Breitling Chronomat Ref. 769

Breitling Chronomat – a post-war instrument, not a dress chronograph.
Launched in 1942, the Chronomat marked Breitling’s pivot from pure aviation to applied mathematics on the wrist. Its patented slide-rule bezel wasn’t decoration — it was a working tool for engineers, pilots, and technicians who needed to calculate speed, fuel consumption, and conversions in real time. By 1945, the Chronomat had evolved into a compact, highly legible chronograph defined by balance and purpose, powered by one of the great calibers of the era.

This example, Ref. 769, carries a clean white dial punctuated by sharp red graphics — a classic mid-40s Breitling signature that adds urgency and contrast without excess. The layout is disciplined, the typography crisp, and the overall presence unmistakably utilitarian. Inside beats the Venus 175, a column-wheel chronograph movement revered for its reliability and smooth actuation, recently serviced and running as it should. Honest, coherent, and mechanically sorted — exactly what a serious vintage Chronomat should be.

Fitted with a Honey LTF pigskin strap that complements the watch’s warm, technical character without pretending to be period-correct. This is a watch for someone who understands that post-war chronographs were built to work first — and impress only as a consequence.