Breitling’s Chronomat lineage traces back to the early 1940s, when the brand pioneered wristwatches featuring circular slide rules—essentially analog computers for the wrist designed for mathematicians, engineers, and scientists. Later aviation-focused models, such as the Navitimer, built on this foundation with rotating bezels and updated movements that became popular among military pilots. We recently explored that evolution in our hands-on Navitimer review.
The Chronomat continued to evolve, with a special edition released in 2016: the Breitling Chronomat Chronograph 44 Blacksteel MB001. It stands out for its bold design, school bus–yellow dial, and robust construction. Precision Watches proudly welcomes a pre-owned example to our collection, currently offered at $6,750.
Breitling Chronomat Blacksteel Review
Here are some features we noticed when examining the watch up close in our Lower Gwynedd showroom.
Appearance
Looking at the watch, the school-bus-yellow face is the most obvious feature. Described as a mix of Breitling’s signature colors, Intrepid Orange and Cobra Yellow, it gives the watch a sporty look, enhancing its unapologetic appearance. It offers high contrast against a DLC-coated carbon stainless steel case and deep black subdials, making it difficult to ignore.
The ‘bigness’ is further enhanced by an onion-style crown and prominent screw-down chronograph pushers, which exaggerate its already oversized profile.
Up close, you can see that the dial features raised appliques with Super-LumiNova hour markers and hands for legibility. The striped design enhances the sporty aesthetic while red accents on the second and subdial hands provide additional contrast. Engraved numerals and markers on the bezel provide a discreet look that does not compete with the watch’s overall design.
The Fit
This is a large watch, and unlike many toned-down pieces with minimal thickness and a small lug-to-lug measurement, its size is just as unapologetic as the rest of its appearance. It offers a 44mm diameter, 17mm thickness, and 22mm spacing between lugs. If you’re even thinking of wearing it under a cuff- forget about it.
However, it does offer some features that make it ‘fit-friendly’. For example, its curved lugs offer some contouring. And while the watch is heavy, its short lugs eliminate some ‘top-heaviness’, making it feel reassuring rather than weighty.
Still and all, the watch should not be worn on a wrist size smaller than 16cm, to reduce the risk of overhang.
The Strap
The fit is further enhanced by a high-tech rubber strap. It features a slider with a trigger for incremental fitting. The rubber also conforms nicely to the wrist.
Aesthetics-wise, its bold black color offsets the bright yellow nicely. A bold Breitling logo is engraved into the material, complementing the athletic appearance.
Caseback and Movement
The partially skeletonized caseback preserves the watch’s instrument-like feel while allowing you to view the technically precise, large-scale, in-house automatic Breitling B01 movement and blackened rotor. Other features to note include a 70-hour power reserve and an alarming 200 meters of water resistance.
Because Breitling serial numbers are engraved on the case, they also play an important role in authentication. For buyers interested in verifying details, our Breitling serial number check guide explains how serials are used to confirm originality and production details.
Robustness
You can’t talk about this watch without mentioning its exceptionally robust construction. Its dial and bezel pearl, which allows immediate readability against the minute hand, are sapphire capped for optimal durability.
The rider tabs on the bezel, a signature Breitling feature, make it easier to grip when your hands are wet, sweaty, or gloved. The screws around the bezel, also referred to as a capped bezel design, make it difficult to remove. They also hold the bezel in place, preventing the crystal from being damaged by impact.
Functionality
While the watch may look wild, it’s an extremely practical instrument. Its central chronograph seconds hand measures elapsed seconds when you start the chrono. Subdials include a 30-minute counter, useful for tracking shorter events; a 12-hour counter, which lets you time events up to 12 hours; and a running seconds dial that shows the watch is alive even when the chronometer is stopped.
The hacking seconds hand lets you synchronize precisely with a reference time. A tachymeter scale measures speed over a known distance. The quickset date adjusts when you pull the crown.
Experience the Breitling Chronomat 44 MB011 at Precision Watches
If you love bold sporty watches, you may want to experience the Breitling Chronomat Chronograph 44 Blacksteel when you visit our Lower Gwynedd showroom. We offer a wide selection of new and previously owned luxury timepieces, ensuring you find a timepiece that suits your needs. If you can’t visit us in person, browse our website to find your dream watch at an affordable price.
Precision also offers professional watch repair to support you throughout your ownership experience. Contact us to learn more about our products and services.
FAQS
What makes the Blacksteel MB011 different from a regular Chronomat?
The Blacksteel MB011 differs from a regular Chronomat, offering a DLC case and bezel for a more tactical look, a bright yellow dial with ‘reverse panda’ subdials, and a partially skeletonized caseback. Overall, it provides the same 44mm professional tool-watch architecture with a more aggressive, modern aesthetic.
How legible is the yellow dial in daily use?
The yellow dial is highly legible, with high contrast between the black hands, while the clear subdial layout and anti-reflective sapphire crystal enhance readability. Luminous material on the hands and indices further supports legibility in low-light conditions.
Who is this watch best suited for?
This watch is best suited for enthusiasts who like large, technical chronographs, Breitling’s in-house movement, and aviation/tool-watch heritage, and those who want a bright, highly visible sports watch rather than a subtle dress watch.
Does running the chronograph all the time damage the movement?
No, the Caliber 1-1 uses a vertical clutch that allows the chronograph to run continuously with minimal wear on the movement. While you may see a slight impact on power research, there is no harm in using the chrono to run seconds.
How accurate is the watch in real-world use?
The watch is highly accurate. As a COSC-certified timepiece, it’s been tested to roughly -4 to +6 seconds.
