While much of the watch industry is making smaller watches, out of modesty in straitened times or just following the fashion of the day, Breitling is admirably hewing to its traditional formula of oversized sports watches. While often overbuilt and designed like an invading army, Breitling’s biggest watches do have a certain appeal, exemplified with the newly announced Avenger II Seawolf Blacksteel.

The steel case is 45mm in diameter and 18.4mm high (making it as thick as most chronographs), with the “Blacksteel” moniker derived from its black carbon-based coating (a type of diamond-like carbon or DLC) that is scratch-resistant (Breitling has made a slew of Blacksteel limited editions in years past). Rated to 3000m, or 10,000ft, the case includes a a helium escape valve for the improbable activity of saturation diving.

The dial is a bright yellow, with the rotating bezel sporting Breitling’s trademark rider tabs at the quarters. And the movement inside an the Breitling calibre 17, which is actually a basic but robust ETA 2824 that is chronometer certified.

The Avenger II Seawolf Blacksteel is limited to 1000 pieces with the retail price yet to be revealed. The ordinary stainless steel version of the same watch retails for approximately US$4000, so expect this to cost slightly more.