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, GMT display, or a depth rating of 3,000 m (300 bar, 9,843 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 individuals 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 ebauché 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 begin around 2,400 USD. This will get you a first-generation three-hand Avenger Seawolf. If you'd prefer a more recent three-hand model, you should take a closer look at the Avenger Automatic 43 or Avenger II Seawolf 45. These watches cost 3,200 and 3,400 USD, respectively. The Avenger is also available with a GMT function. You can call one of these timepieces your own for between 3,100 and 4,300 USD.

Fans of chronographs will also find plenty of options in the Avenger collection. One example is the Avenger Chronograph M1 from the early 2000s. This watch gets its power from the SuperQuartz caliber B37 and demands roughly 2,900 USD. There's also the 48-mm Super Avenger Chronograph 48 with an automatic caliber for about 5,100 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, a minute counter at 6, a small seconds at 9, and an hour 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.

Be sure to have around 5,200 USD on hand for an Avenger Chronograph 45 Night Mission. A comparable 45-mm model in stainless steel will set you back about 4,700 USD. You'll also find 43-mm Avenger Chronographs in a similar price range.

The design of the Super Avenger is so similar to that of "normal" models that you could easily mistake them for twins. However, with its 48-mm diameter, the Super Avenger is even more massive and attention-grabbing. 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.

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 either a rubber or leather strap.

Prices for a Super Avenger II depend on the band and range from 4,000 to 4,900 USD. You'll have to dig slightly deeper into your pockets for a stainless steel Super Avenger Chronograph 48. This timepiece costs about 5,000 USD. The black Night Mission edition demands slightly more at roughly 5,200 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 Avenger Automatic GMT is one such timepiece. Breitling produced this model in 43 and 45-mm editions. Both get their power from 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 43-mm Breitling Avenger II GMT is able to display up to three time zones simultaneously thanks to its bidirectional rotatable bezel with a GMT scale.

You can purchase an Avenger II GMT on Chrono24 for about 3,300 USD. A 43-mm Avenger Automatic GMT costs about 240 USD more, while the 45-mm variant sells for roughly 3,900 USD. Finally, prices for an Avenger Automatic GMT Night Mission come in at around 4,200 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 (9,843 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 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 17 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 with numerals on its bezel costs approximately 2,900 USD. The Avenger Automatic Seawolf 45 from 2019 is more expensive at roughly 3,500 USD. If you're interested in an Avenger Seawolf Night Mission, be sure to have about 4,200 USD on hand. Finally, 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 your choice of 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 4,000 to 4,400 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 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.

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 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 between 5,400 and 5,900 USD for a 50-mm Hurricane. Those with a 45-mm case demand prices ranging from 6,400 to 7,200 USD.