Breitling Targets the Tropics with Super Chronomat B01 44 and Chronomat 36 Caribbean Editions

Breitling released its first Caribbean Edition way back in 2010, establishing the sea-inspired pastel blue dial that serves as a visual shorthand for each of these limited-edition models, which are distributed exclusively throughout Breitling’s points of sale in the Caribbean. The newest Caribbean Editions dropped this month, putting a festive, tropical-themed cap on Breitling’s busy 140th Anniversary year, just in time for holiday shopping. Both of the watches — a unisex Chronomat Automatic 36 and a ruggedly masculine Super Chronomat B01 44 – feature the now-familiar “Caribbean Blue” dial colorway and a representation of a Caribbean map on their caseback.

Both models are evolutions of the core Chronomat collection, which Breitling revived to great fanfare back in 2020, bringing its design more in tune with the influential Frecce Tricolori Chronomat models from 1984, made for the Italian aerobatic team. These watches established the modern Chronomat’s most emblematic feature, the “rider tabs” at 3 and 9 o’clock on the bezel, which shielded the crystal from cockpit impacts and could be used in conjunction with the built-in stopwatch feature to time or count down to events. The relaunch of the Chronomat also notably ushered in the return of Breitling’s enthusiast-favorite Rouleaux bracelet (and its rubber-strap equivalent), which makes an appearance on both of these watches. The Chronomat has branched out into a full-fledged, multifaceted product family in the scant few years since the relaunch.

Breitling refers to the Super Chronomat, which debuted in 2021, as its “supercharged, all-purpose sports watch:” its case diameter is a stately 44mm, 2mm larger than the standard Chronomat, and its ratcheting bezel, which is solid metal in the base 42mm models, features colored ceramic inserts in the “Super” versions. On the Caribbean Edition, this insert is in black, matching the color of the three subdials on the hallmark Breitling “Caribbean blue” dial. The movement inside is Breitling’s manufacture Caliber B01, with a column-wheel-driven chronograph function, automatic winding, and a 70-hour power reserve. In this 150-piece limited edition, this movement beats behind a sapphire pane in the solid steel caseback, which is printed with a map of the Caribbean islands. The watch is 14.4mm thick, water-resistant to 200 meters, and mounted on a black rubber Rouleaux strap with a stainless steel folding clasp.

The Chronomat 36 Caribbean Edition, limited to 100 pieces, offers a smaller steel case, the same Caribbean blue dial as its “Super” big brother — a three-handed version, sans black subdials —  and a simpler movement, the ETA 2892-based Breitling Caliber 10, with a 42-hour power reserve. In keeping with the brand’s ethos, this outsourced engine is not displayed behind sapphire but hidden behind solid steel — in this instance, a caseback enhanced with an engraved version of the same Caribbean map printed on the sapphire window of the larger watch. 

The Breitling Super Chronomat 44 and Chronomat Automatic 36 Caribbean Editions are exclusively available at Breitling Boutiques in the following tropical paradises in the Caribbean: Aruba, Barbados, Cancun, Grand Cayman, Nassau (Baha Mar and Bay Street boutiques), Playa del Carmen, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas. The Super Chronomat 44 retails for $9,950 and the Chronomat 36 for $5,400. If you were looking for another excuse to take a Caribbean vacation during these cold winter months — you’re welcome.