Back to the future
Not long ago, I had the opportunity to check out several iterations of Breitling’s Chronomat B01 42—a model that was redesigned in 2020. I’m on record as being a fan of the brand, and of the Chronomat in particular. My 2007 Aerospace still commands the majority of my wrist time. I find the most recent iteration of the Chronomat—chronographe mathematique—to be a thoughtful evolution, and a mature refinement, of a model that began its life in 1940 as function-forward creation for the Italian Airforce. However, a year after they were released, Breitling issued the Super Chronomat. This bigger, bolder brother reaches back to 1984 for design cues and inspiration. It seemed then to fly in the face of brand trends.
But CEO, George Kerns, knows his audience. The Super Chronomat falls into what Breitling have dubbed “modern retro.” Here we have the newest of these Super Chronomats, the titanium B01 44 (EB0136251M1S1), and it does what Breitling does best. Brash. However, this time around, it takes a right turn at “tool” and heads straight toward “luxury.”
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Key Features of the Breitling Super Chronomat B01 44
As its name suggests, the Super Chronomat B01 44 is 44mm in diameter and 14.4mm thick. If you have a smaller wrist, you really have to lean into the size here, as the watch is also 53.5mm lug to lug. With a 22mm lug width, the Super Chronomat is aggressively athletic. Unlike other stainless-steel iterations of the 2020 Chronomat line, the titanium here is satin brushed with fine chamfers along the top of the mid-case and over the lugs. The lighter, tougher material mitigates the size somewhat, but takes nothing away from its commanding wrist presence. On the strap, it weighs a mere 121 grams.
Nods to the 80s can be found everywhere here. The domed and fluted crown, along with the pushers, are reminiscent of earlier models—only now they are fashioned from ceramic and look fantastic in gloss black to match the bezel insert. Notably, those pushers are also screw down. On the aforementioned insert, we find familiar rider-styled tabs, and along the edge, 12 distinctive protruding screws.
The bezel is 120-clicks and unidirectional with no back play. It is equipped with an elapsed time dive scale and the watch is water resistant to 200m.
Under its sapphire crystal, the Super Chronomat B01 44 features a broad, polished baton handset and matching applied hour markers with an arrow-tipped chronograph hand in the perfect shade of blue to break up the monochromatic colourway. The anthracite dial is vertically brushed and equipped with three-recessed sub-registers. All boast a fine concentric azurage. In the rehaut, there is an angled tachymeter scale, and in the centrally located sub-dial, there is a colour-matched date window. The dial elements, and bezel, are treated with Super-LumiNova.
Powering the Super Chronomat is the in-house B01 (first introduced in 2009). It is a 4Hz, 47-jewel movement with a 70-hour power reserve. The column wheel chronograph is COSC-certified and promises accuracy within -4/+6 secs/day. You can view it through the exhibition case back.
The watch is featured here on a rubber strap, designed to resemble the brand’s Rouleaux bracelet. It features intricate texturing and tapers from 22mm at the lugs to 20mm at the titanium deployant clasp. It can also be purchased on the bracelet.
Specs
| Case | Titanium 44mm Diameter 53.5mm Lug to Lug 14.4mm Thick /w Glass 22mm Lug Width Screwed Crown & Case back 200m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Glass /w AR Vertically Brushed Dial Applied Indexes Baton Handset Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | B01 Chronograph COSC-Certified Chronometer Central Chrono, Small Seconds, 30-Minute Counter, 12-Hour Register & Date @6 28 800bph 47 Jewels 70-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Rubber Rouleaux-style Strap /w Deployant Clasp |
Breitling Super Chronomat B01 44 in Titanium
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Final Thoughts
Other than its austere colourway (which is perfect with the titanium case), there is nothing subtle about the Super Chronomat B01 44. The watch looks like it belongs in the instrument panel of a luxury vehicle. The proliferation of polished black ceramic lends the timepiece a sense of distinction and flair, while the brushed case and matte dial reign it in somewhat. I love the strap. It is sporty and robust and maintains the characteristic Breitling aesthetic. The manufacture movement is a proven entity, and it looks good through the exhibition crystal. Overall, the Super Chronomat B01 44 is distinguished by fine craftsmanship and a bold design.
Pricing & Availability
The Super Chronomat B01 in titanium retails for $10 900USD ($13 650CAD) on rubber, or $13 4000 ($16750CAD) on the Rouleaux bracelet. For more information, please visit the brand website, or check it out at Breitling on Bloor.
About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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First class photography I was looking at the silver dial version but that anthracite dial with the blue marker just looks stunning you’re review has changed my mind so when I have enough money saved up this is the one,the only gripe is screw down pushers I’m not a fan however great review it’s a beautiful watch there’s no doubt about that
Thanks for the positive feedback, Mark. It’s a lot of watch. I will be jealous. Cheers!