Initially introduced in the early 1980s following the quartz crisis of the previous decade, the Breitling Chronomat, a portmanteau of the words ‘chronograph’ and ‘automatic’, was designed to be tough enough for the cockpit yet elegant enough to be worn off-duty. Relaunched in 2020, the Breitling Chronomat was an instant hit, becoming one of the best-selling lines for the Swiss watchmaker. Combining vintage aesthetics with sporty style, it comes in sizes ranging from the robust 44mm chronograph to the slim 32mm three-hands model.
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However, there has always been a gap in the middle, with the sizes jumping down from 42mm to 36mm. Now, Breitling has released two new sizes that are neither too small nor too large — as Goldilocks would put it, they’re “just right.” Designed to cater to any wrist, Breitling has introduced the new Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 and Super Chronomat Automatic 38.
The Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 release comprises five new references, with subtle sunray dial colours of black, blue, green, anthracite, and white, each paired with a stainless steel case and bracelet. The dial takes a tone-on-tone approach to the 24-hour scale, with the red GMT hand providing a contrasting pop of colour. The dial takes a pared-back approach, with clean stick indices and a slim date window at 6 o’clock. Powered by the Breitling Calibre 32, it has a 24-hour scale that enables wearers to track a second time zone and comes with 42 hours of power reserve.
As with all Chronomat variants, the Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 comes on the signature Breitling rouleaux bracelet, which wraps comfortably around the wrist and imbues the timepiece with old-world style.
Meanwhile, the Super Chronomat Automatic 38 is intended to make a style statement, differentiated from the rest of the Chronomat family by its ceramic rider tabs and onion crown, as well as the rubber rouleaux bracelet that is only available with this line. The new Super Chronomat Automatic 38 features a bezel — crafted from 18k red gold or stainless steel — studded with oversized lab-grown diamonds.
Available in hues of silver, mint green, and ice blue with a sunray finish, the Breitling Super Chronomat Automatic 38 can be paired with the signature polished metal rouleaux bracelet or swapped out for either a rubber rouleaux strap or alligator leather strap. It’s powered by the Breitling Calibre 17 and has a power reserve of around 38 hours.
The Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 is priced at $7950AUD and the Super Chronomat Automatic 38 begins at $13450AUD, with both styles available via the Breitling webstore.
Words by John Deckard