I have a bit of a rocky relationship with the perfect replica Breitling Chronomat, Thomas. It’s certainly not all love from my side. When I first got into watches, the Chronomat represented a lot of what I didn’t like about luxury watches. For the longest time, the 1:1 fake Breitling Chronomat was an oversized chunk of steel associated with shady characters who lived their lives at night and weren’t afraid to leave the imprint of the rider tabs on your face if you looked at them the wrong way. I am exaggerating, of course, but we all know the reputation of the previous generations of the cheap super clone Breitling Chronomat is well known among watch fans.
However, as with all watches that have been around for a long time, it’s all about context. Once I started reading about the history of the luxury replica Breitling Chronomat, it was easier to see the era that I am not a fan of as just one small part of the model’s history. The Chronomat dates back to the early 1940s as aaa quality fake Breitling’s first watch with a slide-rule bezel and the predecessor of the Navitimer. Additionally, there is the story of the Chronomat from the early 1980s, created with Ernest Schneider at the brand’s helm. As I explained in the Buying Guide article on the best super clone Breitling watches from the 1980s, that version of the Chronomat represents the story of the brand’s renewed focus on mechanical watches.
Inspiration from the 1980s Chronomat
With the outside help of the Frecce Tricolori aerobatics team of the Italian Air Force, Swiss made replica Breitling developed an aviation chronograph that set the tone for everything that came after. I love the Breitling Chronomat ref. 81950 copy for sale, which was first introduced in 1984. The watch introduced the characteristic rotating timing bezel with the rider tabs at each 15-minute interval. Additionally, the watch came with the great Rouleaux bracelet with its rifle-shell-style links. And it’s this watch that inspired Georges Kern to create the current top copy Breitling Chronomat, one that celebrates the past and respectfully says goodbye to the previous era of the Chronomat that I just couldn’t love.
When the new Chronomat came out in 2020, I immediately became a fan, and to this day, it is my favorite model in the Swiss movement replica Breitling collection. I still love the “Kern-ification” of the current Chronomat four years later. However, I must say that I don’t feel the same about everything that came after. The long list of additions to the collection made me forget about the best model that started the current generation. Additions like the three-hand Automatic versions and the GMTs hardly stood out. The Super high quality fake Breitling Chronomat stands out in size but misses the charm and refinement of its smaller brothers. Lastly, the string of limited editions might serve a purpose in targeting a specific audience, but I would not run to a Breitling boutique to pay €9K for a Six Nations-branded Chronomat.
Why the Chronomat B01 42 is the one Chronomat
No, it’s all about the high quality fake Breitling Chronomat B01 42 that debuted in 2020. That is the Chronomat for me! So when I saw the new UK limited edition, I was immediately reminded of the best quality copy Breitling Chronomat I want! The way that Kern and his designers reintroduced the characteristic elements from the 1980s Chronomat and combined them with a contemporary overall design creates an attractive modern chronograph. The stainless steel case measures 42mm in diameter, 15.1mm in thickness, and 50.5mm from lug to lug. In good Chronomat tradition, it’s a substantial size, but it wears like a charm. The brilliant Rouleaux bracelet adds a ton of comfort and style, and it sits perfectly on my wrist.
Thanks to the brand’s much-lauded in-house B01 caliber, fortunately, the designers never had to think about the Valjoux 7750 layout of the ’80s Breitling Chronomat fake for men. The self-winding B01 uses the traditional 3-6-9 layout and offers a fully integrated chronograph mechanism, a column wheel, a vertical clutch, and a 70-hour power reserve. Due to its sub-dial layout, the dial looks super balanced, is easy to read, and has a great sense of style. In particular, the copper-colored, panda, and reverse panda dials look great, and the new black and gray UK version would have been a great addition if it weren’t limited. All in all, though, the Swiss super clone Breitling Chronomat B01 42 is one of the best-looking and most relevant chronographs out there.