Breitling Chronometre B-1 - a mini review.

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This is not meant to be a technical review at all, there are a lot of websites dedicated to this particular watch; my favorite is this one: http://www.donindiano.net/watches/breitling/b-1/ . It's more a "lots of pictures" post.

I'd like to introduce one of my latest acquisition and my second HAQ watch: a Breitling Chronometre B-1, reference A78362.





It's my first Breitling, my first Swiss quartz watch and my first ana-digi. The bracelet is etched with the number S4204 so it was manufactured in October 2004; the case says 0205 B4, which stands for January 2005. It was sold in 2007 so after Breitling had discontinued the B-1 line in 2006.

The dial says "Chronometre B-1" meaning that the watch is equipped with the B78 movement, a SuperQuartz re-branded from the ETA Thermoline E20.341 (rated at 15spy).

It has two digital windows that alternately show the many functions that this caliber has. Everything is operated by the (signed with the B logo) crown. The most important function for me is the perpetual calendar but it also has a triple timezone feature (one is reserverd for the UTC time), a 1/100th of a second chronograph, a timer and two different alarms. Another very nice feature for me is the time signal, a small "Beep" at minute 00. Pushing the crown activates the light that makes the digital windows visible at night.

It's a relatively big watch, 43mm without the crown; it's also very hefty and a real physical presence on the wrist but surprisingly it's very comfortable even with the Fighter bracelet, which is quite massive.



That bracelet is equipped with SEL and the links are alternately polished and brushed. The clasp is signed.



and so is the deployment buckle.



The previous picture also shows the caseback which is really peculiar, resembling a turbine.

I bought the watch second hand but luckily the previous owner has been gentle with it, so it's in very good conditions. Moreover, he also bought the original Breitling rubber strap with the signed security buckle.



Unfortunately that band is simply too long for my 6.5'' wrist and thus I won't be using it. Not a big deal, however, as I have a very nice leather strap that I can use; also, I'm more a bracelet guy. Here is a wristshot on leather.



The sweep second hits the markers perfectly; the minute hand movement is not continuous but it jumps every thirty seconds, so it's perfectly coordinated with the second hand. As the movement is obviously hackable, I've been able to synchronize the watch with an atomic clock with a gap of only 5/100th of a second, so in the next few months it should be easy for me to track the watch accuracy.

Here is a close-up of the dial, showing the calendar function (much more visible in real life),the outer slide ruler, the beautifully shaped hands, the applied markers and the luminova treated digits. The lume is quite intense and easily lasts the whole night even without charging the luminova. The sapphire crystal is so clear that it's totally invisible even in this picture.



The set is probably the most complete I've ever seen in a watch. There is a cardboard outer box, the famous bakelite inner box, a couple of service manuals, the warranty paper, a (quite big) slide rule usage manual with another paper slide ruler, the chronometer certification, a plastic bezel protector and some spare links.



There is also the user manual showed in front. As you can probably see, at Breitling they did not bother to update it when they changed the caliber and thus the manual is still referring to the older B68 non-SQ movement, rated at 5 spm. Anyways, all the functions are operated the very same way so it's not a big deal.

Finally, a wristshot on bracelet. Hope you liked this review; suggestions or critics are welcome.