a design that reinterprets all the essential assets on which it has built its success. The broad unidirectional rotating bezel with a satin-brushed finish and engraved hour-markers is adorned with four rider tabs – a Breitling signature feature – ensuring excellent handling as well as enhanced protection of the sapphire crystal which is glareproofed on both sides. The polished steel case, water-resistant to 200 meters (660 ft), is equipped with a large screw-locked crown with protective reinforcements. The black, blue or silver dials are enlivened by a fine circular raised motif and their readability is enhanced by oversized hands and hour-markers, accentuated by a luminescent coating. The satin-brushed steel bracelet may be replaced by a rubber or leather strap. The new Colt comes in a range of four models: a 44 mm watch with a mechanical selfwinding movement certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) – the highest official benchmark in terms of reliability and precision; a watch and chronograph equipped with SuperQuartz movements, ten times more accurate than standard quartz; and a Lady watch with a smaller diameter and an optionally gemset bezel. All of which brings fresh momentum to this collection with a youthful, dynamic and winsome attitude.
COLT CHRONOGRAPH
Movement: Breitling Caliber 73, officially chronometer-certified by the COSC, thermocompensated SuperQuartz, fast timezone adjustment. 1/10th of a second chronograph, 60-minute and 12-hour totalizers with split times (split-second hand): Calendar. Case: steel. Water-resistant to 200 m (660 ft). Screw-locked crown. Unidirectional ratcheted rotating bezel. Sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides. Diameter: 44 mm. Dials: Volcano black, Mariner blue, Stratus silver. Straps/bracelet: leather, rubber Ocean Racer, rubber Diver Pro/Professional.
COLT AUTOMATIC
Movement: Breitling Caliber 17, officially chronometer-certified by the COSC, selfwinding, high-frequency (28,800 vph), 25 jewels. Calendar. Case: steel. Water- resistant to 200 m (660 ft). Screw-locked crown. Unidirectional ratcheted rotating bezel. Sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides. Diameter: 44 mm. Dials: Volcano black, Mariner blue, Stratus silver. Straps/bracelet: leather, rubber Ocean Racer, rubber Diver Pro/Professional.
COLT QUARTZ
Movement: Breitling Caliber 74, officially chronometer-certified by the COSC, thermocompensated SuperQuartz, battery end-of-life indicator. Calendar. Case: steel. Water-resistant to 200 m (660 ft). Screw-locked crown. Unidirectional ratcheted rotating bezel. Sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides. Diameter: 44 mm. Dials: Volcano black, Mariner blue, Stratus silver. Straps/bracelet:leather, rubber Ocean Racer, rubber Diver Pro/Professional.
COLT LADY
Movement: Breitling Caliber 77, officially chronometer-certified by the COSC, thermocompensated SuperQuartz, battery end-of-life indicator. Calendar. Case: steel. Water-resistant to 200 m (660 ft). Screw-locked crown. Unidirectional ratcheted rotating bezel. Sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides. Diameter: 33 mm. Dials: Volcano black, Mariner blue, Stratus silver. Strap/bracelet: leather/Professional.
This article was originally published on September 3, 2014, and has been updated.
Why are thickness dimension(s) left out of so many watch articles?
Shouldn’t it be noted that the quartz models do not have annual or perpetual calendar feature? Does ETA find this feature, which is part of so many quartz models, is unimportant?
Colt Automatic black dial is a fine timepiece, in fact, I have one.
The Colt Automatic, black dial, was my first purchase of a luxury watch. I have since acquired a few more expensive watches, but the Colt will always be one of my favorites.
The Colt 44 Automatic is sharp, the ladies one is nice too, not too different from the older version
Glad to see they are using the “old” style bezel rider tabs on the revamped Colt.