Breitling refreshes Chronomat with 22 new models for gifting appeal

Breitling has made the Chronomat easier to gift by turning one familiar sports watch into a cleaner, more usable lineup. The refreshed collection arrived with 22 new references across the Chronomat B01 Chronograph 42, the Chronomat B31 Automatic 40 and the Chronomat Automatic 36, while keeping the rider tabs and Rouleaux bracelet that give the watch its identity.

That matters because the Chronomat has real watch-world pedigree, not just flash. Breitling traces it back to a chronograph created for Italy’s Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team in 1983, then introduced the Chronomat in 1984, when quartz watches dominated and mechanical chronographs were the contrarian choice. The original brief was pure dual-use glamour: something that could take cockpit punishment and still look right with a suit.

For a milestone birthday, retirement or a big promotion, the Chronomat B31 Automatic 40 is the sweet spot. In stainless steel it starts at $7,200, while the stainless steel and platinum version is $9,800. Breitling’s new B31 movement, unveiled in 2025, has a 78-hour power reserve, which makes this the most practical flex in the lineup, especially for someone who wants the Chronomat look without the full chronograph price.

If you want the louder gift, the Chronomat B01 Chronograph 42 is the one with the presence. It starts at $9,900, with other versions at $13,200 and $49,900, so it covers everyone from the buyer who wants steel and restraint to the person who wants a watch that reads like a proper occasion. That range is exactly why this refresh feels smarter than a simple update: Breitling has given shoppers a clearer ladder of entry points instead of making one oversized model do all the work.

The women’s Chronomat Automatic 36 is the easiest gift in the group because it hits the right balance of polish and wearability. It starts at $5,950 in stainless steel, climbs to $6,800 in another steel execution, and reaches $10,250, $12,200 and $14,400 in bicolor, 18k red gold and more jewel-forward versions, including diamond-set bezels. For a couple’s gift, pairing the 40mm B31 with the 36mm automatic is the cleanest move: matching Rouleaux bracelets, matching heritage, and just enough size difference to make each watch feel chosen rather than duplicated. Breitling’s use of Austin Butler, Erling Haaland and Giannis Antetokounmpo only reinforces the point: this is still a sporty watch, but now it is a much better luxury gift.