Breitling is having a very good 2026 so far. The Navitimer Perpetual Calendar Chronograph was a gorgeous and elegant statement, the Aston Martin Navitimer was a stylish extension of Breitling’s automotive world, and the recent Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Artemis II gave the brand another chance to remind everyone just how strong its aviation and space credentials remain.

But now we need to talk about the Chronomat.

It’s one of Breitling’s most important lines, and one of those watches that does a lot of heavy lifting for the brand, especially when it comes to those looking at their first-ever Breitling watch. It is sporty, recognizable, relatively accessible and has a great deal of history.

An old advertisement for Breitling Chronomat

The Chronomat name itself dates back to the early 1940s, when Breitling introduced a chronograph with a circular slide-rule bezel for mathematical calculations — an idea that would later help pave the way for the Navitimer. But the Chronomat as we largely understand it today was reborn in the 1980s, first through the Frecce Tricolori chronograph developed with the Italian aerobatic team, and then through the 1984 Chronomat, a bold mechanical chronograph launched at a time when quartz was dominating the market. In 2020, Breitling redesigned the model with the return of the Rouleaux bracelet and rider tabs, re-establishing it as the brand’s modern all-purpose sports watch.

Breitling’s 2026 Run Continues

For this new look, Breitling has gone in and tightened everything up: cleaner case lines, a fully integrated bracelet, slimmer proportions, and a more focused range of sizes. It’s an update that’s a lot more meaningful once it’s on the wrist.

The 2026 Breitling Chronomat collections (from left): Chronomat B01 42, B31 Automatic 40 and Automatic 36

The biggest visual change is the move towards a fully integrated case and bracelet design. The Chronomat has always had some of that energy, largely because of its signature Rouleaux bracelet, but this new generation leans into it completely. The bracelet now flows into the case in a more deliberate way, giving the watch a more contemporary profile without losing its unique personality in the name of modernity.

The rider tabs are still there and the Chronomat still definitely looks like a Chronomat. If anything, Breitling seems to have pinpointed the noise and removed it so the familiar details can stand out more clearly. There is also a practical side to the new integration. The lugs are now concealed behind the case, which means the watch gets the clean look and silhouette of an integrated-bracelet-style watch without completely shutting the door at easy strap changes — giving owners lot more room to play than the traditional integrated sports watches.

Chronomat B01 42: The Big Chronograph Gets Sharper

Proportions-wise, let’s look at the Chronomat B01 42 first. The case thickness has gone from 15.1mm to 13.77mm, which is a meaningful reduction for an automatic chronograph. The bezel has also been simplified, the crown guards are smaller, and the 1/100 scale has been removed from the rehaut. On paper, these sound like small edits — but in practice, they make the watch less bulky, cleaner and easier to live with.

Breitling Chronomat B01 42

In terms of execution, the B01 42 collection includes full stainless steel, two-tone and full-gold configurations, with dial colors including white, green, blue, anthracite, ice blue and brown. The ice-blue versions are paired with a platinum bezel, which gives the sportier side of the Chronomat a slightly more precious feel without pushing it too much into jewelry-watch territory. It’s powered by the familiar Breitling Caliber 01 which is COSC-certified and promises 70 hours of power reserve. It’s still a muscular Breitling chronograph, of course. Nobody is suggesting that this is now a delicate dress watch, but this is definitely better tailored.

Chronomat Automatic B31 40: The One to Watch

The model I suspect a lot of people will gravitate towards is the Chronomat Automatic B31 40. A 40mm time-and-date Chronomat is such an easy pick. It’s not tiny or oversized, and likely to work on many wrists.

Breitling Chronomat B31 Automatic 40

Available in steel, the white, blue, green and ice-blue dial options should give it plenty of everyday range, while the two-tone and gold configurations bring it closer to the Chronomat’s more glamorous side. Add the new COSC-certified B31 movement, with a 78-hour power reserve, and this could easily become the most versatile watch in the new Chronomat lineup.

Chronomat Automatic 36: Sporty, Slimmer, and a Little More Glamorous

For the 36mm model, it has also been slimmed down from 10.01mm to 9.68mm, and that should help a watch that already sits in a more elegant part of the collection. It is powered by the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 10, a Sellita-based automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.

Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36

There are mother-of-pearl dials and gem-set bezels, alongside stainless steel and steel-and-red-gold configurations. Breitling is clearly leaving some room for a more decorative take. But the broader point is the same as with the rest of the range: better proportions, cleaner executions and more wearability.

It’s great that Breitling did not feel the need to prove anything with this update. The Chronomat already had the history, the bracelet, the bezel tabs and a recognizable look. The market has certainly moved away from oversized sports watches, and buyers are paying closer attention to thickness, comfort, bracelet design, and whether a watch actually makes sense as a daily wear.

Tech Specs: Breitling Chronomat B01 42

Movement Self-winding Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01; COSC-certified; 70-hour power reserve
Functions Hours, minutes and small seconds; date; chronograph
Case 42mm × 13.77mm; stainless steel, stainless steel with 18K red gold bezel, full 18K red gold, or stainless steel with platinum bezel; water resistant to 200m
Dial Green, blue, white, anthracite, brown or ice blue, all with black chronograph counters; applied indexes with Super-LumiNova coating
Strap Color-coordinated Rouleaux-inspired rubber with butterfly clasp in matching metal, or Rouleaux bracelet in matching metal with butterfly clasp and new patented micro-adjustment system
Price Upon Request

Tech Specs: Breitling Chronomat B31 Automatic 40

Movement Self-winding Breitling Manufacture Caliber B31; COSC-certified; 78-hour power reserve
Functions Hours, minutes, seconds and date
Case 40mm × 10.99mm; stainless steel, or stainless steel with platinum bezel; water resistant to 200m
Dial White, blue, green, or ice blue; applied indexes with Super-LumiNova coating
Strap Black Rouleaux-inspired rubber with stainless steel butterfly clasp (for ice blue model), or stainless steel Rouleaux bracelet with butterfly clasp and new patented micro-adjustment system
Price Upon request

Tech Specs: Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36

Movement Self-winding Breitling Caliber 10; COSC-certified; 42-hour power reserve
Functions Hours, minutes, seconds and date
Case 36mm × 9.68mm; stainless steel, or stainless steel with 18K red gold bezel (both configurations include models set with lab-grown diamonds on the bezel); water resistant to 100m
Dial Blue, brown or mother-of-pearl (white or gray); applied indexes with Super-LumiNova coating on all versions; brown or mother-of-pearl variants additionally feature lab-grown diamond hour markers
Strap Rouleaux bracelet in matching metal with butterfly clasp and new patented micro-adjustment system
Price Upon request