Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44 Stainless Steel
Compared to historic Breitling models such as the Breitling Chronomat and Navitimer, the Avenger is a more recent addition, as it was only introduced to the brand’s catalog in 2001. When the Avenger was relaunched in 2019, Breitling positioned it as a rugged military-oriented range of pilot’s watches that are equally at home inside the cockpit as they are deep below the surface of the ocean, and in many ways, the Breitling Avenger could be seen as a replacement for the Colt, which was discontinued the following year in 2020. However, several Breitling collections have recently received major updates that have introduced a more refined and mature design language, and it only seemed like a matter of time before we would see a new generation of the Avenger. Now as its latest new release of 2023, Breitling has given the entire Avenger collection a major overhaul, and the new lineup consists of more than twenty different references that are available in the form of chronographs, GMT watches, and standard time-and-date models.
In terms of their overall aesthetics, the new 2023 Breitling Avenger collection very much follows in the footsteps of the previous generation, although a quick look at the collection will confirm that the new watches are all noticeably more refined than their immediate predecessors. Across the updated collection, the cases now feature stepped bevels running down their lugs, which significantly decrease the blocky presence that characterized models from the previous generation. While there are small polished accents on the bezels, crowns, and chronograph pushers, the actual middle cases are all entirely brushed, which further helps promote their more restrained overall appearance. Additionally, despite the fact that the standard time-and-date watches have 42mm cases, while the GMT models and chronographs are larger at 44mm, all of the new Breitling Avenger watches have lugs that are set 22mm apart, and they also all offer the same 300 meters of water resistance.
Officially known as the Breitling Avenger Automatic 42 series, the standard three-handed, time-and-date models from this latest update to the collection are all crafted from stainless steel and have cases that measure 42mm in diameter by 12.15mm thick with an overall lug-to-lug profile of 51.21mm. Cambered anti-reflective sapphire crystals protect the dial-side of the watches, and they are surrounded by steel unidirectional rotating timing bezels that have engraved 60-minute scales, raised tabs at the cardinal points, and luminous dots to denote the zero markers. Meanwhile, signed screw-down winding crowns sit at the 3 o’clock location, and they are paired with solid screw-down casebacks to help support the collection’s 300 meters of water resistance.
Powering the new time-and-date Breitling Avenger Automatic 42 models is the brand’s COSC chronometer-certified Caliber 17 automatic movement, which is based upon the core design of the familiar ETA 2824-2 and therefore runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. Dial colors for the new three-handed Avenger models include black, blue, or green, and each of the three different versions is available with the option of either a three-link stainless steel bracelet or a color-coordinated “military leather” strap that features a textile pattern on its outer surface and is completed by stainless steel folding clasp.
As for the bracelet, because all of the new Breitling Avenger watches have 22mm lugs, the slanted three-link stainless steel bracelet is the same for all of the new 2023 Avenger models, regardless of whether you get the chronograph, GMT, or the standard time-and-date version. The bracelet features completely solid links, fully brushed surfaces, and single-sided screws for the removable links, and it tapers from 22mm at the case down to 18mm where it connects to its signed folding clasp. Constructed entirely from machined components, the clasp operates with a double push-button release and it features an integrated extension system that permits incremental tool-free adjustment by pressing the small lever inside the clasp and sliding the inner section to the desired position.
Moving up the collection in terms of size and complexity are the new Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44 watches, which offer much of the same general aesthetic established by the standard three-handed models. However, they have been adapted to display multiple time zones. Similar to the time-and-date series, the new 2023 Avenger GMT models are exclusively offered in stainless steel, and while they are a bit larger than the three-handed models with cases that measure 44mm in diameter by 53mm lug-to-lug, the new Avenger GMT watches are actually slightly thinner at 12.05mm thick. While cambered anti-reflective sapphire crystals, screw-down crowns, and 300 meters of water resistance are also standard across the new Avenger Automatic GMT 44 series, the bezels fitted to the GMT models move bidirectionally and have 24-hour markings instead of the 60-minute timing scales that exist on the unidirectional bezels of the three-handed models.
Rather than having their minute tracks printed along the angled chapter ring like the standard time-and-date models, the Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 44 watches instead have their minute tracks on their dials with a secondary 24-hour scale appearing along the rehaut. By having both a fixed 24-hour scale and a mobile one on the bezel, the Avenger GMT is able to simultaneously display three different time zones by using the rotating bezel in conjunction with the independently adjustable hour hands. Additionally powering these GMT-equipped versions of the Avenger is the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 32 automatic GMT movement, which is based upon the design of the ETA 2893-2 and runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of 42 hours. While the Avenger Automatic GMT 44 watches are also offered with the option of either stainless steel bracelets or “military leather” straps, green isn’t one of the available colorways, and the new Avenger GMT is only produced in either black or blue.
The chronograph side of the new 2023 Breitling Avenger collection offers significantly more options than the time-and-date or GMT models, and there are four different colorways for just the stainless steel version of the Avenger Chronograph alone. Officially known as the Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44, the stainless steel models feature cases that measure 44mm in diameter by 15.2mm thick, with an overall lug-to-lug profile of 53mm. Just like the time-and-date watches, unidirectional rotating bezels with engraved 60-minute scales surround cambered anti-reflective sapphire crystals on the dial side of the watch, although the screw-down casebacks of the Avenger Chronograph models feature sapphire display windows to offer a view of the COSC-certified Breitling manufacture Caliber 01 automatic chronograph movement that powers them.
As Breitling’s flagship in-house chronograph movement, the Caliber 01 runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of 70 hours, and its chronograph is operated by a column wheel paired with a vertical clutch. Additionally, while the winding crown at the 3 o’clock location screws down on the new Avenger Chronograph models, the rectangular pushers located on either side do not; however, the watches are still able to offer the same 300 meters of water resistance as the rest of the updated 2023 Avenger collection. Lastly, while the stainless steel Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 series is offered with the same strap and bracelet options as its siblings, available colors for the lineup include black, blue, green, or tan and the specific hues of green and blue are noticeably lighter and more refined compared to the colors that can be found on the time-and-date or GMT models.
The final members of the new 2023 Avenger lineup are known as the Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission models, and they follow the same core format as their stainless steel chronograph siblings, although they have cases that are made from black ceramic and titanium. Dimensions of the new Night Mission models are identical to their stainless steel counterparts; however, their middle cases and bezels are crafted from scratch-resistant black ceramic, while their casebacks, winding crowns, and chronograph pushers all appear in titanium. Aside from differences in colorways and case materials, the rest of the new Avenger Night Mission models follow in the footsteps of their chronograph siblings with cambered anti-reflective sapphire crystals, display windows in their casebacks, 300 meters of water resistance, and the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 01 chronograph movement.
Unlike the standard stainless steel chronograph models, dial options for the new black ceramic Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission watches include bright yellow with contrasting black chronograph registers or a stealthy all-black option that is constructed from forged carbon fiber and showcases the material’s natural dark gray asymmetric pattern throughout its surface. Additionally, unlike the stainless steel versions of the 2023 Avenger Chronograph that are available with either metal bracelets or “military leather” straps, there aren’t any bracelet options available for the new Avenger Night Mission models, and they are exclusively offered on either black or yellow straps that are completed by folding clasps made from titanium to match their accenting case components.
