Breitling has been making watches for 140 years, but they really came into their own in the 1940s when they began crafting pilots’ watches like the Premier. Since then, the brand has made a name for itself as one of the leading – if not the number one – manufacturers of aviation watches. Their signature slide rule bezel is not the most user-friendly feature, but in knowledgeable hands, it can be used to calculate fuel consumption, ground speed, distance traveled, and even currency conversions. It tends to be a brand that flies under the radar (sorry, bad pun), but in terms of pilots’ chronographs, there’s perhaps none more solid. For our list, we took a look at our data and compiled the 5 most popular watches per model line on our marketplace for you.
Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph AB0930D31L1P1
We’ve only just begun this list, and there’s already a surprise. How often do you see a pistachio-colored dial? Just a few years ago, even Kelly green and olive dials were enough to write an article about. Now, we have the pistachio Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph AB0930D31L1P1 at the top of the list. There are plenty of other details throughout the watch that all play off each other, and scrolling through Chrono24, you’ll see that the dial can transition from warm to cool and light to dark depending on the photo. There was certainly some design risk involved, but some risks do pay off.
Breitling Navitimer A23322
Here’s a classic for you. It’s a reverse panda dial, 41mm Breitling Navitimer A23322 with more text than a Sunday newspaper. This is the model that most people think of when they think of Breitling, and it’s earned its way into the unofficial chronograph hall of fame. This modern reference takes that original spirit of the 1952 Navitimer and throws in some helpful and unobtrusive modern upgrades like an automatic movement and a date window tucked discreetly between 4 and 5 o’clock.
Breitling Superocean Heritage II AB2010121B1A1
Breitling, of course, makes more than just pilot chronographs, and the Superocean Heritage II AB2010121B1A1 is a great example of that. This watch is a dive watch that’s the rare combination of clean and expressive. By opting for batons instead of numerals on the bezel, the watch achieves a sleeker look that allows the personality of the hands to shine through. A date window at 6 o’clock enhances the symmetry, and a mesh bracelet creates a total package that’s decidedly more suave than your average diver.
Breitling Endurance Pro X82310D51B1S1
Every watch on this list so far has been a tool watch, but this is the most function-first tool watch of them all. The Breitling Endurance Pro is a piece completely without fuss that swaps an automatic movement for an even more reliable quartz, swaps steel for a lighter synthetic, and adds a compass on top of a chronograph because why not? It’s the G-SHOCK equivalent for Breitling, and it’s unapologetic in its reason for being.
Breitling Avenger Hurricane XB1210E4/BE89
Talk about a stealth bomber. Pilots’ watches are especially well-suited for the all-black look, and this watch is a prime example of that high-contrast approach. The carbon case of the Breitling Avenger Hurricane XB1210E4/BE89 is not only black but a muted black, and at 50mm, it makes a sizeable statement on even the largest of wrists. The select orange accents add a touch of spice to an otherwise cool-as-can-be watch, and as you look closer, you’ll notice the dial displays 24 hours instead of the typical twelve. It’s a large, complicated, and confident piece that embodies so much of the modern brand ethos.
