The 2026 Breitling Chronomat: slimmer profiles and refined architecture

Breitling updates the Chronomat collection with slimmer cases, integrated bracelet design and revised B01 42 chronographs, 40 and 36 automatic models.

Breitling updates its Chronomat collection with a series of refinements that affect the entire line, from the Chronomat B01 42 chronograph to the Automatic B31 40 and the more compact Automatic 36.

Originally developed in the early 1980s in collaboration with Italy’s Frecce Tricolori and launched commercially in 1984 for Breitling’s centenary, the Chronomat helped re-establish the mechanical chronograph during the quartz era while introducing design elements that remain closely associated with the collection today, most notably the Rouleaux bracelet and rider-tab bezel.

Following the major redesign introduced in 2020, the latest evolution focuses on improving proportions, wearability and overall coherence across the range rather than fundamentally altering the Chronomat’s established identity.

The most significant structural update is the adoption of a more integrated bracelet construction. The lugs are now concealed within the case architecture, creating a cleaner transition between case and bracelet while preserving compatibility with alternative straps.

On steel and two-tone versions, the Rouleaux bracelet now incorporates a micro-adjustment system integrated into the butterfly clasp, allowing small on-wrist extensions for improved comfort.

Across the chronograph models, the bezel construction has also been simplified by integrating multiple previously separate components into a single unified element. 

While the signature rider tabs remain unchanged, the revised structure reduces visual segmentation and gives the watch a cleaner overall appearance. Breitling has also streamlined the colour palette, focusing on white, green, blue, anthracite, ice blue and brown across steel, two-tone and gold configurations.

The Chronomat B01 42 remains the central chronograph model within the collection. Its 42 mm case has been refined with a reduced thickness of 13.77 mm compared to the previous 15.1 mm profile, improving balance and wearability on the wrist. 

The dial layout has also been simplified through the removal of the 1/100 scale on the rehaut, while the crown guard has been reduced in size for easier operation.

Inside works the COSC-certified Manufacture Caliber 01, Breitling’s in-house automatic chronograph movement featuring a column wheel and vertical clutch architecture. Operating at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), it delivers approximately 70 hours of power reserve. Prices start at €9,200 / US$9,550.

The Chronomat Automatic B31 40 introduces a more compact time-and-date alternative housed in a 40 mm case measuring 10.99 mm thick. 

It is powered by the Manufacture Caliber B31, operating at 4 Hz and offering approximately 78 hours of power reserve while maintaining the Chronomat’s characteristic case and bracelet architecture. Prices start at €6,400 / US$7,200.

The Chronomat Automatic 36 extends the collection into a more compact format intended for a wider range of wrists. Its case thickness has been reduced from 10.01 mm to 9.68 mm, reinforcing the collection’s broader focus on refinement and wearability.

Power comes from the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 10, a Sellita-based automatic movement operating at 4 Hz and offering a 42-hour power reserve. Selected versions are available with mother-of-pearl dials and gem-set bezels, adding further material variation within the same design framework. Prices start at €5,650 / US$6,950.

Through incremental refinements rather than radical redesign, the updated Chronomat collection reinforces the versatility that has defined the line since its revival in the 1980s. breitling.com