THE NEW BLACK. These two black-dial watches from Breitling may just be the best among their 2015 peers
Avenger Blackbird 44
AVENGER BLACKBIRD 44
After the trend of big-sized watches eventually peaked, the market has shown a shift in interest to rather slimmed-down
cases. Breitling has apparently played along, yet it does so in its own uncompromising way.
The Avenger Blackbird is easily recognizable with its all-black appeal. Unlike most pilot watches, this one neglects the
use of Arabic numerals as hour markers. This absolutely makes sense since the Avenger Blackbird does more than accompanying dauntless sky travelers, but also intrepid divers who long to see what lies beneath the surface of the ocean.
The now 44mm watch is able to go down to a staggering depth of 200 meters. Add to that the unidirectional rotating bezel that could help dive times, and this Avenger Blackbird becomes a powerful companion for those who like flying high in the air or stay immersed deep underwater.
Avenger Blackbird 44’s specifications
STRAP
The military-style strap is made of an ultra-sturdy hightech fabric. It clings to the wrist solidly, but still allows the skin to breathe.
CASE
Made of titanium, the 44mm case is coated in black carbon, resulting in a solid “stealthy” look. The engraved bezel can be used to mark dive times.
DIAL
The baton-styled watch markers and the conspicuous seconds hand conform to the design norms of a dive watch. A date display is positioned at 3 o’clock.
Chronoliner
CHRONOLINER
Chronoliner is a completely new line that Breitling introduced during Baselworld 2015. The design concept of the watch
harks back to the 1950s and 1960s, during the boom of air travel, when pilots sported iconic black-and-white uniforms. This cultural element made their way into the watch through the shape of the bezel and the bracelet.
The lugs, for instance, are quite different from the rest of Breitling’s timepieces. They are well adjusted to how the steel mesh bracelet is applied, which, by the way, looks very nice on the wrist.
The Chronoliner does ooze a retro—but in a way, contemporary—elegance in regard to the all-black dial and bezel. The latter comes in ceramic, giving the watch another extra point in contemporary watch styling.
Function-wise, the Chronoliner is equipped with a date display, a chronograph and a 24-hour second time zone. The second time zone is, again, a nod to pilots who need to keep track of their home time, while their first time zone is set to local time wherever they might be on the planet.
Chronoliner’s specifications
CASE
Topped with a 24-hour-inscribed ceramic bezel, the stainless steel case offers a Breitling signature on the back: an embossed stylized plane.
BRACELET
The stainless steel mesh bracelet is quite rare these days, and thus, it fares brilliantly as a statement piece. It also
wraps around the wrist comfortably, allowing more room for the wrist to move in comparison to typical steel bracelets.
DIAL
The red tipped hand indicates the second time zone, while the other thin long hand is for the seconds chronograph. The chronograph minutes and hours are displayed on the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock subdials, respectively.
