Breitling Chronomat Owner Review : Different, efficient and sporty

The consensus often heard about Breitlings from the pre-Georges Kern period is big bling bling watches, thick and especially with completely polished cases that are completely out of date and worn by middle-aged guys, pot-bellied in vests and with a very massive gold chain. The Breitling Blackbird A13353 is a bit the opposite of all that. It is therefore a special series, not limited in time, which was sold alongside the classic Chronomats. Its main specificity is that it is one of the rare Chronomats to have a case and the iconic and comfortable pilot bracelet that is totally brushed! This specificity is in honor of its namesake, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, an American stealth aircraft with which this stealth side is shared. This is one of the last series based on the case of the Chronomats of the 80s that simply saved Breitling from the Quartz crisis under the impetus of Ernest Schneider just before the arrival of the Chronomat Evolution which are 44 mm, more than 16 mm high and 52 mm Lug to Lug. The classic Chronomat and thus the Blackbird included measure 39.8 mm wide, 14.8 mm high, and 46.5 Lug to Lug. Thus quite wearable even on a wrist of less than 17 mm and in line with the measurements currently expected by a vocal majority on a sports chrono based on the Valoux 7750. The Breitling B13 is indeed a top grade cosc in this A13353 version based on this reliable tractor and repairable by any watchmaker worthy of the name. The dial is very sober and readable with its black background, writings, sub-dial and hands in white. In addition to the diving bezel, the chrono has a tachymeter scale and a base 100 in the dial. A solid multifunction tool watch with 100m of water resistance with an incomparable presence and allure, making it for me the chronomat the second icon of Breitling after the Navitimer. For information, there were three variations of the Blackbird between 1995 and 2004. The A13350, classic Chronomat case non-cosc and tritium. The A13050 cosc and still tritium. And finally mine A13353 which introduces the Luminova and especially an updated case close to the Windrider series, with a reworked bezel and more prominent crown protectors. It still keeps the potbellied watch side, the short and rounded horns which for me date the manufacture of this watch the most. Which is not the most ergonomic compared to a modern watch. It notably keeps the little easter egg of this watch which is that the side of the watch on the pusher side looks like a three-engine plane. Funny detail coming from the 80's chronomat which were created in cooperation with the Italian patrol of the frecce tricolori, Detail lost by the chronomat evolution with a much more classic profile.