A17328
Avenger Automatic 42
Lug width: 22 mm
Source: MakerCase size: 42 mmYear: 2023Blue dialCase material: Steel
- Attachment
- classic lugs
- Movement
- Automatic
- Caseback
- Solid back
- Production
- verified-source
- Status
- Listed by the maker
The story · Since 2001
The story of the Breitling Avenger
Breitling built the Avenger in 2001 for jet cockpits, and within a year it had stretched the same platform to a titanium diver rated to 3,000 metres. Today every current Avenger, from the 42 mm three-hander to the 44 mm B01 chronograph, sits on the same 22 mm lugs.
- 2001 A pilot's tool watch is born Breitling released the first Avenger in 2001, growing it out of its military tool watches to become the model it supplied to air-force squadrons.
- 2013 Avenger II: slimmer and stencilled In 2013 Breitling redesigned the whole line as the Avenger II, with slimmer cases, stencil-type numerals, engraved bezels with integrated rider tabs and titanium casebacks carrying a unit conversion scale.
- 2016 to 2017 The Breitlight Hurricane At Baselworld 2016 the 50 mm Avenger Hurricane introduced Breitlight, a polymer composite that National Jeweler reported as 3.3 times lighter than titanium, with the in-house B12 calibre.
- 2019 Kern's relaunch absorbs the Colt Under CEO Georges Kern the line was relaunched on 24 September 2019 at the Breitling Summit in Los Angeles, folding in design cues from the Colt.
- 2023 to today B01 inside, 22 mm everywhere In November 2023 Breitling reworked the collection into three formats: the Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 with the in-house Caliber 01, the Automatic GMT 44 and the Automatic 42.
41 to 14
references before and after the 2019 relaunch
Worn by
Read the full storyHide the story
41 to 14references before and after the 2019 relaunch
3.3 timeslighter than titanium: Breitlight, first used on the 2016 Avenger Hurricane
22 mmlug width shared by every 2023 Avenger, 42 mm or 44 mm
Chapters
- 2001
A pilot's tool watch is born
Breitling released the first Avenger in 2001, growing it out of its military tool watches to become the model it supplied to air-force squadrons. Uhrenkosmos traces its design to the 1984 Chronomat and names the steel Chrono Avenger M1, with a SuperQuartz movement and 1,000 m water resistance, among the 2001 launches.
- 2013
Avenger II: slimmer and stencilled
In 2013 Breitling redesigned the whole line as the Avenger II, with slimmer cases, stencil-type numerals, engraved bezels with integrated rider tabs and titanium casebacks carrying a unit conversion scale. Four models made up the family: the 43 mm Avenger II chronograph, the 48 mm Super Avenger II, the Avenger II Seawolf and the new Avenger II GMT, on sale from July 2013.
- 2016 to 2017
The Breitlight Hurricane
At Baselworld 2016 the 50 mm Avenger Hurricane introduced Breitlight, a polymer composite that National Jeweler reported as 3.3 times lighter than titanium, with the in-house B12 calibre. Breitling lists the Hurricane in 45 mm and 50 mm sizes, with the Caliber B12 driving a 24-hour display and the Caliber 01 a 12-hour display.
- 2019
Kern's relaunch absorbs the Colt
Under CEO Georges Kern the line was relaunched on 24 September 2019 at the Breitling Summit in Los Angeles, folding in design cues from the Colt. WatchTime counted 14 references in 43, 45 and 48 mm sizes, from a 3,000 m Seawolf to DLC titanium Night Mission chronographs.
- 2023 to today
B01 inside, 22 mm everywhere
In November 2023 Breitling reworked the collection into three formats: the Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 with the in-house Caliber 01, the Automatic GMT 44 and the Automatic 42. Cases gained stepped bevels down the lugs and fully brushed flanks, and Night Mission chronographs moved to black ceramic with titanium parts.
Worn by
Leonardo DiCaprioScreen2006
As the smuggler Danny Archer in Blood Diamond, DiCaprio wore a 44 mm titanium Chrono Avenger with a black dial on a brown leather strap.
Scott KellySpace2017
The astronaut was photographed wearing an Avenger Hurricane 12H 45mm at the opening of Breitling's first Canadian boutique in Toronto.
Moments
2023. For its 140th anniversary Breitling released Avenger capsule editions for the US Navy, the Red Arrows, the Frecce Tricolori and the Swiss Air Force Team; the Red Arrows Automatic 42 was limited to 360 pieces for the team's 60th anniversary.
2019. Breitling relaunched the Avenger on 24 September 2019 at its third Breitling Summit in Los Angeles, cutting the line from 41 references to 14 and naming an astronaut, a fighter jet pilot and a drone racing champion to its new Aviation Squad.
2013. Antiquorum offered an Avenger Seawolf titanium ref. E17370 made for the British 22nd Special Air Service, numbered 9/SAS with an SAS logo at 9 o'clock, in Geneva on 10 November 2013 (lot 394, estimate CHF 6,000 to 8,000).
2006. Blood Diamond put the titanium Chrono Avenger on DiCaprio's wrist through the Sierra Leone civil war; Robb Report listed it among 16 watches that made history in action films.
Generations and strap changes
- 2023Avenger B01 Chronograph 44
Steel chronograph, 44 mm by 15.2 mm, with the in-house Caliber 01 (70 hours) visible through a sapphire caseback; Night Mission versions in black ceramic.
22 mm lugs; the steel three-row bracelet tapers from 22 mm to 18 mm and is shared by every 2023 Avenger. Night Mission models come on straps only.
- 2023Avenger Automatic 42
Time-and-date model, 42 mm by 12.15 mm with a 51.21 mm lug-to-lug, powered by the COSC-certified Caliber 17.
22 mm lugs; Breitling lists the bracelet as 22/18 mm.
- 2019Avenger Automatic 45 Seawolf
The relaunched Seawolf in a 45 mm steel case with a yellow dial (or DLC titanium Night Mission in black), Caliber 17 and 300 bar water resistance.
22 mm lugs; offered on a steel bracelet or a military leather strap with pin buckle or folding clasp.
- 2019Super Avenger Chronograph 48
Largest model of the 2019 relaunch, 48 mm and 17.73 mm thick, in steel or DLC-coated titanium Night Mission.
Breitling lists a 24 mm lug width and a 24/20 mm bracelet for ref. A13375101B1A1.
- 2016Avenger Hurricane (Breitlight, 50 mm)
Case in Breitlight, a new material, with the in-house Caliber B12 chronograph and a military 24-hour display; 100 m water resistance.
Breitling lists a 24 mm lug width on the 50 mm Hurricane, with a strap combining rubber and military textile.
- 2013Avenger II (43 mm)
Redesigned chronograph with screwed-in pushpiece guards and 300 m water resistance, part of the four-model Avenger II family.
Breitling lists a 22 mm lug width and a 22/20 mm strap for ref. A13381111B1A1.
- 2013Super Avenger II (48 mm)
The 48 mm chronograph of the Avenger II family, water resistant to 300 m, with Breitling Caliber 13.
Breitling lists a 24 mm lug width for ref. A13371111B1A1, wider than the 22 mm of the smaller Avengers.