Breitling debuts Chronomat NFL Collection – 32 teams, 32 references, limited to 104 pieces each
Zach Blass- For its biggest launch of the year, Breitling teams up with the NFL to produce Chronomat B01 42 watches inspired by team colours.
- There are 32 different references, one for each team, and each variant is limited to 104 pieces.
- All Chronomat NFL collection models are stainless steel, and have the team crest embedded within the 9 o’clock counter of its team colour-matching dial.
Today, not only does the 2024 NFL season kick off, but also a collaborative Breitling Chronomat NFL Collection. You may be surprised to learn that the largely pilot’s watch-associated Swiss manufacturer has long had ties to the National [American] Football League.
“This isn’t Breitling’s first play on the football field. Breitling watches have appeared on the wrists of football players and fans for many years. Former NFL quarterback Norman Julius ‘Boomer’ Esiason has been a Breitling Ambassador for over 30 years, proudly sporting the brand’s collections. Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the #1 NFL Draft Pick in 2021, stars as one of the faces of the Breitling all-star squad campaign, first introduced in 2022”, Breitling explains. “In 2024, Breitling also presented a limited Chronomat Super Bowl LVII Edition that was met with great demand from football fans. Breitling can also be found gracing the wrists of Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, New York Jets captain and linebacker CJ Mosley, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.”
The extensive limited edition collaboration centres around Breitling’s Chronomat B01 42 in stainless steel, that ultimately only deviates from standard models with special team-inspired dials and an NFL logo-etched exhibition caseback. I have seen other brands produce NFL-themed limited edition watches, typically associated with a single brand ambassador and their team. For the Breitling Chronomat NFL Collection, every NFL fan has been considered, as there are 32 different models to choose from – one for each team in the NFL. Each team model is limited to 104 pieces, a nod to the NFL’s 104th anniversary this year. Therefore, Breitling is making a total of 3,328 watches for its NFL collaboration – half of which will be affixed to a stainless steel Rouleaux bracelet with a butterfly clasp, and the other half outfitted on a black Rouleaux-inspired rubber strap.
Enough chit-chat, let’s get to what makes these watches special – their dials. Breitling appears to have done an excellent job honing in on the signature hues of each NFL team. For example, the Denver Broncos’ colours are orange, blue, and white. Breitling elected to lean into the bolder orange of the Broncos jersey, but it did not forget about the blue that can be subtly seen on the central chronograph hand and on the hands of the chronograph sub-dials. If you couldn’t figure it out by the colours, the immediate tell of which team the watch tributes is at the 9 o’clock small seconds counter.
This is the style guide for each of the 32 dials – a team-inspired colour with white sub-dials, secondary colour-accented hands, and a team logo within the small seconds counter. The usage of white chronograph counters for all of the watches not only nets a fan-favourite panda dial flavour, but also a better-embedded date complication as the disc is black-on-white.
Framing the B01 manufacture calibre exhibited within, you’ll notice the outer border includes the engraving “ONE OF 104” to commemorate the aforementioned anniversary. The NFL logo is tastefully etched on the sapphire crystal’s surface in a manner that does not obscure your view of the 70-hour automatic movement within. The vertical-clutch column-wheel chronograph calibre is also notably COSC-certified and is therefore pledged to run within +6/-4 seconds per day.
When I first reviewed the assets provided for this release, I must confess my first thought was “another collaborative Chronomat?” With this collection following both the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victoria Beckham collaborations from earlier this year, I wondered if it would have been better to give another collection a moment under the gridiron lights. Considering the success of the limited Chronomat Super Bowl LVII Edition, however, it makes complete sense to follow a winning formula. The Chronomat aesthetic also has the benefit of being appreciated by both watch-collecting die-hards and mainstream buyers that may not be as far down the rabbit hole.
What I appreciate about all 32 dial configurations is the fact that even if the team logo was stripped from the dial, the colour combinations all look great in their own right. The integration of the NFL theme is not overdone. The integrity and legibility of the Chronomat has not been compromised, remaining highly robust and legible. Also, with zero overt elements tied to a specific year, season, or championship, all of the watches are timeless in their NFL expression. The only deterrent at play design-wise is team loyalties. For example, I think the green of the Philadelphia Eagles dial has been perfectly interpreted and looks great. But as a New York Giants fan, you would never catch me alive in Eagles gear. That being said, with NFL stadiums averaging nearly 70,000 spectators, and some 18 million people watching on their screens at home, I doubt the 104 watches per team will have trouble finding a wrist to call home.
Breitling Chronomat NFL Collection pricing and availability
The Breitling Chronomat NFL Collection is now available now for purchase, with each of the 32 individual team models limited to 104 pieces, and pictured below for your convenience. Price: US$8,800 (on rubber), US$9,200 (on bracelet)
| Brand | Breitling |
| Model | Chronomat B01 42 NFL Collection |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 15.1mm (T) x 50.5mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres |
| Crystal | Sapphire crystal front and back |
| Dial | 32 NFL team-coloured panda dials |
| Strap | Rouleaux stainless steel bracelet or rubber strap |
| Movement | B01, manufacture calibre, automatic, COSC-certified |
| Power Reserve | 70 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Limited to 104 pieces per model (52 on bracelet, 52 on rubber) |
| Price | US$8,800 (rubber strap) US$9,200 (steel bracelet) |
