Breitling Refines Its Iconic Chronomat for 2026

This summer, leading Swiss watchmaker Breitling has reintroduced its iconic Chronomat in a refreshed collection. The latest range features subtle refinements that enhance functionality, building on the 2020 redesign. Combining heritage, everyday versatility and modern technology, the Chronomat exudes a quiet confidence.

Originally developed in the 1980s for Italy’s aerobatic squadron, the Frecce Tricolori, the Chronomat was engineered to withstand forces of up to 20G, well beyond the 7G forces the human body can withstand. With performance and functionality at its core, the Chronomat stands apart by refusing to compromise style for practicality, making it equally wearable in the cockpit and at formal occasions.

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By the 1990s, it had earned the nickname “the watch for the ’90s” from Vogue. It appeared in popular American television shows Friends and Seinfeld, was worn by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and even featured as a plot device in the manga Kaiji, cementing its status as one of the decade’s defining timepieces.

Breitling prides itself on innovation, and the new 2026 collection builds on the successful 2020 redesign. That relaunch revived key elements of the original 1980s model, including a slimmer case and the distinctive Rouleaux bracelet, features that continue to shape the latest collection.

“The new Chronomat refines what made it iconic in the first place,” says CEO Georges Kern. “We’ve evolved the design while keeping it true to its identity.”

Among the standout features of the new collection is the fully integrated case-and-bracelet design, which preserves the Chronomat’s distinctive silhouette while allowing for alternative strap options. Comfort and wearability have also been prioritised. The Rouleaux bracelet on steel and two-tone models now incorporates a micro-adjustment system, enabling the wearer to extend the bracelet by one link on either side of the concealed butterfly clasp while it is being worn. This allows for quick, convenient adjustment in response to changes in temperature or wrist size throughout the day.

Presented in an essential colour palette, the Chronomat is available with white, green, blue, anthracite, ice-blue and brown dials.

Prices range from £4,750 to £44,000.