Breitling Chronomat B01 Chronograph Review | What's New?

Looking for a highly accurate, and water-resistant heavy-duty watch from one of the more popular luxury watch brands? Let us put this watch to the test in our Breitling Chronomat B01 Chronograph review.

 Breitling Chronomat B01 Chronograph Review

This watch collection was designed to be an all-purpose sports watch that can be used for many situations. It runs on an in-house COSC certified Chronometer movement; the Breitling caliber B01 that contains 47 jewels and an above-average power reserve of 70 hours. This automatic movement oscillates at a rate of 4Hz / 28,800 and because it is a self-winding watch, it keeps the watch tightly wound using a built-in winding rotor that converts the kinetic energy from your wrist movement to tighten the mainspring.

Comparison of the B01 42 and B01 44 Chronographs

While a newer version of the Chronomat Chronograph is now available in a smaller 42mm case size, the one thing that ultimately differentiates this series from the newer series is the fact that it has three times the water resistance. The Chronomat 44mm is water-resistant up to 600m/1650ft and that is enough for some serious deep-water diving.

Does this make it more appealing? To some who need an extra-strength case, yes. To others, they can get by with the newer 42 model that only offers 200m of water resistance; enough for some impact water sports, board diving, and scuba diving.

There are many similarities between these two different series but also a few aesthetic differences. We will name them to make them more identifiable.

DATE WINDOW:

• 44 model - Located between the 4 and 5 o’clock position in a diagonally tilted aperture and displays the day of the month.
• 42 model - Located at the 6 o’clock position and integrated within the chronograph’s 12-hour counter

CROWN GUARDS:

• 44 model - Narrower and more curvaceous design that sweeps upwards at the pushers
• 42 model - Wider and more tapered design extending to the chronograph pushers

BEZEL RING:

• 44 model - Larger luminous dot at the start position; engraved indices on radial brushed bezel ring; polished square for each of the 15-minute intervals.
• 42 model - Smaller luminous dot at the start position; engraved and paint-filled indices on polished bezel ring; rider tabs which are a brushed finished square with engraved and paint-filled numerals for each of the 15-minute intervals, these are screwed-in tp the bezel ring.

DIALS

• 44 model –
  • Polished central chronograph seconds hand with Breitling ‘B’ logo located close to the central hand’s peg
  • Indices tipped with luminous material except for the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock index hour markers which contain no luminous material
  • BRANDING: Breitling ‘B’ icon on top at the 12 o’clock position of the dial, with the Breitling wordmark beneath it; then the words CHRONOMETER beneath on the 3^rd line and CHRONOMAT on the 4^th
• 42 model –
  • Red-painted central chronograph seconds hand with Breitling ‘B’ logo counterweighted extended further past the central hand’s peg
  • INDICES with a luminous tip and luminous center
  • More slender hands compared to the 44
  • BRANDING: Breitling ‘B’ icon on top at the 12 o’clock position, with 1884 on the 2^nd line, the Breitling wordmark beneath it on the 3^rd line; then the words CHRONOMETER beneath on the 4^th line and CHRONOMAT on the 5^th

BRACELET

• 44 model - Staggered vertical link design with deployant (folding buckle)
• 42 model - Breitling re-introduces the Rouleaux bracelet; a concept that has alternating link types with a combination of round horizontal and vertical links and a hidden folding clasp.

CHRONOGRAPH PUSHERS

• 44 model – Notched straight design
• 42 model – Smooth polished tapered design

CASE BACK

• 44 model - Solid case back besides on the Las Vegas limited edition model
• 42 model - Transparent sapphire crystal case back

While there are several aesthetic differences between these two series of watches, for most people, the favorite difference is the case back. The solid case back on the 44 was replaced with a transparent sapphire case back on the 42. Watch collectors love watching the action of the mechanical movements. This gave them an opportunity to see gears in motion.

Overall, the watches in this collection are versatile watches that can look as good on your wrist when wearing a wet suit as it does when you wear a 3-piece pinstriped suit. It is a sporty watch that is also available on a leather strap, rubber strap as well as a steel or two-tone (stainless steel & rose gold) bracelet.  There are also quite a few material and dial color combinations that can accommodate any look.

Browse either of these two series in this collection using the buttons below.

Chronomat B01 42                                           Chronomat B01 44

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