Breitling B01 Caliber: Breitling’s First Manufacture Chronograph Movement

With chronograph watches at the core of Breitling’s brand identity, it was all but an inevitability that the company would present an in-house caliber with this popular complication–we just didn’t know when.  It turns out that the big year is here now.  In March, at Baselworld 2009, Breitling will unveil its first manufacture movement–the Caliber B01.   

While details on the in-house Breitling B01 movement are still scant at this point, what technical details have emerged suggest a very promising product.  It is a fully integrated chronograph movement with a vertical-clutch, following the lead of such excellent self-winding chronograph movements as the Frederic Piguet 1185 or Rolex 4130.  Purist fans of chronograph watches will be delighted that the Breitling B01–like all fine chronographs–employs a column-wheel.  I’m highly appreciative of this latter point, but am at least as impressed that Breitling has made servicing considerations a major priority in the design and construction of its new caliber.  

I look forward to seeing which Breitling watches will be the first to receive the B01 chronograph movement.  Only Brietling knows, but I’d place a small wager that the classic Navitimer collection will be an early recipient.