Breitling Chronomat B01 42 New York Giants
Breitling Parties in the End Zone with Its New NFL Commemorative Chronomat Collection
Just in time for the NFL season opener, Breitling nails an unprecedented 32-team collaboration for the football – and sporty chronograph – lover in us all.
By Mike Espindle
Executive Editor
It’s anybody’s guess who will win tonight’s National Football League (NFL) season opener between the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Baltimore Ravens (making this game, essentially, a rematch of last year’s AFC title match-up). What we can say for certainty is that, as of right now, Breitling has already won the Super Bowl of Swiss watch/professional sports alignments.
Why do we feel so confident about this? Because, at least in this writer’s memory, no high-end watchmaker has ever secured the participation of every single team in a professional sports league for a timepiece production partnership.
I am sure you can go to the gift shop at any football stadium and waste money on an inexpensive, gaudy quartz commemorative watch for your team, but we’re talking Breitling here. BREITLING! We’re also talking about a partnership that covers all 32 teams in the NFL.
Thankfully, the new Breitling Chronomat NFL Collection will give fans a MUCH more elevated way to express their team spirit, to say the least.
Pre-Game Pre-Game
While each team’s watch is limited to just 104 pieces (to honor the 104th anniversary of the NFL), this is not just big news…it is a big production undertaking.
To minimize production logistics, Breitling has wisely chosen the Chronomat B01 42 as the shared canvas for the project, with team customization built-in via helmet logos on the 9 o’clock sub-dial, team-color dials and details, and an overall NFL-honoring caseback.
As a result, each team has its own high-performance commemorative Swiss watch with a tastefully low-key level of branding: A dream for discrete football fans and watch fans.
“Collaborating with such an iconic and established league like the NFL is a touchdown for Breitling,” said brand CEO Georges Kern in a release. “As a casual, conscious luxury brand with purpose – the high-performance action of the NFL, combined with its values of responsibility and integrity, align perfectly with Breitling.”
Football Fever
Breitling’s NFL history includes long-standing relationships with legendary quarterback Norman “Boomer” Esiason, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (who famously gifted Breitling Avengers to his linemen in 2023), and others as brand ambassadors.
Breitling even created a limited-edition, red gold Chronomat Super Bowl LVIII Edition earlier this year that was swept up by fans.
So, in terms of wrist-riding, Breitling’s watches can be found on both players and staffers, from Lions’ running back Jahmyr Gibbs to Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, as well as many others.
The Playing Field
With its burly 42mm case, onion crown, raised rider tabs on the rotating bezel, rounded rouleaux bracelet (in steel or rubber), lumed hands, 200m water resistance, and triple register dial, the modernity of the Chronomat B01 42 Chronograph proves to be the perfect shared platform for the 2024 Breitling Chronomat NFL collection.
The model’s COSC-certified Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 movement provides 70 hours of power reserve and drives the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock sub-dials. An integrated date window is included at the 6 o’clock position, while the all-important team helmet logo rides at 9 o’clock.
The Kick-Off
Of course, in the past, there have been multiple one-off relationships between watchmakers and NFL teams or players. However, the all-in scope of the Breitling Chronomat NFL Collection is something totally different.
This unparalleled announcement was accompanied by a decidedly luxurious take on a tailgate party in and around Breitling’s downtown Manhattan location. While we can attest to the overall appeal of the entire collection, here are some “fan favorites” summaries we overheard at the event.
Kansas City Chiefs/Baltimore Ravens: With these two teams cued up for the season opener, both editions got more than a bit of hovering over.
The very dark purple of the Ravens team watch dial, with its simple raven head logo at 9 o’clock, definitely got some positive attention. Ditto, for KC’s bold red dial and arrowhead logo.
New York Giants/Jets: Since the launch event took place in NYC, both local team watches got a good going-over by the crowd. The very dark, almost black, blue of the Giant watch’s dial allowed the equally dark blue “ny” logo of the team to pop against the white sub-dial, while the very Gotham green (of course) Jets’ edition dial stood out.
Surprisingly, the spelled-out “JETS” logo, usually seen on the side of a helmet, read well in the 9 o’clock sub-dial position, proving that figures, letters, or numbers as team logos all performed equally well in the small, tasteful space.
Pricing & Availability
Limited to 104 editions for each of the 32 NFL teams, there was no pricing information at press time for the collection. However, an unadorned steel Chronomat B01 42 lists for $8,550 on a rubber strap and $8,950 on a steel bracelet.
Fans can secure their chosen wrist-player from the Breitling Chronomat 42 NFL Collection’s team roster at Breitling boutiques, authorized retailers, and via the brand’s website.
For information, including specific pricing details, visit Breitling’s website.
(Front image: The Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, all images © Breitling)