Every Breitling x Frecce Tricolori Watch, 1983-2025
Most luxury watch fans are familiar with the prominent “rider tabs” found at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock on countless Breitling watches. On many of those Breitlings, you can swap the removable “15” and “45” tabs and thus switch the rotating bezel from a count-up bezel to countdown bezel. These tall rider tabs served another purpose, too: usability while wearing flight gloves. This dates back to the 1983 relaunch of the Breitling Chronomat, originally made for the Frecce Tricolori–the aerobatic demonstration team of the Italian Air Force. And over the years, there have been seven special Breitling models made with the distinctive three-color P.A.N. Frecce Tricolori logo on the dial. We’ll give you a quick rundown of all the Frecce Tricolori Breitling watches.
To give some context, 313° Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico, Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale Frecce Tricolori, founded in 1961, is the full name of Italy’s famous aerobatic team. They’re known for creating trails of green, white, and red smoke (the colors of the Italian flag) during their performances. They operate with ten jet aircraft, making them the largest military aerobatic team in the world. Let’s start by taking a look at the first Chronomat to bear their logo, which appeared only a few years after Ernest Schneider (owner of Sicura watches) bought the financially troubled Breitling in 1979 amid the quartz crisis.
The Original Breitling Chronomat P.A.N. Frecce Tricolori (1983)
The first prototype versions of the Breitling Chronomat 81950 came about in 1983 as a result of Breitling’s then-new owner Mr. Schneider working with the Frecce Tricolori to develop a wristwatch with features and aesthetics that they would actually want in the air. He determined that pilots wanted a mechanical, analog chronograph with good legibility. There are the four large raised rider tabs on the bezel designed to be usable with flight gloves on, plus the inside of the rehaut features a 0-100 scale, which can be useful for math reasons. When navigating (or doing operations management, or any number of tasks) it’s easier to multiply “1.70 minutes” than “1 minute and 42 seconds.”
The Chronomat 81950 launched commercially in 1984 (without the P.A.N. logo) and it wouldn’t be crazy to call it the single most important reference in Breitling’s history. Keep in mind, back then, the future of luxury mechanical watches in general was looking pretty uncertain. But the success of the Chronomat set the stage for the Breitling brand we know today. The rider tabs and Rouleaux (bullet) bracelet are iconic parts of Breitling’s design language even now.
Also contributing to the Chronomat’s signature look are the 12 screws around the edge of the bezel. Note that there are some early versions (generally assumed to be prototypes) that only have screws on the riders, meaning they lack the eight screws in between. Those “prototype” versions also have “Swiss Made” located outside of the bottom subdial rather than within, plus they have a different 12 o’clock marker with balls.
Regardless, either version of the 81950 Frecce Tricolori Breitling Chronomat is extremely rare. The caseback says “Grupo P.A.N. No. 01 – Exclusive Series Specially Made For The 313°” on it, and they’re almost never seen at auction. I think the market up to this point has not fully appreciated the rarity of these, because they look so similar to the next (much more common) model.
Second-Generation Chronomat (1995)
The P.A.N. Frecce Tricolori edition of the Breitling Chronomat ref. A13050.1 is essentially the same as the 81950, but with minor design tweaks. The chronograph seconds hand has a Breitling B as a counterweight, the Breitling logo is curved instead of straight, and the rider tab font changed slightly. The commemorative caseback still features a drawing of an Aermacchi MB-339A PAN, the aircraft flown by the Frecce Tricolori, but the text is different and no longer gold-filled.
This watch was most often fitted with Breitling’s then-new five-link bracelet instead of a Rouleaux bracelet. The biggest change was arguably the addition of a yellow dial option, though the vast majority have black dials.
The A13050.1 has the same 39mm case, sapphire crystal, unidirectional rotating bezel, reversible 15 and 45 tabs (to switch between countdown and count-up mode), and familiar ETA 7750-based Breitling Caliber 13 movement as the 81950.
Limited to 4,000 pieces, it was released in 1995 to celebrate 40 years of Italian aerobatics. Although the Frecci Tricolori team got their start in 1961, the Italian Air Force had officially begun designating fighter units to form aerobatic teams on a rotating basis in 1955. Naturally, another Frecce Tricolori Breitling model appeared ten years later for the 50th anniversary.
Chronomat Evolution P.A.N. Frecce Tricolori (2005)
In 2005, the third chapter in the Breitling x Frecce Tricolori saga began with the release of a Chronomat Evolution model. It features tall applied Arabic hour numerals and a larger 43.7mm case. That’s about it–it’s just bigger and has big shiny hour numerals. The movement is still the same, although the caseback now features engraved imagery of nine jets instead of just one. If you’re wondering “why nine?” it’s because the tenth jet doesn’t always fly in formation with the others–he’s a “soloist.”
The Frecce Tricolori Breitling Chronomat Evolution was limited to 1,000 pieces in steel (ref. A13356), and 50 pieces in solid 18k yellow gold (ref. K13356).
Chronomat 44 Ref. AB01104D/BC62 (2012)
The fourth Breitling x Frecce Tricolori release came in 2012 in the form of a Chronomat 44. The 4:30 date window, blank polished rider tabs, and huge blocky bezel font all indicate that Breitling was finally trying to develop a design language beyond their previous 1980’s-rooted vibe. Half of each subdial is textured with vertical striations, and the orange subdial hands were a loud choice. But 2012 was a loud time in the world of luxury watches.
Available on a bracelet (ref. AB01104D/BC62-377A) or rubber strap (ref. AB01104D/BC62-152S), the Breitling Chronomat Frecce Tricolori was also limited to 1,000 pieces total. This time, all ten jets grace the caseback engraving.
As you may have guessed from the typical 3-6-9 subdial layout (as opposed to the 6-9-12 layout that the Valjoux 7750 is famous for), it’s powered by Breitling’s in-house B01 automatic chronograph caliber. It was the first Frecce Tricolori model with anything other than the 7750-based Breitling B13.
More on Breitling:
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| ➢ | 2025 Breitling Releases |
| ➢ | Who is Universal Genève and Why Did Breitling Buy Them? |
Breitling Cockpit B50 Frecce Tricolori (2015)
If you thought the next Breitling P.A.N. Frecce Tricolori model wasn’t going to keep getting bulkier, well, guess again. The biggest Breitling Frecce Tricolori model of all came in 2015, with a 46mm width, 16.43mm thickness, and 59mm lug-to-lug measurement. This thing is massive, but at least it’s made out of titanium to minimize weight. It has a pretty standard screwdown crown, instead of the onion crown seen on the Chronomat line. Aesthetically it’s similar to the Breitling Emergency II.
The Cockpit B50 is the only titanium Frecce Tricolori model Breitling ever made. It’s also the only quartz one, featuring Breitling’s then-new in-house B50 SuperQuartz movement. Like every Breitling made since 1999, these are certified chronometers, and the chronometer standard for quartz watches is much more stringent than for mechanical ones (±0.07 seconds per day vs. -4/+6). Few other top luxury watch brands make quartz in-house movements.
Two LCD screens are visible behind three analog hands. This isn’t a hybrid mechanical/quartz watch; it’s all battery-powered quartz action here. When you’re not setting or timing anything, the top screen can show the day (“MONDAY”), week number (“WEEK 25”), full date (“01FEB26”), or simply the word “TIME.” The bottom screen shows the date when the top displays the day or week number, or the digital time when the top displays the date or “TIME.” The watch is essentially a digital perpetual calendar so theoretically you’ll never need to adjust the date once you set it.
There are a ridiculous number of additional functions offered by the B50, and it goes way beyond the stopwatch. When those are in use, the bottom screen displays the actual data while the top screen tells you the mode you’re in. Here are all the modes:
- Chronograph (Stopwatch): With split-time and flyback capabilities, plus a lap timer
- Countdown Timer: Complete with alarm function
- Alarm Modes: Buzzer, vibration or both (vibrating uses a lot of battery)
- Second Time Zone: Lets you track a second time zone digitally
- UTC Display: Shows Coordinated Universal Time, useful for aviation. Adjusting the UTC time will automatically update both the main time (local time) and the second time zone, since they are set relative to UTC.
- Electronic Tachymeter: Start the timer when something starts, and stop it when it’s complete–the tachymeter shows you your rate of “things” per hour.
- Chrono Flight Log: Records flight times, including departure, arrival, and date
- Mission Elapsed Time (MET): Also called “CDCUCLK” (count down count up clock), this mode allows you to first set a countdown for a mission or event, and once the countdown reaches zero, it automatically switches to counting up. Useful for timing the duration of an entire mission, regatta, or other long-term activity
- Battery Charge Indicator: Self-explanatory
- Backlight: Can be activated either by pressing the crown or by simply tilting the wrist when set to “Tilt” mode.
The Cockpit B50 Frecce Tricolori is the most limited Frecce Tricolori Breitling of all, with only 110 pieces made: 50 with a standard brushed titanium finish, and 55 with black DLC coating. Each finish was offered with either a rubber or polyamide fabric strap.
The battery inside isn’t just a typical button cell battery–it’s a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. One charge should last at least three weeks for heavy users of the additional functions, while in time-only mode without alarms it could last as long as five months. Its proprietary USB charging cable has a magnetic connector, which is neat, but the more modern B70 watches made today ditched the charging cord entirely in favor of a traditional battery. It wouldn’t surprise me if the charging cable was a tough sell for luxury buyers, but it is cool not to have to replace your battery every 2 years (the rechargeable ones should last at least ten years).
Chronomat B01 42 Frecce Tricolori (2020)
The Frecce Tricolori version of the Chronomat B01 42 was the first one to be smaller than its predecessor. As the name suggests, it’s powered by the now-familiar B01 movement. Ref. AB01344A1C1A1 debuted in 2020 and was limited to 250 pieces.
A stainless steel Rouleaux bracelet returned, as did a more approachable diameter (42mm). The tasteful greyish-blue sunburst dial is otherwise only available on the two-tone version. This Chronomat B01 42 is probably the most subdued of all the Frecce Tricolori Breitlings.
The B01 movement, visible through the sapphire caseback, provides an improved 70 hours of power reserve (instead of about 42 on the old Chronomats).
Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Frecce Tricolori (2025)
The latest Frecce Tricolori model was one of Breitling’s 2025 releases, and it (fittingly) gets a green dial. The Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Frecce Tricolori (ref. SB01462A1L1X1) features a 42mm case made of black ceramic, while the crown, pushers, caseback and folding clasp are made of titanium. It also gets a B01 movement visible from the back.
For the first time, the words “P.A.N. frecce tricolori” no longer appear on the dial, but their green-white-and-red logo fills the running seconds subdial at 9 o’clock. The 3 o’clock subdial also gets some green and red accents. It’s interesting that Breitling chose to go with an Avenger rather than a Chronomat this time around.
The Chronomat and Avenger lines are obviously very similar, but Chronomats are now only offered on Rouleaux bracelets or Rouleaux-like straps, while modern Avengers get more typical straps or a chunky three-link bracelet. Although it looks nylon like, this Avenger’s strap is actually calf leather. Also note that Avenger bezels are monochromatic and have numerals at every five minutes. Plus Avenger rehauts are slanted, and numbered to the typical 60 (instead of 100 as on the Chronomat).
The Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Frecce Tricolori is a non-limited edition with a list price of $10,100, though you should be able to find it for a couple grand less. Let’s break down the specs and prices of all seven generations of Breitling Frecce Tricolori models:
Breitling Frecce Tricolori Watches: Specs
| Model | Chronomat P.A.N. Frecce Tricolori | Chronomat P.A.N. Frecce Tricolori | Chronomat Evolution P.A.N. Frecce | Chronomat 44 Frecce Tricolori | Cockpit B50 Frecce Tricolori | Chronomat B01 42 Frecce Tricolori | Avenger B01 Chronograph 42 Frecce Tricolori |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reference Number(s) | 81950 | A13050.1 | A13356 K13356 | AB01104D/BC62-152S AB01104D/BC62-377A | EB50102W/BE38-104W EB50102W/BE38-105W VB50101W/BE37-155S VB50101W/BE37-104W | AB01344A1C1A1 | SB01462A1L1X1 |
| Year Released | 1983 | 1995 | 2005 | 2012 | 2015 | 2020 | 2025 |
| Case Material(s) | Stainless steel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel or 18k yellow gold | Stainless steel | Titanium (Brushed or DLC-coated) | Stainless steel | Black ceramic, titanium pushers/crown/caseback |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm width 14mm thick 45mm lug-to-lug | 39mm width 14mm thick 45mm lug-to-lug | 43.7mm width 17mm thick 51mm lug-to-lug | 44mm width 16.95mm thick | 46mm width 16.43mm thick 59mm lug-to-lug | 42mm width, 15.1mm thick, 50.5mm lug-to-lug | 42mm width, 15.15mm thick, 51.21mm lug-to-lug, 22.05mm lug width |
| Movement Caliber | Breitling B13 (ETA 7750 base) | Breitling B13 (ETA 7750 base) | Breitling B13 (ETA 7750 base) | Breitling B01 | Breitling B50 SuperQuartz | Breitling B01 | Breitling B01 |
| Movement Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, 12-hour chronograph, date | Hours, minutes, small seconds, 12-hour chronograph, date | Hours, minutes, small seconds, 12-hour chronograph, date | Hours, minutes, small seconds, 12-hour chronograph, date | Flyback chronograph (1/100s), electronic tachymeter, perpetual calendar, alarm, UTC, countdown, second timezone, backlight | Hours, minutes, small seconds, 12-hour chronograph, date | Hours, minutes, small seconds, 12-hour chronograph, date |
| Power Reserve | ~42 hours | ~42 hours | ~42 hours | 70 hours | 3 weeks to 5 months per charge (Replace battery at 10 years) | 70 hours | 70 hours |
| Water Resistance | 100m | 100m | 300m | 500m | 100m | 200m | 300m |
| Bracelet/Strap Options | Stainless steel Rouleaux bracelet, leather | Stainless steel bracelet | Pilot bracelet, leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet, rubber strap | Rubber or polyamide fabric strap | Stainless steel Rouleaux bracelet | Anthracite calfskin leather strap with titanium folding clasp |
| Limited to # | (Not many) | 4,000 pieces | 1,000 pieces (steel) 50 pieces (gold) | 1,000 pieces | 110 pieces (55 brushed, 55 DLC-coated) | 250 pieces | Not limited |
| 2025 Market Value | (Rarely if ever sold at auction) | ~$3,800 | ~$5,000 (steel) ~$15,000 (gold on leather) ~$30,000 (gold with bracelet) | ~$6,000 | ~$6,000 | ~$6,000 | ~$8,200 |
Overall, the Frecce Tricolori editions don’t bring much of a premium over comparable standard Breitling models, so if you’re into aerobatics, Italian history, or just random interesting chronographs in general, they’re worth taking a look at. Let us know below which one is your favorite!
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