Breitling’s Chronomat 38 SleekT elevates women’s watches to a higher level

June 2015

Breitling’s Chronomat 38 SleekT elevates women’s watches to a higher level

June 2015

The Swiss brand synonymous with aviation has reinterpreted its classic Chronomat with a sleek and sporty new design aimed at the ladies’ market.

Since the birth of his company in 1884, Léon Breitling devoted himself to the challenge of developing chronographs and timers. By 1915, Breitling inventing the first independent chronograph pushpiece, and thus the first wrist chronograph. By 1934, the company made a breakthrough through the introduction of a second independent reset pushpiece, and the modern chronograph as we know it today was born.

But the brand truly found its calling during a boom for competitive sports, and especially the popularity of the automobile and aviation industries. In the 1930s, the brand earned worldwide fame by producing onboard chronographs for aircraft cockpits. These instruments were used by the Royal Air Force in its famous World War II propeller-driven fighter planes.

By the 1950s and 1960s, during a boom for commercial aviation, Breitling chronographs became standard equipment for many airplane manufacturers. The brand was present in the industry that it was considered the “official supplier to world aviation”.


Breitling and aviation go hand in hand

Since then, Breitling’s Chronomat, its most famous chronograph, has asserted itself as the ultimate aviator’s chronograph. The Chronomat was introduced in 1984 with elite international pilots in mind. It provided a blend of sportsmanship and sheer class to all those who share the spirit of aviation.

Breitling has now reinterpreted its iconic model in a new 38 mm diameter case, aiming to conquer the wrists of women. But it’s not just a smaller size that makes this watch different than the original. It sports a new, smooth bezel made of tungsten carbide, an ultra-hard and scratchproof material. Hence the “SleekT” part of the name.

And for a more refined touch, Breitling also offers the options of mother-of-pearl dials with or without diamond hour-markers, as well as an optional diamond-set steel bezel.


Chronomat 38 SleekT

In terms of performance, the Chronomat 38 SleekT retains all of the key features which made the original Chronomat a classic. Precision is ensured through a selfwinding chronograph movement, which is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute. The watch also provides great readability in the event that the adventurous ladies decide to take the watch up in the air. It features luminescent hands and large hour-markers, as well as a glare-proof sapphire crystal.

With the Chronomat 38 SleekT, Breitling has not reinvented the wheel. And there was no need to, because a classic is a classic for a reason. With this timepiece, the brand has succeeded in conveying Breitling’s sporting elegance, with a simple feminine twist. (VJ)

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