Are you looking for some of the cheapest Breitling watches? You don’t have to spend several thousand dollars to get into the club.
Breitling is one of my favorite watch brands. I especially loved it when they teamed up with the NFL in 2024 to serve up some athletic yet elegant team-themed lines. Their pieces are incredibly sporty yet classy simultaneously; as someone who rarely wears a dress watch, that speaks to me. You’d be surprised to know that the cheapest Breitling watches are still well-designed, attractive, and well-built. The brand takes just as much time and attention per price point on these lower-priced gems as they do with their $20,000 pieces.
If you love aviation watches, sports watches, and Swiss automatics but are on a budget, consider Breitling. Specifically, consider the options I’ve got for you here.
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Breitling Watch Cost: How Much Is the Average Breitling?
The average cost of a Breitling online hovers around $5,000. So, it’s indeed a top luxury Swiss watch brand, but still at a lower cost than, say, Rolex or Patek. In a sense, its entry-level prices are a bit closer to Omega, which is why they are often compared.
Some of their more complex models or limited editions might be closer to $10,000. Their secondary prices can go as high as $20,000 or even $70,000. Particularly if you’re looking at something like a tourbillon with gem sets.
The watches I’ve rounded up here are far cheaper than that.
Affordable Men’s Breitling Watches
Fortunately, even among the most affordable men’s Breitling watches, you get many of their trademark designs. There are Chronographs and historically important models. You get unique, sculptural pieces that’ll last a lifetime. These aren’t just bottom-barrel models, guys. Even those with much bigger budgets should consider adding one or some of these to their collections.
The Breitling Colt Line
The Colt line offers some of the most affordable Breitling watches. It’s an entry-level collection of sporty models embodying many design cues we associate with the brand. For example, they feature the broad, strong bezel with the iconic rider tabs at the cardinals. The line was initially designed for the military and, in my opinion, has a truly dynamic look to it.
On the secondary market, you can find pieces from the Colt line for as low as $1,000. You can also find automatics, even Chronometers, in the ~$2,000 range. That’s not too shabby, considering that mid-tier brands sell their higher-end, non-Chronometer models at that price. Still, even the quartz Colt models are spec-forward, with high water resistance, sapphire crystals, and overall solid builds. Remember, the brand designed them for the military.
For small-wristed folks, you’ll be happy to know that the sizes range from 32 millimeters to 45 millimeters. The pieces that are closer to 32 millimeters are technically ladies’ watches or inspired by vintage models.
However, first of all, many believe there’s no such thing as a ladies vs men’s watch (for the most part). Secondly, Breitling makes some cool unisex-looking ladies’ watches. I even prefer the Navitimer B01 Chronograph because of the pearled bezel.
Breitling Callisto
The Breitling Callisto line is like an abbreviated Chronomat. But it is available on the secondary market for a fraction of the price. Again, it has the sculptural bezel and raised rider tabs. The gold contrast tabs make the Callisto more dynamic, though.
You also have a Chronomat-esque onion crown, though some versions have smaller crowns. In fact, overall, the Callisto chronographs are generally smaller, which is great for the skinny-wristed. They’re considered medium-sized mechanicals and come in 36-millimeter cases. This is my personal sweet spot, though I think 36-millimeter watches suit all wrists.
They often run on Caliber 11 or the Chronomatic, a heritage movement that helped pioneer the automatic chronograph. So, not only is this watch good-looking, but it also has a piece of history inside.
The Callisto was produced from 1988 to around 1992 and is easy to find on the secondary market. You can find them for as low as under $1,000 to around $3,000 for a complete set.
Breitling Callistino
The Callistino is the ladies’ version of the Callisto. However, ladies’ sports watches are a cheat code I’ve always used for men who don’t love dress watches. First, they’re usually just smaller versions of the men’s line. So, for skinny-wristed guys, they’re an excellent option for that alone.
However, the Callistino to the Callisto is a bit like the 28-millimeter Omega Seamaster to the Mid-Size and Full-Size. It’s smaller, still sporty, and has a touch of sparkle. The miniature size gives it a more dress-watch-like wear. Meanwhile, the extra sparkle gives it a dress-watch-like fanciness — but it’s still a sports watch.
Some Callistino variations have literal gemsets, while others simply have high-gloss applications. I prefer the latter, but there’s no rule saying men can’t wear gemsets. Just look at all the beautiful hip-hop watches that rappers and singers wear. You can even find Callistinos with exquisite mother-of-pearl dials.
Part of the reason these are so affordable is because they’re quartz watches. However, Breitling builds them to high-end Swiss standards, boasting water resistance, sapphire crystals, and flawless applications.
Vintage Breitlings From the 1950s Can Be Under $500
Vintage watches are a great way to get in on expensive modern-day brands. I’ve said this about Rolex, I’ve said this about Omega, and I’ll say this about Breitling. Look for any Breitling watch from the ‘50s or ‘60s on the secondary market. You’ll easily find them for under $500, sometimes as low as $250. That’s the price of a Timex or an expensive Casio.
Plus, watches from the 1950s are so beautifully simple. I bet that the gold sword hands of a Breitling 1093 or the sharp batons of a Breitling 2910 were considered dynamic at the time. Today, they still are, but not in a way that detracts from the minimal, timeless look.
Although technically field watches, they can be worn as dress watches because of their antique quality. I personally enjoy a manual-winding watch. It gives it an engagement factor and allows you to get to know your timepiece.
Breitling Endurance Pro 38
If you’re looking for a hefty, maximalist watch, look no further than the Breitling Endurance Pro. The 38-millimeter has all of the strength and presence of the 44-millimeter but in a far more versatile size. As one of Breitling’s modern entry-level watches, it can be found for around $3,250 with a full set (with box and papers).
This watch is quite light, as the brand designed it for athletes. It’s over three times lighter than titanium. Breitling uses an exclusive material called Breitlight for the case. Breitlight is hypoallergenic, scratch- and corrosion-resistant.
You can also wear the Endurance Pro 38 as an everyday watch, a sort of equivalent to modern athleisure wear. The 38-millimeter version comes in a range of colors, including more traditionally feminine ones like pink — which looks excellent, by the way.
You can also get it with orange, sky blue, white, or purple accents. The color is reserved for the outer dial, the crown, and the band. You can always switch out the band if you want the colors to pop more subtly.
Breitling Chronomat A13050
Not only is the Breitling Chronomat A13050 easily found for under $3,000 (sometimes way under), but it’s slender-wrist-friendly. You can often find it in the 39-millimeter or 40-millimeter range.
Of course, this chronograph features raised rider tabs, nine-leaning three subdials, and top-notch specs.
Additionally, it is available with a silver dial, a black dial, a blue dial, and several design variations. Some have dressy baton indices, while others have sizable Arabic indices for a sportier look.
FAQs
Do you still have questions about affordable Breitling watches? Or Breitling in general? Here are the most common ones.
Is Omega or Breitling Better?
Neither is inherently better. Breitling is known for their sporty aviation models. Meanwhile, Omega’s claim to fame is the Speedmaster, though Breitling is a chronograph pioneer. Overall, Omega is more of a household name because the Speedy went to space and because it’s a James Bond watch brand.
Is Breitling Considered a Luxury Watch?
Yes, Breitling is considered a luxury Swiss brand. However, with entry-level models at $3,000 instead of $10,000, it’s more attainable than Rolex or Patek.
Is a Breitling Watch a Good Investment?
Few watches are a good investment in getting your money back. Even the ones that are better than others are a gamble. However, a Breitling watch can last you a lifetime.
Conclusion: The Affordable Breitling Watch for You
When choosing the cheapest Breitling watch, there are a few things to consider. Think about your personal style, where (and how often) you want to wear it, and your budget. At less than $300, you can’t go wrong with a versatile vintage piece. However, the Callistinos, again, can be worn casually or formally (in my opinion). And, of course, there’s always the Chronomat-like Callisto or the quintessential Colt line.
Questions? Comments? Let us know in the comments below.
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