Breitling Chronomat 2026 arrives as a broad refresh, adding a new 40mm automatic model, slimmer case profiles, and 22 references across three families, the company said.
Breitling traced the Chronomat lineage to the 1980s, when the model was developed with pilots and aerobatic teams in mind. The name combines “chronograph” and “automatic,” and Breitling says the 1984 reintroduction marked the brand’s centenary and helped return mechanical chronographs to prominence in a quartz-dominated era.
For 2026, Breitling has retained the Chronomat’s signature elements while reworking proportions and lines. The refreshed family includes the Chronomat B01 42 chronograph, the brand’s first 40mm three-hand Chronomat called Chronomat Automatic B31 40, and the more jewelry-focused Chronomat Automatic 36, together totaling 22 new references, Breitling said.
The most visible change is the connection between case and bracelet. Previous Chronomat generations used conventional lugs; the new models tuck the lugs behind the case for a more integrated silhouette that smooths the transition to the Rouleaux bracelet, Breitling said. The revision brings the overall shape closer to a tonneau form, creating a cleaner visual edge.
The series keeps the rider tabs bezel and Rouleaux bracelet that define the Chronomat, but the brand softened the lines so the watches sit more easily with a shirt, a suit, or casual wear. Breitling also trimmed case thickness across the line to improve ergonomics; the B01 42 falls from 15.1 mm to 13.77 mm, and the Automatic 36 drops from 10.01 mm to 9.68 mm, the company said.
Chronograph dials were simplified as well. Breitling removed the inner 1/100 second scale for clearer legibility, slimmed the crown guards, and consolidated a previously 18-piece bezel assembly into a single-piece structure for a cleaner look, according to the brand.
The new Chronomat Automatic B31 40 is likely to attract the most attention. It is the first Chronomat offered as a 40 mm, three-hand date model, powered by Breitling’s in-house B31 automatic movement, with COSC certification and a 78-hour power reserve, the company said. The case thickness is 10.99 mm, placing the model between sport and dress proportions and making it more wearable on smaller wrists.
Steel Chronomat Automatic B31 40 dials will be offered in blue, green, and white, with an ice-blue dial paired with a platinum bezel on a special reference, Breitling said.
The Chronomat B01 42 remains the core chronograph in the family, powered by the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 with about 70 hours of power reserve. Steel versions come in white, blue, and green dials with black chronograph subdials; two-tone steel and red gold models use a coal gray dial; full red gold is offered with a brown dial; and the ice-blue plus platinum bezel configuration continues as a higher-end option.
The Chronomat Automatic 36 emphasizes jewelry finishes. It uses the Breitling Caliber 10 automatic movement with a 42-hour reserve and 100 meters of water resistance. Options include steel with a classic blue dial, white and gray mother of pearl dials with lab-grown diamond hour markers and diamond bezels, and two-tone steel and red gold versions that pair a red gold bezel with mother of pearl and diamonds for a dressier look, the brand said.
Comfort improvements include a new patented micro-adjust system on some steel and two-tone Rouleaux bracelets. The hidden butterfly clasp can extend the bracelet by adding links at the clasp, allowing quick on-the-wrist adjustments for changes in wrist size due to temperature or pressure, Breitling said.
Breitling listed U.S. starting prices as follows: Chronomat B01 42 from $9,900, Chronomat Automatic B31 40 from $7,200, and Chronomat Automatic 36 steel from $5,950. The company provided these prices in its launch materials.
Breitling said the 2026 Chronomat update is intended to preserve the model’s tool-watch heritage while widening its appeal through smaller sizes, reduced thickness, and more jewelry-oriented options. The brand did not announce global availability dates beyond the new references being part of its 2026 collection rollout.
