Introducing New Breitling Releases for 2024

Do you want to know everything there is to know about the new Breitling releases for 2024? Get the low-down on the new Breitling watch drops here.

As I sit here, a glass of wine in hand (it’s late evening, promise!), I can’t help but think of those Breitling releases of late March.  

This year is an important one for the Swiss watchmaker. It marks 140 years since Breitling officially put itself on the map for its ground-breaking innovations. As a nod to this special occasion, the watchmaker is marking it with a series of stories detailing its successes.

However, none of that would be so exciting without a release or two to accompany the occasion. 

As these narratives dig deep into the history of the brand, so do the models that accompany them. Several timepieces arrived ahead of Switzerland’s most prestigious luxury watch showcase last week. I’m going to outline them here in this read.  

The New Breitling Releases You’ve Been Waiting For  

Among the new Breitling releases for 2024 are a slew of new Navitimer 41 models, including some GMT versions. The watches come in a choice of case materials, straps, and dial colors to collect before the summer months arrive.

In addition to this, Breitling has released a limited edition Navitimer Cosmonaute powered by the in-house B12 movement. As for the Chronomat, Breitling doesn’t disappoint there either. Something equally exciting has been added to this line, too! 

The new models are available in 42mm and Super 44mm sizes and are made of lightweight titanium. If these launches weren’t exciting enough, there’s always the Aerospace B70 Orbiter watch. It marks the anniversary of the Orbiter 3 Voyage.

I’m sure all these new Breitling watches sound intriguing. But to properly appreciate their excellence, let’s take a closer look.

If you’re in the mood for a history lesson, grab a coffee. I’m going to run through all the latest Breitling releases for 2024 and how each model marks an important chapter in the brand’s history.

History Lesson 1 — the Breitling Navitimer  

We often overuse the word “iconic” in the luxury watch industry. I think a watch needs to have influenced the industry in some significant way to wear that status. The Navitimer, in my opinion, is a true icon, and I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking so.

The Navitimer watch is one of the most recognized pilot’s watches in the world. The post-war classic has evolved over the years but still keeps its signature details.

The Swiss company has always enjoyed a strong association with flights and flyers alike. Thus, the use of its slide rule bezel was nothing short of indispensable.  

The feature, originally developed for the Chronomat, was later adopted by the Navitimer. Its use? To assist with optimizing complicated flight calculations. 

The Navitimer captivated collectors back in the 1950s. Willy Breitling and a watchmaker named Marcel Robert then modified the Navitimer. 

Thanks to their modifications, a pilot could carry out complete calculations without having to keep turning the bezel.  

The New Navitimer 41 and GMT 41 Watches 

The latest Navitimer 41 watches revealed by Breitling still carry the same practicability combined with distinctive looks. They still retain the same “wow” factor that has been engaging enthusiasts since the 1950s.  

While it may look complicated, the complexity of the design adds to the allure of this watch. I mean, think about it. You can operate the outer scale by moving the bezel while keeping the inner scale stationary. 

In doing so, it opens up a whole host of technical possibilities. You can convert nautical and land miles into kilometers and work out the distance traveled. Pilots can also work out fuel consumption while airbound.  

The Breitling Navitimer 41 Watches

The new 2024 Navitimer releases come in cream, black, dark blue, light blue, and emerald green colors. The automatic 41 watches, in particular, come in dark blue, light blue, and emerald green. 

Measuring 41mm, these simple three-handed models closed the case back. 

Choose between the 7-link steel bracelet or a leather band, depending on whether you want to look dressy or understated. Either way, both options look great.

If you wanted, you could go even dressier. There’s a two-tone stainless steel or rose gold option or a solid 18kt rose gold iteration. 

Both feature a cream dial and look particularly striking on the brown leather band option.  

Navitimer 41 GMT Watches  

The Breitling Navitimer 41 GMT watches are equally as eye-catching. They gear themselves towards those who like to travel in style. 

The hands and stick hour markers match their respective case materials. There is silver for the steel and rose gold for the precious metal configurations. 

Again, these models measure 41mm and come with a choice of a leather band or a 7-link bracelet.

The steel models are available in black, cream, and light blue. They also have a date window at 6 o’clock. My favorite designs are the green emerald, and 18k rose gold versions. The materials and colors embody the perfect blend of boldness and refinement.

You should note that these new Navitimer 41 watches have a caller-style GMT design. This means that local time displays itself on a 24-hour scale while the main hands display home time. 

History Lesson 2 — the Breitling Cosmonaute  

The new Breitling Navitimer B12 Cosmonaute is a proper collector’s piece. It celebrates the brand’s milestone in creating the first Swiss chronograph to reach space during the 1950s.  

In 1952, the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) decided it needed a superior wrist-worn pilot’s watch for cockpit operations. The watch would assist with airborne flight calculations and deliver on legibility. 

Willy Breitling decided to convert the Chronomat watch’s slide rule bezel, integrating it into the Navitimer.  

The result was a classic black dial with radium-coated Arabic numeral hour markers and a beaded bezel. 

In 1956, Breitling opened the design to the public. During the golden era of the Navitimer, Breitling was also working on a prototype for astronaut Scott Carpenter.  

Carpenter wore that wristwatch during the Mercury-Atlas 7 Mission while on board the Aurora 7 spacecraft. It became the first Swiss chronograph to venture into space. The 24-hour scale, which replaced the hour and minute scale, constituted an unusual take on the design.   

In 2022, Breitling honored that pivotal moment with the Cosmonaute 60th Anniversary — the Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute. It had a platinum bezel, sapphire caseback, and special engravings on its bridges.  

The New Breitling Navitimer B12 Cosmonaute Limited Edition  

Outfitted with the new in-house Breitling B12 movement, the 2024 Navitimer Cosmonaute watch bears real historical significance.  

Harkening back to the days of early manned space flights, it serves as a reminder of Breitling’s integral role in Aerospace and aviation horology. Bringing back the spirit of adventure and precision, its enticing emerald green dial sits inside an alluring 18k rose gold case. 

Just a subtle shot of red color shows in the chronograph’s second hand, contrasting beautifully with the black concentric sub-dials.

Here’s where the special finishes really add to the exclusivity of this new Breitling Navitimer B12 Cosmonaute. 

Flip the watch over, and you’ll see a reference to Breitling’s 1962 Cosmonaute watch. Underneath a sapphire crystal glass caseback is a stunning golden oscillating rotor, too — all features that you don’t get with a standard Breitling.  

I also love the beige 24-hour scale around the flange, which pays homage to vintage Breitling watches of the 1960s.

History Lesson 3 — The Breitling Evospace  

The Aerospace B70 watch from Breitling is an unapologetically masculine pilot’s tool. If you like the sound of a colorful, digital timepiece and you like aviation watches, you should check this one out.

The Aerospace originally belonged to the Navitimer series and features prominent rider tabs at 3, 6, 9, and 12H. 

Cleverly, these tabs don’t just serve on an aesthetical level. They aid grip even under heavy pilot’s gloves, framing a hybrid digital display.  

The first Aerospace released by Breitling in 1985 called to mind the Navitimer and Chronomat designs. 

The 2013, however, defines the Aerospace we’re all familiar with today. But the vibrant new Breitling 2024 Aerospace, in orange, tips its hat to an important moment in time. 

It also holds a piece of real, authentic history inside its design as a tribute to the brand’s monumental achievement.  

In 1999, two men named Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones orbited the earth in a special globe. It was the world’s first nonstop navigation around the world (a mission that had failed twice already). The Breitling Orbiter 3 completed the mission. 

Concluding in the vast Egyptian desert, the crew successfully touched down after 19 days, 21 hours, and 47 minutes.  

The New Breitling Aerospace B70 Orbiter 25th Anniversary Watch

Marking a quarter of a century since the successful moment of the completed mission, Breitling welcomes this model. 

It comes fitted with an ultra-precise quartz movement that is ten times more accurate than a standard quartz. It can also measure 1/100th of a second and offers a GMT and /flyback function.

The analog dial, combined with digital features, is what makes the Aerospace range so special. It comes with a minute repeater to deliver the time acoustically and bears the mission logo on the right side of the dial. 

The vibrant orange dial color also pays homage to the Breitling lettering on the balloon. The key benefit is its lightweight titanium case and bracelet design. 

Its strength-to-weight ratio is superb for daily wear. Alternatively, if you want to go sportier, choose the watch on the black Breitling-embossed rubber band.  

What makes the Breitling Navitimer B70 Orbiter 25th Anniversary such a novelty is the piece of history nestled inside it.  Flip the case over to reveal a sapphire case back, and you can observe a real slice of history. 

A piece of the original Orbiter 3 balloon sits inside the design. 

What’s more, the watch is limited to 1999 pieces to mark the year of the special expedition.  

History Lesson 4 — The Chronomat  

Have you always felt the original steel Chronomat watch was too hefty? The new 42mm and Super (larger) 44mm models offer a titanium case!

Despite the change of material, I suspect collectors will love these new Chronomat watches. Breitling preserves all the important hallmarks, but these are now fortified by a strong, lightweight exterior. 

Most of all, the new additions still feel like thoroughbreds but benefit from a more ergonomically-focussed design.  

The Breitling Chronomat enjoys a history spanning over 70 years. It takes its name from the initial slide rule bezel it once featured, combining the word “Chronograph, with “Mathematics”.  

The Chronomat then took on a solid, improved design in the 1980s, which we all recognize today. It marked the brand’s 100th anniversary, featuring a large onion-shaped crown, bezel rider tabs to aid grip, and straightened lugs. 

Breitling also developed a bracelet exclusively for the design. The Rouleaux bracelet is one of the most recognizable Chronomat features with its luxurious roll-like links.  

The Breitling Chronomat 42mm and Super 44mm Watches  

Echoing the original 1984 design, these new Chronomat watches feature ceramic inserts, a legible dial, and a chronograph complication. The Super Chronomat is where you’ll find black ceramic added to the push-pieces and crown, in addition to the bezel.

The four iconic rider tabs sit at the cardinal points on the bezel. Together, they frame an anthracite dial with black-filled chronograph sub-dials. Plenty of Super-LumiNova is also applied to the hour markers and hands.

The central chronograph hand boasts a shot of light blue color, while the date window resides at 6 o’clock.  

The 42 and 44mm Chronomat titanium watches feature a tachymeter scale around the flange. They also come on a choice of the aforementioned lightweight titanium bracelet or black Rouleaux-inspired rubber band.  

If you regularly use the stopwatch features of a watch, you’ll find the new Chronomat incredibly practical. The biggest advantage of these new Chronomat watches, of course, is the lightweight case. 

Suffice it to say, the Chronomat is the ultimate daily companion for all of life’s eventualities and is now stronger and lighter than ever before.  

Summing Up

There are so many new Breitling releases that excite me this year that it’s hard to choose a favorite. I’m sure you can understand my dilemma.

For me, the Navitimer B12 Cosmonaut steals the show. The decision to pair the blushing rose gold case with a deep, captivating emerald green dial is extraordinary. 

The configuration is bold and gutsy, and I love that. Somehow, Breitling still manages to bridge the gap between sophisticated and practical. Genius.

What’s your favorite new Breitling 2024 release? Let me know in the comments!