Chronomat Big Case 1808

In Context

At 49 mm this is exceptionally large for something worn on a wrist, closer to a pocket watch given lugs. At 16 mm it is very tall, and sits high off the wrist. The case back is closed, so the movement stays out of sight, and the plexiglass crystal scratches easily but polishes back out at home, which sapphire does not.

The movement winds itself from the motion of your wrist.

1808 stands on its own in this catalogue — no other reference here shares its base number. It pairs a black dial with a stainless steel case. Introduced in 1968.

One of the first automatic chronographs, developed from 1966 by Breitling, Heuer-Léonidas, Dubois-Dépraz and Büren under the name Project 99, and launched in 1969. A Dubois-Dépraz module sits on a Büren micro-rotor base; because the module occupies the right-hand side of the movement, the winding crown moves to the left. The 12 is the slightly revised successor to the original calibre 11.

3 other watches in the library run the Breitling Chronomatic 12.

Breitling

Navitimer Big Case 1806

1806 · 49 mm

Breitling

Navitimer Big Case 1806 Iraqi Airforce

1806 Iraqi · 49 mm

Breitling

Chrono-Matic 2116

2116 · 38 mm