It’s been just over two months since the Swiss brand presented a limited edition of its Chronomat 41 chronograph. Now the company with the winged B in its logo presents a new version of its 44 mm automatic chronograph.
Called Breitling Chronomat Frecce Tricolori 44 and limited to just 1000 pieces, it bears the emblem of the Italian Air Force aerobatic demonstration team.
As usual, the differences between the original Chronomat 44 and the limited-edition version are minor and restricted to visual changes here and there.
As I have already mentioned, the watch comes with the dial decorated with three arrows (in Italian, “frecce” stands for “arrows”) painted in the colors of the Italian flag: the well-known emblem of P.A.N. Frecce Tricolori.
The matt-black dial is decorated with three silver-toned sub-dials with a small seconds indicator placed at 9 hours, and the 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph totalizers sitting at 3 and 6 o’clock position respectively. Like many “real” pilot’s watches of the past, the timekeeper features a beige-colored Superluminova that covers portions of its hour and minute hands, as well as the central chronograph hand and the hour markers.
Of course, the watch is also available with a sky-blue dial that is nicely matched by Arabic numerals of the same color printed on the rotating bezel. If you plan to wear this piece with your blue jeans, the color match will probably look almost too good to be true.
It also plays nicely with the color of their gorgeous Navitimer Blue Sky 60th Anniversary chronograph that was revealed last month (not that I expect you to wear both watches at once, but still).
The last thing that reminds us that the watch is dedicated to the Italian flyboys is, of course, the solid back cover of the case, which is not only engraved with the unique number of each timekeeper but also depicts ten Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN aircraft that Frecce Tricolori flies.
The screwed case-back covers the same Caliber B01 automatic chronograph movement that powers the new generation of Chronomats. Designed and built in-house, each movement is thoroughly adjusted, finely decorated, and sent for testing to COSC: the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute that makes sure that the calibers comply with the strictest standards of modern horology.
Still no info on pricing*.
See also: Breitling Chronomat 44 TOPGUN Chronograph LE
UPDATE ON PRICE: We have just been informed that in the United States the chronograph will have a sticker price of $9,400.
Photos: Breitling / Konflikty.pl (via Wikipedia)
Breitling Chronomat Frecce Tricolori 44 specification
Price: $9,400 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber B01, in-house, COSC-certified chronometer, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 47
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 70 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 44.00 mm
Case height: 19.95 mm
Lug/Strap width: 22.00/20.00 mm
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic
Hour markers: Luminous, beige
Hands: Steel, luminous
Water resistance: 500 meters
Strap: Black rubber band with Breitling insignia
Crystal: Sapphire, cambered, antireflective on both sides
Back: Solid, engraved with ten Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN jets flying in formation, screwed-in