The Chronomat is Breitling’s all-purpose sports watch. It was originally developed for aerobatic squadron pilots, needing to live up to the challenges of the cockpit while also being suitable for formal functions back on the ground. However, in recent years that latter factor in the Chronomat’s design has fallen by the wayside and it’s essentially seen as a smaller Avenger. For 2026, Breitling has decided to increase the gap between the two collections by giving the Chronomat a series of aesthetic tweaks that give it a more refined edge. Not counting strap options, there are 15 new Chronomats in the updated collection.
Breitling Chronomat Automatic B31 40
First up is a new sizing for the time and date Chronomat model, sporting a 40mm diameter for the first time. Previously this size has been exclusive to the GMT model. It provides a good balance between visual impact on the wrist and practical wearability, especially with a thickness of 10.99mm that means it’s not too tall to fit under a cuff. The case also features some of the aesthetic updates that are universal to all 15 of the new watches.
Principal among those updates, the lugs have been completely redesigned. Instead of the previous semi-integrated design where there are visible lugs flanking the central bracelet link, the lugs are now completely hidden beneath the edge of the case. This gives the watch the appearance of a fully integrated bracelet. It makes for a much sleeker case as it has a single, smooth curve down towards the bracelet rather than the previous stepped appearance.
The fact that the watch retains lugs despite its new integrated appearance means that the bracelet is interchangeable, letting you personalise the watch to your taste. It’s available on a steel Rouleaux bracelet or for some references a Rouleaux-inspired rubber strap.
As for the references that are available, there are four. The standard version of the Breitling Chronomat Automatic B31 40 in steel is available with either a white, blue or green dial featuring sunray brushed finish, priced at £5,250. The fourth version is a more luxurious edition with an ice blue dial and platinum bezel on its steel case, available on bracelet for £7,450 or strap for £6,950.
Inside is the calibre B31, a relatively new movement that was introduced last year in collections like the Superocean Heritage. It’s a COSC-certified chronometer with a 78-hour power reserve, making it more than weekend-proof.
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Breitling Chronomat B01 42
Alongside the new time and date model at 40mm, Breitling have updated their core chronograph edition, the Breitling Chronomat B01 42. It features the same update to the lugs seen on the 40mm references, introducing the fully integrated bracelet aesthetic. Alongside that, the case has been meaningfully slimmed from 15.1mm to 13.77mm, a significant improvement to wearability.
In keeping with its slimmer proportions, the crown guards have also been slimmed to make manipulating the crown easier. Similarly, the bezel has also been redesigned from the previous 18-piece construction where the bezel ring, insert, rider tabs and screws were all separate to a new single piece structure. Again, improving the sleekness of the watch and making it feel more refined. Powering the collection is the ever-faithful B01 chronograph movement with 70-hour power reserve and COSC chronometer certification.
For variants, the updated Breitling Chronomat B01 42 is available in panda, blue, green colourways in full steel (£7,850/£7,350), grey with bi-metal steel and gold (£11,950/£9,250), brown full gold (£44,000/£26,000), and lastly ice blue platinum and steel bi-metal (£10,500/£10,000). Meaning there’s a total of six variants, all available on a choice of metallic bracelet or rubber strap, which is why there are two prices for each.
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Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36
Last up is the update to the Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36, the most populous of the time and date models in the existing Chronomat range. At 36mm in diameter it is already one of the slimmest and refined of the Chronomats and now it’s even slimmer as the thickness has been reduced from 10.01mm to 9.68mm. On top of that it features the same integrated bracelet update as the rest of the models.
Powering this model is the Breitling Calibre 10, which is their re-branded Sellita movement with COSC chronometer certification and 42-hour power reserve. That movement contributes to the standard steel edition with blue dial being the most accessible of the new Chronomats at £4,750. There’s then a mother-of-pearl dial option at £5,600, a mother-of-pearl and lab-grown diamond version at £7,950, a bi-metal steel and gold with mother-of-pearl at £9,700 and lastly a bi-metal steel and gold with lab-grown diamonds option for £10,950.
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More details at Breitling.
