Page 46 - S Summer 2024

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TIMEPIECES
SMAGAZINEOFFICIAL.COM
By Jeremy Freed
The new Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT
40 and Super Chronomat Automatic 38 lend a
modern look to any wrist.
Soaring Style
W ith unisex sizing, luxurious details, and precise Swiss
craftsmanship, the Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT
40 and Super Chronomat Automatic 38 are making the brand’s sky-high
heritage more stylish and versatile than ever. “With this release, we’re
rewriting the definitions of the Chronomat and Super Chronomat and
giving these pieces a character all of their own,” says Breitling CEO
Georges Kern. “But, then again, this is a collection already known for
pushing boundaries.”
Created for Italy’s national aerobatics team, the Frecce Tricolori, in the
early 1980s, design elements such as four raised “rider tabs” at 15-minute
intervals on the bezel and a steel “rouleaux” bracelet subtly speak to the
Chronomat’s high-flying origins. Since its 2020 relaunch, however, the
Chronomat has taken on a new life – and a dazzling range of new looks,
metals, and colours – as a go-anywhere sports watch. With the reliability
of a cockpit instrument and the refinement of a modern luxury timepiece,
the Chronomat has since become one of the most popular and diverse
watches in the Breitling lineup.
The origins of the Chronomat speak to its status as one of the world’s
most daring pilot’s watches. Created for Italy’s national aerobatics team,
the Frecce Tricolori, in the early 1980s, the Chronomat is distinguished by
signature features such as four raised “rider tabs” at 15-minute intervals
on the bezel (all the better to protect the crystal when you’re pulling G’s)
and a steel “rouleaux” bracelet designed for comfort and durability. With
the strength and utility of a cockpit instrument and the refinement of
a modern sports watch, the Chronomat has become one of the most
popular pieces in the Breitling lineup since its 2020 relaunch.
The new Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 swaps the Chronomat’s
chronograph counters for a “GMT” movement that makes it easy to track
multiple time zones at a glance. With a classic steel case and bracelet,
a selection of dials in black, blue, green, anthracite, and white, and a
bold pop of colour on its red GMT hand, the Chronomat Automatic
GMT 40 is made to complement a wide range of looks and occasions.
Inside the watch, a Chronometer-certified Breitling Caliber 32 automatic
movement promises to provide reliability and accuracy wherever your
journey takes you.
The new Super Chronomat Automatic 38 offers a more elevated
take on the Chronomat’s classic style, with ceramic rider tabs in place
of stainless steel, a slightly scaled-down case, and a selection of colour-
matched straps in rubber, alligator leather, and two-tone gold and steel.
Most eye-catching, however, is the addition of a bezel set with a ring
of glittering diamonds that were lab grown according to the SCS-007
Sustainability Rated Diamonds standard. “It’s important to me as an
advocate for sustainability that this watch is socially conscious,” says
Olympic gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim, a member of Breitling’s
All-Star Squad of athletes. “Lab grown diamonds allow for a level of
traceability, responsible sourcing, and support for communities that
wasn’t always present in the luxury industry before.”
The new Super Chronomat Automatic 38 is available with a
distinctive choice of dials in silver, mint green, and ice blue. In addition
to a stainless steel model, the Super Chronomat Automatic 38 ups the
ante further with versions in two-tone steel and 18K red gold, and full
18K red gold. Better still, Breitling sources its gold from Swiss Better
Gold Association – accredited mines, making these top-shelf Chronomat
models as sustainable as they are stylish. Whichever model strikes your
fancy, the Chronomat’s blend of classic aviation style, luxurious details,
and Swiss watchmaking cred makes it an elegant choice at any altitude.