Breitling Avenger

Breitling Avenger is a line of pilot-style watches from the Swiss brand Breitling, designed for the extreme conditions of a jet cockpit. Avenger has been in production for more than twenty years and is recognised by its large case, unidirectional rotating bezel and fluted screw-down crown. Today the manufacturer offers the line in three formats: the more compact Avenger Automatic 42 with date, a model with a second time zone, and the Avenger B01 Chronograph 44.

Rider tabs sit at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock on the bezel: they make it easy to turn even with gloves on and absorb knocks that would otherwise hit the crystal. The hands and hour markers are coated with Super-LumiNova, and the crystal is sapphire, usually with anti-reflective coating on both sides. Avenger movements are COSC-certified chronometers.

The watches covered here are mechanical and self-winding. The main choices are function (date, second time zone, chronograph), case material, strap and condition — new watches sit alongside pre-owned pieces.