Choosing a Breitling Avenger timepiece as your next pilot's watch
Image: Super Avenger B01 Chronograph 46 Night Mission (Green) Credit: Breitling
The resilience of the pilot's watch is remarkable. Similar to the tourbillon which has limited necessity in today's world, their bold designs remain alluring to many watch lovers. Breitling's Avenger line is a well know pilot's watch collection loved by many in the watch enthusiast community. With the release of every new iteration in the line, the company manages to make the collection more appealing.
Unlike the IWC Pilot Watch collection, Breitling's Avenger collection's aggressive styling has always appealed to me (not that I'm saying I'll always choose Breitling over IWC). In 2023, Breitling released an update to the collection that made fans like me have a hard time keeping their cards in their wallet. Now, Breitling has expanded the line to include more models. That has made it even more difficult to make a choice on which one to get. So, how does one go about choosing the right Breitling Avenger? Here's how I would do it.
I'll say it right now; the Night Mission models are the most appealing in my opinion, and steel bracelets just don't work for me, so that's narrowing it down to the following:
Image: Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Night Mission (Sand) Credit: Breitling
1. Super Avenger B01 Chronograph 46 Night Mission (Green)
2. Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Night Mission (Sand or Turquoise)
3. Avenger Automatic 42 Night Mission (Black)
Image: Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Night Mission (Turquoise) Credit: Breitling
I know I'm leaving out the models from last year, like the amazing Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Night Mission, but I'll admit (as much as I hate to) that I always gravitate towards the latest and greatest. Okay, so moving on with the selection process, the third option isn't a chronograph, so that's automatically out.
Sorry, being a car enthusiast, most of my watches are chronographs, and that's not about to change. However, I'm making it sound easier than it was to eliminate this option. The absence of the chronograph subdials allows the black carbon dial to shine and improve the watch's aesthetic. That's something others will likely consider in making their choice.
So we're left with 2 models. What's the difference between the Super Avenger and the Avenger? The Super Avenger has a titanium rotating 60-minute bezel in a 46mm case, a striking black carbon dial, and a green strap.
Image: Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Night Mission (Sand) Credit: Breitling
Green isn't exactly the most impressive color for a watch strap, but given the fact that you can always replace it with something more interesting, the strap doesn't carry much weight in the selection process. Titanium is generously used all over the watch, with parts such as the caseback, crown, buckle, and pushers made from the metal.
The Avenger at 42mm is slightly smaller and has a sand and turquoise military leather strap. The 42mm watches come with contrasting dials/numbers I don't particularly care for. Other parts of the watch are similar to the 46mm one. They also share the same Breitling 01 caliber. The contrasting hour markers notwithstanding, the sand 42mm has a certain appeal, so it's going against the 46mm for the final pick.
These watches don't look that different so that makes it a difficult choice. We don't get much help with the price delta, as it is negligible. So, how do we break the deadlock? On one hand, the bold, big look of the 46mm gives it extra points, while the 42mm sand's contrasting hour markers have an attractive aesthetic.
Its unique look gives it the edge, so that is my winner. The Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Night Mission. A bold and beautiful pilot's watch to accurately tell the time whether you're in a cockpit often or never plan to be in one.
While we're on the subject of the Breitling Avenger, is anyone else captivated by the (now old) Avenger Squad commercial? It has me watching it over and over like it was the trailer to an eagerly anticipated movie.
