Breitling has redesigned the Avenger collection of big and bold pilot’s watches. First introduced in 2001 – the original is perhaps best known for being worn by Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond – the Avenger is now (very) slightly scaled down, kitted out with cleaner dials and better case detailing, and an in-house movement for the chronograph.

Made up of the B01 Chronograph 44, GMT 44 and Automatic 42, the new Avenger collection still retains its signature size and style – the watches remain oversized, rugged, and functional, with chunky rotating bezels and 300 m of water resistance.

Initial thoughts 

Breitling is known for is oversized pilot’s watches and the Avenger is exactly that. More substantial and modern than the old-school Navitimer, the Avenger is an unapologetically big, bold “tool” watch. The facelift has streamlined the design slightly, giving it a cleaner and more contemporary look, while retaining the key elements of the Avenger, including the all-matte brushed case and rotating bezel with rider tab.

While there are technically three models in the family, the key one has always been the chronograph, and that is emphasised here with the Avenger chronograph with in-house Calibre B01. This is now the only chronograph in the line-up, while previously the collection included both ETA-powered and in-house versions.

The Breitling B01 features a vertical clutch and column wheel

Although the chronograph is the priciest in the collection, it is definitely the most sophisticated in technical terms thanks to the B01 movement inside. Notably, the new Avenger chronograph is also available in “Night Mission” guise, which means a black ceramic case that is a perfect fit for the Avenger aesthetic.

The Avenger Chronograph 44 B01 Night Mission

Across the board, the pricing is fair for what you get. The ETA-powered, three-hand Avenger starts at US$4,600, while the chronograph with the B01 movement costs about double that. For a well-made pilot’s watch with a high level of water resistance and solid movements, there is good value within the range.

Of course, the size and design will exclude some, which is probably why Breitling offers far more traditional aviator’s watches in its Navitimer and Premier lines.

Built for military aviators 

Described by Breitling as being designed to be worn in fighter jets, the Avenger collection is very much on the extreme end of what the brand offers. The line is made up of three models, the 44 mm chronograph, 44 mm GMT, and a 42 mm time-and-date.

Compared to the earlier generation, the latest models are more wearable, having decreased in case size by at least 1 mm, with the extremely large 48 mm chronograph now gone. But perhaps more significantly, the case has been refined with details like fluting along the lugs and polished bevels for the rider tabs on the bezel.

Another notable design tweak can be found on the dials, which have a cleaner aesthetic. The “stencil” Arabic numerals that long defined the Avenger has been replaced by baton markers (except for the Night Mission chronograph).

The flagship of the collection is the Avenger B01 Chronograph 44. It sports a case measuring 44 mm by 15.2 mm with a sapphire case back so the Calibre B01 can be observed. The movement sports a column wheel, vertical clutch, and 70 hours of power reserve, and like all in-house movements is backed by a five year guarantee. 

The chronograph is available in two variations, with the base model having a steel case and dial in blue, green, black, or sand.

The Night Mission version, on the other hand, has a ceramic case and bezel with dials in either black carbon composite or yellow. The Night Mission also has the case back, crown, pushers, and clasp in  titanium. Personally, I would have preferred a black coating on the crown and pushers to maintain the all-black look of the case.

Next, the Avenger Automatic GMT 44 is available with a navy blue or black dial and a case that has the same diameter as the chronograph but stands slightly thinner at 12.05 mm.

Inside is the Caliber 32 which is actually an ETA 2893-2 that offers 42 hours of power reserve along with the GMT function.

The independently-adjustable GMT hand is read against the bi-directional rotating bezel for the second time zone function. However, because it is the GMT hand that is adjustable, rather than the hour hand, setting the time zones requires a few more steps as compared to a true GMT.

Finally, the Avenger Automatic 42 is the simplest of the collection and carries all of the design elements of the GMT. Here the dial is available in black, blue or green, while the movement is the  Caliber 17, which is an ETA 2824-2 that has just 38 hours of power reserve.

Its case diameter is the smallest of the line at 42 mm, but the case is slightly thicker than the GMT at 12.15 mm due to the movement.

Key facts and price

Breitling Avenger B01 Chrnograph 44
Ref. AB0147101B1X1, AB0147101B1A1, AB0147101C1X1, AB0147101C1A1, AB0147101L1X1,AB0147101L1A1, AB0147101A1X1 or AB0147101A1A1

Diameter: 44 mm
Height: 15.2 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 300 m

Movement: Cal. B01
Functions: Hours, minutes, date, and chronograph
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 70 hours

Strap: Leather strap with folding buckle or matching bracelet

Limited edition: No
Availability: Available at Breitling boutiques, retailers and online
Price: US$8,000 (excl. VAT) or 11,200 Singapore dollars with a strap. US$8,250 (excl. VAT) or 11,700 Singapore dollars with a bracelet.

Breitling Avenger B01 Chrnograph 44 Night Mission
Ref. SB0147101B1X1, SB0147101I1X1 or SB0147101I1X2

Diameter: 44 mm
Height: 15.2 mm
Material: Ceramic and titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 300 m

Movement: Cal. B01
Functions: Hours, minutes, date, and chronograph
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 70 hours

Strap: Leather strap with folding buckle

Limited edition: No
Availability: Available at Breitling boutiques, retailers and online
Price: US$9,300 (excl. VAT) or 12,600 Singapore dollars with a yellow dial. US$9,500 (excl. VAT) or 12,900 Singapore dollars with a carbon dial. 

Breitling Avenger GMT 44
Ref. A32320101B1X1, A32320101B1A1, A32320101C1X1 or A32320101C1A1

Diameter: 44 mm
Height: 12.05 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 300 m

Movement: Cal. 32
Functions: Hours, minutes, date, and GMT
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 42 hours

Strap: Leather strap with folding buckle or matching bracelet

Limited edition: No
Availability: Available at Breitling boutiques, retailers and online
Price: US$5,200 (excl. VAT) or 7,200 Singapore dollars with a strap. US$5,500 (excl. VAT) or 7,600 Singapore dollars with a bracelet. 

Breitling Avenger Automatic 42
Ref. A17328101B1X1, A17328101B1A1, A17328101C1X1, A17328101C1A1, A17328101L1X1, A17328101L1A1

Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 12.15 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 300 m

Movement: Cal. 17
Functions: Hours, minutes, and date
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 38 hours

Strap: Leather strap with folding buckle or matching bracelet

Limited edition: No
Availability: Available at Breitling boutiques, retailers and online
Price: US$4,600 (excl. VAT) or 6,200 Singapore dollars with a strap. US$4,850 (excl. VAT) or 6,600 Singapore dollars with a bracelet. 

For more information, visit breitling.com.

This was brought to you in partnership with Breitling.