Breitling is almost a synonymous of chronograph, and in 2009, Breitling has officially launched the Breitling Chronomat B01 with their latest in-house automatic-winding chronograph movement, better known as Caliber B01. The watch will be offered at only about 40 retailers in the United States, with additional distributors coming online quickly. As of mid-2009, about 2000 pieces had been manufactured. Manufacture will finally reach about 50,000 pieces per annum.

The Breitling Chronomat B01 has been designed for approximately 5 years, and its launch coincides with the company’s 125th anniversary. The movement incorporates a column-wheel switching device and a vertical clutch, two hallmarks of a well-made chronograph. Using the vertical clutch system you are assured that this chronograph seconds hand in no way jumps when the chronograph is turned on. The Chronomat B01 has central chronograph seconds, nonstop seconds at nine, and a jumping 30 minute totalizer at three. The instant-change date is positioned at 4:30. The date can be modified at any time, even near midnight. The movement has a patented system for adjusting the start, stop and of course reset hammers. The 47 jewel movement is made possible by a flat hairspring and smooth balance wheel. A single barrel provides 70 hours of energy reserve. The Chronomat B01 ticks along at 28,800 vph, and as with all Breitling watches, the Chronomat B01 is obviously COSC-certified.

At Basel in Switzerland, Breitling’s VP Jean-Paul Girardin said that the company decided to manufacture Caliber B01 to satisfy market demand for a production movement, and to guarantee Breitling’s future. The organization believed that it ought to have a stable supply of mechanical chronograph motions, as this kind of timepiece accounts for almost 55% of Breitling’s gross sales.

The Chronomat B01 measures exactly 43.only 5mm in diameter and it will be available on 4 version: all steel, steel and gold, steel bezerl and solid gold (18K). That’s a total of 18 distinctive dials. The unidirectional bezel turns without difficulty with 240 teeth. The steel and two-tone versions are water resistant to 500 meters, while the all-gold model can be only taken down to 100 meters.

The Chronomat B01 starts at approximately $6500 for a steel model on a leather strap, while the opening price for the two-tone edition on a bracelet is $7770. The all-gold model will start at more than $21,000. The Chronomat B01 tops out at greater than $40,000 for the red gold and diamond model, which can be on a beautiful red gold bracelet.

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Jewelry, Watches & Diamonds