Black-on-black watches have been a popular category for the last several years, and Breitling has created more than its share of these “stealth” timepieces, for its popular pilots’ watch collections as well as other families, like its Superocean dive watches and even the automotive-inspired Breitling for Bentley models. Here are five all-black Breitling watches.
The Breitling Replica Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel is a professional-grade divers’ watch whose case — made of steel and blackened by means of a highly-resistant carbon-based treatment — is water-resistant to the extreme depth of 3,000 meters. The watch is powered by Breitling’s Caliber 17, and has a screw-locked crown and rotating divers’ bezel. The dial, in what Breitling refers to as “volcano black,” echoes the ebony look of the case. The white hands and indices contrast with the dial, aiding in legibility when the wearer is deep beneath the waves. There are two strap options, Breitling’s perforated “Ocean Racer” style or its rubber Diver Pro, with a raised central ridge. The Breitling Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel is a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, priced at $4,720.
The case of the Breitling Replica Navitimer Cosmonaute Blacksteel, 43 mm in diameter and water-resistant to 30 meters, was blackened using the same process as on the Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel. The dial echoes the case’s black color, while white numerals and hands, coated with luminescent material, and small red hands for the chronograph counters provide contrast. Like that of its historical predecessor — famously worn by astronaut Scott Carpenter when he became the second American to orbit the Earth in 1962 — the new Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute’s dial features a circular slide rule, operated by the bezel, that enables its wearer to make various useful calculations and proclaims the model’s origins as a practical timepiece for pilots. The manual-wind movement, Breitling’s manufacture Caliber B02, powers a 1/4-second chronograph function with 30-minute and 12-hour counters; a date indication; and small seconds. A limited edition of 1,000 pieces, the Cosmonaute has a caseback bearing the Aurora mission insignia and retails for $9,590.
The Breitling Replica for Bentley 6.75 Midnight Carbon is a deep black tribute to the biggest Bentley engine, the famous 6.75-liter version that powers Bentley’s Mulsanne limousines. The watch’s satin-brushed steel case (49 mm in diameter) sports a special, ultra-resistant carbon-based DLC treatment and a knurled bezel inspired by Bentley’s famous radiator grilles. The dial has a vertical openworked motif that offers a glimpse of the watch’s movement, Breitling’s automatic Caliber 44B, which powers a 1/8-second chronograph, as well as a distinctive “large aperture calendar” which displays the date via two apertures — one for the tens and the other for the units — for maximum legibility. The Midnight Carbon — a limited edition of 1,000 pieces — is priced at $10,945.
The Breitling Replica Super Avenger Military Limited Series has a 48-mm case with an ultra-resistant, carbon-based black coating and finished with a glare-resistant treatment. The “volcano black” dial features a 24-hour military time display with white Arabic numerals. The curved sapphire crystal above the dial has also been treated with glare-resistant coating. This rugged military watch comes on Breitling’s “offroader” strap, made of a durable synthetic fabric similar to the type used by elite military units for special operations. The watch is equipped with a 1/4-second chronograph with a flyback function. The chronograph push-pieces are protected by two screwed-in push-piece guards and the crown is also screw-locked, with a non-slip grip. The large hands, hour markers, and numerals were designed for maximum legibility. The ratcheted bezel rotates in one direction, and the case is water-resistant to 300 meters. The Breitling Super Avenger Military is limited to 500 pieces, priced at $7,400.
Last summer, Breitling introduced the Breitling Replica Avenger Blackbird, an all-black Breitling watch whose 48-mm case is made of lightweight-but-robust titanium and coated with a carbon-based treatment. The case has a slimmer, more ergonomic profile than other Breitling Avenger watches, accented by the inward-curving lugs. The hands and hour markers are extra-large and treated with luminescent coating that stands out against the black dial in low-light conditions. The big, screw-locked crown has a non-slip grip, and the ratcheted bezel rotates in one direction. The case has a glareproof, curved sapphire crystal and is water-resistant to 300 meters. The automatic movement, Breitling Caliber 17, like all Breitling watch movements, is COSC-certified as a chronometer. The Breitling Avenger Blackbird comes on a military-style canvas strap and is priced at $5,105.
