Breitling Introduce Classic AVI Chronograph 42 and Super AVI and Vintage Re-Edition

Breitling have been steadily working their way through their many collections with comprehensive updates and whole suites of new releases. Last year saw expansions to the Navitimer line as well as the SuperOcean whereas this year has seen some limited edition Chronomats and a refreshed Premier collection. Now it’s the long-awaited turn of the AVI collection with the launch of five new Classic AVI Chronograph 42s, a Super AVI Chronograph GMT 46 and an AVI Ref. 765 1964 Re-Edition.

Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42

The Classic AVI Chronograph 42 is a new addition to the range based on the aesthetic codes of the Super AVI with a reduced size of 42mm. 42mm is a far more common watch size than the gargantuan 46mm Super AVI, making the new watches more accessible for those of us without ham sized forearms. Four of the five references have stainless steel cases while the fifth is more luxurious in 18k red gold.

Each of the colourways is dedicated to one of four iconic warplanes. There’s the P-51 Mustang with a black dial and beige markings, the gold edition is also dedicated to the P-51 with a taupe dial. Next is the Vaught F4U Corsair in blue, then then Curtiss Warhawk in olive green with white tricompax chronograph counters and finally the Mosquito in reverse panda with a black ceramic 12-hour bezel.

In terms of complications, the Classic AVI Chronograph 42 is almost identical to the Super AVI. It has the same 12-hour bezel for flight calculations, and chronograph complication consisting of 1/4th seconds, a 30-minute timer and a 12-hour timer. However, the slimmer profile of the 42 means it lacks the peripheral GMT function and date window of the 46, which in my opinion is no great loss if it saves 4mm in size.

Beneath the surface of all five is the Breitling Calibre 23 with 48-hour power reserve and COSC-certification. It also contributes to the reduced size of the Classic AVI Chronograph 42 as it’s smaller than the B04 movement of the Super. It’s protected by a solid caseback bearing an engraving of the associated plane.

I’m a fan of the addition of these watches to the range. The absence of a GMT scale makes the display much less cluttered and improves the legibility notably. It leans into its mil-spec style to a greater degree and feels more aligned with the AVI’s origins in the 1930s when it was the go to watch for many aviators, a fact that by the 1950s had earned its most popular version, the Ref. 765, the nickname “Co-Pilot”.

As for pricing, the standard versions (steel P-51 Mustang, Vaught F4U Corsair and Curtiss Warhawk) are £5,200 on bracelet and £4,950 on strap. The Mosquito, with its ceramic bezel, is slightly more at £5,300 on bracelet and £5,050 on strap. Lastly the gold edition P-51 is £31,000 on gold bracelet or £15,900 on strap.

Breitling Super AVI Chronograph GMT 46 Mosquito Night Fighter

It feels like the Super AVI Chronograph GMT 46 has been around forever but it’s actually only been two years since it made its debut. Now the collection is being expanded with the addition of another colourway, based on the original Mosquito edition. Instead of a reverse panda display and steel tone case, the new piece has gone full stealth.

That means it has a black ceramic case, a first for this model. Ceramic is a super lightweight material, which is particularly relevant for a watch measuring 46mm in diameter as it reduces the weight notably compared to steel – although without handling them side by side it’s impossible to say exactly how much difference it will make. It’s also worth noting that it isn’t a full ceramic case as it features a titanium caseback with exhibition window.

In keeping with the stealth Night Fighter theme, the white subdials and GMT scale of the Mosquito have been replaced with dark grey. They’re not completely black, which I prefer as it maintains the structure of the display and keeps it distinct from the P-51 Mustang edition. This is undoubtedly my favourite of the Super AVI designs, it’s much more dramatic and really feeds into the theme of it being a stealth fighter.

As with the previous Chronograph GMTs, it’s powered by the Breitling Calibre B04 automatic, visible through the exhibition window. It has a great 70-hour power reserve and just like the Calibre 23 has COSC-certification, guaranteeing a high degree of accuracy. It’s one contributing factor to the Mosquito Night Fighter’s price of £9,950, which is higher than even the standard Super AVI Mosquito due to the case upgrade.

Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1964 Co-Pilot Re-Edition

Last but by no means least we have the new AVI Ref. 765 1964 Co-Pilot Re-Edition, a limited edition of 164 pieces. The 1960s marked an important milestone in the AVI Ref. 765’s history as it was the first time that it began to gain popularity outside of the aviation industry. It’s robust design and sporty chronograph complication meant it found a home in the world of sports. The most famous reference was created in 1964, although it was in 1968 that it was worn by Jean-Claude Killy at the Winter Olympics where he won all three alpine skiing gold medals.

It’s that watch that provided the inspiration for this modern re-edition with its black bezel and reverse panda dial. Aesthetically, it reminds me of the Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Mosquito we talked about earlier in the article, but with a few notable refinements. For one, the re-edition is slightly smaller at a diameter of 41mm.

As for the dial, the re-edition uses bar indexes instead of Arabic numerals, which makes the display much cleaner when combined with the simpler minute track. The colour palette is also more refined with a retro vibe courtesy of vintage inspired beige lume as opposed to the red and white of the Classic. There’s still a flash of red on the AVI Ref. 765 1964 Co-Pilot Re-Edition but only on the arrow indicator of the bezel. Colour me a fan.

Housed inside is the Breitling calibre B09, an automatic chronograph movement with 70-hour power reserve. It features hours, minutes, small seconds, 1/4^th second chronograph hand, 15-minute timer and 12-hour timer. It’s a really solid movement with COSC-chronometer certification.

As mentioned, the AVI Ref. 765 1964 Co-Pilot Re-Edition is limited to 164 pieces, a number taken from the titular year 1964 while keeping it exclusive. It’s priced at £7,150, a mid-point between the Classic AVI and the Super AVI Night Fighter. Of the seven watches here, this is the one highest on my wish list.