To celebrate the 40 th anniversary of the launch of the first selfwinding chronograph movement, Breitling is introducing two limited editions of its Chrono-Matic model, featuring a look inspired by the 1969 original and equipped with precious quadrennial or perpetual calendars.

1969 was a great year for aviation, since it witnessed the first flight of the Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet and that of the supersonic Concorde, two legendary aircraft that made an indelible imprint on aeronautical history. But 1969 was also a landmark year in watchmaking, thanks to Breitling's pioneering launch of the very first selfwinding chronograph movement – an invention that led to the development of a whole range of aptly named Chrono-Matic chronographs. Today's 49 mm-diameter Chrono-Matic is a tribute to this forerunner of ultra-large watches. The circular slide rule confirms its family likeness with the Navitimer line, while the distinctive modernism of its 1970s inspiration is expressed through a case design based on taut, angular lines highlighted by a rubber-molded bezel.

Two limited series with calendars

To celebrate the 40 th anniversary of this movement and this legendary model, Breitling has created two limited series featuring refined horological complications.

The first is a steel edition of 2,000 combining a chronograph with a calendar mechanism requiring adjustment only once every leap year and thus endowed with a “memory” of 1,461 days – hence its name, “Chrono-Matic 1461”. The date, day and month are displayed on subdials by means of straight hands that accentuate the instrument panel look, while the optional woven steel Aero Classic bracelet lends an additional retro touch.

The avant-garde case of the second watch, crafted exclusively in red gold and issued in a worldwide limited edition of 125, houses a chronograph along with an ultra-sophisticated perpetual calendar system embodying a daring blend of modern and traditional elements. The mechanism of this “Chrono-Matic QP” is a miniaturized marvel composed of almost 500 parts. It is programmed to indicate the date, the day, the week, the month, the season and the moon phases while taking account of leap-year variations. Like all Breitling models, both of these limited editions are equipped with chronometer-certified movements.

Technical specifications

Chrono-matic 1461
Movement: Breitling Caliber 19, officially chronometer-certified by the COSC, selfwinding, high frequency (28,800 vibrations per hour), 38 jewels. 1/4th of a second chronograph, 30-minute and 12-hour totalizers. Leap-year calendar indicating the date, day and month.
Case: steel, limited edition of 2,000. Resistance to 3 bars. Rotating bezel with circular slide rule. Cambered sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides. Diameter: 49 mm.
Dials: Black, Mercury silver or Panamerican bronze.
Straps/bracelet: Barenia leather, crocodile leather, Ocean Racer/Aero Classic.
Retail Price: Steel case with Aero Classic bracelet - HK$83,600

Chrono-matic QP
Movement: Breitling Caliber 29, officially chronometer-certified by the COSC, selfwinding, high frequency (28,800 vibrations per hour), 38 jewels. 1/4th of a second chronograph, 30-minute and 12-hour totalizers. Perpetual calendar indicating the date, day, week, month, season and moon phases.
Case: red gold, limited edition of 125. Resistance to 3 bar. Rotating bezel with circular slide rule. Cambered sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides. Diameter: 49 mm.
Dials: Black or Panamerican bronze.
Straps: Barenia leather, crocodile leather or Ocean Racer.
Retail Price: 18K red gold case with Ocean Racer rubber strap – HK$517,000