Breitling Avenger

The watches in the Breitling Avenger collection bridge the gap between the sky and the ocean floor. They combine the functionality and readability of a pilot's watch with the durability and water resistance of a diving watch. Top models boast a chronograph function, GMT display, or a depth rating of 3,000 m (300 bar, 9,842 ft). These timepieces also feature a helium escape valve.

At 43 to 50 mm in diameter and up to 17.5 mm thick, the Avenger line is best suited to people with larger wrists. One of the most prominent features of these watches is their four bezel rider tabs. Fans of the Chronomat and Colt will already be familiar with this detail. Rider tabs make rotating the Avenger's unidirectional bezel a breeze, even with gloves on. What's more, they protect the domed sapphire crystal against impacts. An anti-reflective coating on both sides of the crystal further improves the timepiece's readability.

The tidy dial design has its roots in classic pilot's watches. Breitling produces models with applied stick indices or stenciled numerals. The latter are in the style of the numerals used to mark aircraft and hangars. Regardless of which version you choose, its hands and hour markers will be filled with luminous material. In terms of color, the dial is available in black, white, blue, olive green, or yellow. Breitling pairs the watch with a stainless steel bracelet, leather strap, or a rubber or textile strap in the same color as the dial.

Automatic calibers from movement manufacturer ETA power each Avenger timepiece. Breitling has also had the movements tested and certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).

Prices for Avenger watches start at around 2,800 USD. The entry-level models are the quartz-powered Avenger Chronograph M1 and the three-hand Avenger Seawolf, which has an automatic movement. If you're interested in a GMT watch, expect to spend around 3,500 USD.

Avenger chronographs with automatic calibers start at roughly 4,000 USD. This amount will get you the 48-mm Super Avenger II. If you want even greater wrist presence, the Avenger Hurricane Chronograph has a black case measuring 50 mm in diameter, and comes with different dial colors, including yellow. Plan to spend 5,300 USD.

Breitling has offered the Avenger Chronograph with a 43 or 45-mm case since 2019. Both versions have a stainless steel case and bezel. Each timepiece features the Caliber B13 based on the Valjoux 7750. This movement provides the watch with a date at 3, an hour counter at 6, a small seconds at 9, and a minute counter at 12 o'clock. The dial comes in your choice of black, white, blue, or olive green, while a stainless steel bracelet or matching textile strap holds the timepiece securely on the wrist.

Exceptions include Night Mission models with the reference number V13317101B1X1. Breitling crafts these watches out of titanium, which they then cover in a black DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating. This material is extremely hard, offering better protection against scratches.

The Avenger Chronograph 45 Night Mission demands around 5,400 USD, while the steel version changes hands for around 4,800 USD.

The design of the Super Avenger is so similar to that of standard models that you could easily mistake them for twins. However, with its 48-mm diameter, the king-sized Super Avenger makes a lasting impression. When it comes to straps and dials, Breitling offers similar choices to the smaller models. The same goes for the power source, as the manufacturer outfits the Super Avenger with the automatic caliber Breitling 13. You can buy a stainless steel copy with a black dial for around 3,600 USD in mint condition.

The Super Avenger II is a slightly more classic take on the Super Avenger. You can easily recognize these models thanks to their contrasting subdials and the minute scales with numerals on their bezels. Breitling pairs the Super Avenger II with a stainless steel bracelet, or a rubber or leather strap.

Prices for the Super Avenger II run between 3,900 and 4,500 USD, depending on the band you opt for.

Avenger B01 Chronograph 45

The Avenger B01 Chronograph 45 is a pretty recent addition to the Breitling catalog, and is for now only available in Breitling boutiques. As the name reveals, this model has a diameter of 45 mm and uses the in-house Caliber B01. As for case materials, you can take your pick from fully stainless steel timepieces with a blue or gray dial or two-tone models combining stainless steel with rose gold and a gray dial. Breitling pairs the chronograph with a steel or two-tone bracelet, or a rubber strap matching the dial color.

Breitling's list price for the stainless steel model on a rubber strap is 7,500 USD. Paired with a stainless steel bracelet, the price rises to 8,100 USD. The two-tone editions run between 9,800 and 14,400 USD.

A GMT watch is a practical tool for anyone who wants to keep their eye on two time zones at once. The Avenger collection is home to several models with this handy function. The 43-mm Avenger Automatic GMT is one such timepiece. It is powered by a modified ETA caliber 2893-2 known as the caliber B32. This movement features a date display and a central 24-hour hand. The additional hand points to a 24-hour scale around the dial's edge, thus showing the time in a second time zone. In fact, the model is able to display a third time zone thanks to its bidirectional rotatable bezel with a GMT scale. The dial comes in black, cream, and blue with either bar indices or Arabic numerals. The case can be paired with a number of different bands: stainless steel bracelets, leather straps, or rubber straps.

You can buy an Avenger II GMT on a stainless steel bracelet for around 3,400 USD.

At its introduction in 2003, Breitling offered the Avenger Seawolf as a 44-mm titanium watch. The Avenger II Seawolf's case has since grown by one millimeter and most are now made of stainless steel, with the exception of the black Night Mission editions. One thing all Seawolves have in common is their outstanding durability. They can survive at depths of up to 3,000 m (9,842 ft), where the surrounding pressure sits at a crushing 300 bar.

As a professional diving watch, the Seawolf has a helium escape valve on the side of its case for equalizing the pressure inside the watch. When deep underwater, helium molecules from the air used in diving stations find their way into the watch's case. When the surrounding pressure sinks, excess pressure will build up inside the watch if it can't escape through a helium escape valve. In the worst-case scenario, this could result in the watch being seriously damaged.

The Seawolf's case is an impressive 18.4 mm thick and features domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on both sides. The watch also features a unidirectional bezel. You can choose from a black, gray, or yellow dial. There are also older models with a blue dial. As for the band, you have the choice between leather, textile, rubber, or stainless steel. The Breitling Caliber B17 ticks away inside the case. This movement is based on the ETA 2824, has a power reserve of around 40 hours, and displays the date at 3 o'clock.

An Avenger II Seawolf from the current collection costs approximately 3,500 USD. If you're interested in an Avenger Seawolf Night Mission, be sure to have about 4,300 USD on hand. Older titanium Seawolf models are the most affordable at around 2,400 USD.

The Blackbird is named after one of the fastest and most famous reconnaissance aircraft in the world: the Lockheed SR-71, nicknamed Blackbird. This plane was used by the US Air Force between 1966 and 1998.

Like the plane, the Blackbird is all black. Breitling uses coated titanium for the case, which is available in two sizes: 44 or 48 mm. The black case, dial, and bezel emphasize the watch's functional design. Its textile strap is sturdy yet comfortable and comes in anthracite or khaki green. The rotatable bezel is unidirectional. Breitling's Caliber 17, based on an ETA movement, powers the Blackbird.

Avenger Blackbird prices depend on their size and range from 3,600 to 4,200 USD.

In 2017, Breitling launched the Avenger Hurricane. This timepiece is made of an entirely new proprietary material called "Breitlight." The name is a reference to the material's qualities, as it's 5.8 times lighter than steel and weighs 3.3 times less than titanium. In terms of hardness, Breitlight again beats both stainless steel and titanium. Its surface is matte and resembles carbon fiber. Breitling makes cases, case backs, bezels, and even push-pieces and crowns from this innovative material.

Alongside the matt black case, the dial design further heightens the chronograph's military feel. You can choose from a black or yellow dial with stenciled white indices that glow in the dark. The version with a 24-hour display is especially noteworthy. Its hour hand makes only one full rotation every 24 hours. This kind of time display has the advantage of immediately indicating whether it's day or night. This can be especially useful in certain environments where it isn't easy to differentiate between day and night, such as in polar regions or a submarine. If you prefer conventional 12-hour displays, you should consider the Avenger Hurricane 12H. Like most watches, this edition's hour hand completes two full rotations per day.

Breitling equips watches with a 12-hour display with the in-house Caliber B01. Those with a 24-hour display also use an in-house caliber, namely the B12.

The Avenger Hurricane comes in two sizes. You can choose from various 45 and 50-mm editions. A textile or rubber strap in black, anthracite, or yellow completes the look.

Depending on the exact model, you should expect to pay around 6,200 USD for a 50-mm Hurricane. Those with a 45-mm case demand prices close to 4,700 USD.