Why This Watch Matters

The silvered dial of this Chronomat underlines how revolutionary this watch was at its launch in the early 1940s. Even if the slide rule proves less crucial in modern times, this chronograph has remained visually remarkable and highly wearable.

The Full Story

The dial of the Chronomat tells a lot about its brilliant history. The integrated sliding rule you see here was patented (patent no. 217012, as seen on the dial) in 1942. This innovation not only performed as a tachometer and pulsometer, but also allowed the wearer to compute elementary operations such as multiplication and division. The Chronomat was obviously a very meaningful watch for Breitling, but its historical significance extends far beyond the context of the brand; it can be considered the smartwatch of its time. This watch is also an ancestor of the Navitimer, which would extend the same principles to the world of aviation a decade later.

The Fine Print

Maker: Breitling
Model: Chronomat
Reference: 769
Year: Circa 1946, based on the serial number
Case No: 646278
Material: Stainless steel
Dimensions: 36mm diameter; 12mm thickness
Sapphire Crystal: No, plexiglass
Lume: No
Caliber: Manual-wound chronograph caliber Venus 175
Bracelet/Strap: HODINKEE Unlined Natural Shell Cordovan Strap
Lug Width: 18mm
Box/Papers: No

What we Love and What You Should Know

This Chronomat is extremely legible, and highly useful if you know how to operate a slide rule. The dauphine handset is sharp, and easy to spot over the silver dial, which exhibits the characteristic design of the 1950s, with the applied logo and Genève line. Note an aging mark on the left sub-register; otherwise its condition is spectacular for a 70-year old watch. The stainless steel case also shows some superficial scratches on the case bands, but its thin lugs have been well preserved.