The Best Entry-Level Breitling Watches
Every luxury watch brand has an entry point, even if it wouldn’t be considered anywhere near affordable in the non-watch world. Breitling’s is fairly approachable, with many options falling below $5k retail and even lower than that on the pre-owned level. Navigating the countless options available to collectors these days can be overwhelming, so we’ve made the hunt easier by gathering a few of the best entry-level Breitling watches into one comprehensive buying guide.
Breitling Colt II Automatic Ref. A17380
With its no-nonsense design, the Colt is one of the most affordable Breitling watches on the grey market. It launched in the 1980s and enjoyed decades of production before finally bowing out in 2020, which means used is currently your only option if you’re keen on adding a Colt watch to your collection. Fortunately, this ref. A17380 still trades hands for around $2,500 and under as of 2024 – not bad for entry-level collectors interested in owning a recognizable Breitling watch.
Like many of the offerings in the Breitling cannon, the Colt sports the distinctive Breitling rider tab bezel. The four evenly spaced tabs allow the wearer to gain a firm purchase on the bezel, even with pilot’s gloves on. The same goes for the easy-to-grip textured crown. The series was initially intended for military use, so a durable waterproof case and a luminescent display are also a must.
Breitling produced many variations of the Colt, including three-hand models, chronographs, women’s models, and quartz or mechanical models. Ref. A17380 is a time-and-date Breitling with a self-winding mechanical movement, an impressive 500-meter depth rating, and a 41mm case. It represents an excellent value proposition for collectors who appreciate robust yet affordable luxury watches.
Breitling Colt II Automatic Specs:
| Reference: | A17380 |
| Metal Finish: | Stainless Steel |
| Case Size: | 41mm |
| Crystal: | Sapphire |
| Bracelet: | Stainless Steel/Fliplock Clasp |
| Dial: | Central Time, Date, GMT |
| Movement: | Breitling 17 Automatic |
| 2024 Aftermarket Price: | Approx. $1,900 – $2,500 |
Breitling Avenger Ref. A17328101B1A1
Breitling released the Avenger in the early 2000s, giving the Colt a serious run for its money as the brand’s go-to entry-level model because it had an overall similar design set and a better movement. As you now know, the Colt was ultimately discontinued in 2020 in favor of the Avenger, which has since assumed the position of one of the most affordable current-production Breitling collections, with models retailing for as low as $4,600 and dipping to well below that price on the pre-owned market.
Breitling revamped the Avenger collection in 2023, giving it a more refined and less chunky silhouette featuring beautifully beveled edges along the sides of the case and a satin finish middle case. Ref. A17328101B1A1 is a product of the newest generation. It recalls many design aspects of the Avenger and Colt watches that preceded it, such as the famous rider tab bezel and knurled crown. It’s still easily recognizable as an action-ready pilot’s watch but more restrained and has a modern in-house mechanical movement and cambered sapphire crystal.
Breitling Avenger Specs:
| Reference: | A17328101B1A1 |
| Metal Finish: | Stainless Steel |
| Case Size: | 42mm |
| Crystal: | Cambered Sapphire |
| Bracelet: | Stainless Steel/Micro-Adjustable Folding Clasp |
| Dial: | Central Time, Date |
| Movement: | Breitling 17 Automatic |
| 2024 Aftermarket Price: | Approx. $3,500 |
Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 42 Ref. A17375
With their waterproof cases and rider tab bezels, the Colt and Avenger are just as much at home above the clouds as they are exploring the ocean’s vast depths. However, they do not embrace the traditional dive watch aesthetic as wholeheartedly as the Breitling SuperOcean, which has a smooth, unidirectional bezel with notched edges instead of rider tabs. As the brand’s line of dedicated divers, the SuperOcean also has a standard 300-meter depth rating and makes legibility a top priority with large, luminescent hour markers and hands. With a cost roughly half that of a Rolex Submariner, the Superocean 42 is a solid choice for an entry-level Breitling.
Reference A17375 honors the collection’s past with a design inspired by the 1960s ref. 2005 “Slow Motion” chronograph. While it is not a chronograph, it still has a similar square-tipped hand, chunky hour markers, and contrasting dial ring for as much visibility as possible while diving. At the same time, this Breitling embraces its own modern identity by effortlessly incorporating newer watchmaking elements, such as a more resilient and fade-proof ceramic bezel, Super-LumiNova luminescent material, a vibrant dial and bezel, and a rubber strap with a 15mm adjustment system to accommodate wetsuits.
This Breitling is the perfect watch for collectors who appreciate a heritage-inspired timepiece with dive watch utility. Furthermore, it has a very approachable price range on both the retail and pre-owned market, compared to similar offerings from brands like Rolex and Blancpain.
Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 42 Specs:
| Reference: | A17375 |
| Metal Finish: | Stainless Steel |
| Case Size: | 42mm |
| Crystal: | Cambered Sapphire |
| Bracelet: | Rubber/Micro-Adjustment Folding Clasp |
| Dial: | Central Time |
| Movement: | Breitling 17 Automatic |
| MSRP (Feb. 2024) | $5,000 |
| Market Price (Feb. 2024) | ~$3,900 |
Breitling Endurance Pro Ref. X82310E51B1S1
The divisive Breitling Endurance Pro is an underrated and affordable all-rounder, widely celebrated for its ultra-lightweight Breitlight case and thermocompensated SuperQuartz movement. The collection, described as the “ultimate athleisure watch” in Breitling marketing materials, was developed for collectors with active lifestyles by offering unparalleled shock resistance via the quartz movement and a high-end material that doesn’t weigh down the wrist. This watch won’t be for everyone perusing our list, but it fits the bill with one of the most approachable price tags in the Breitling professional catalog and a unique design to boot.
What is Breitlight, anyway? The material first appeared in the brand’s catalog in 2016 and is advertised as 3.3 times lighter than titanium and nearly 6 times lighter than traditional stainless steel used in watchmaking. It’s hypoallergenic, too, for our watch-collecting comrades with sensitive skin. There’s also the unmistakable likeness to the Aerospace EVO, a collection that debuted sometime in the mid-1980s and features similar, oversized Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock and smaller hour markers for the rest.
This mega-sporty collection is positioned as an entry-level Breitling and boasts a lot of versatility for everyday wear.
Breitling Endurance Pro Specs:
| Reference: | X82310E51B1S1 |
| Metal Finish: | Breitlight |
| Case Size: | 44mm |
| Crystal: | Sapphire |
| Bracelet: | Rubber/Deployant Clasp |
| Movement: | Breitling 82 Thermocompensated SuperQuartz (Supplied by ETA) |
| MSRP (Feb. 2024) | $3,400 |
| Market Price (Feb. 2024) | ~$2,600 – $3,000 |
Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph Ref. AB0118221G1P1
The original Premier, released in the 1940s, prioritized high style over everything else and set the tone for the elegant dress chronograph currently occupying the brand’s catalog. Chronographs from the era were already elegant, but the Premier had a noticeably more refined air about it that was intended for an entirely different clientele at the time. Several iterations came to market in the 1940s, including models with sleek pushers that better conformed to the shape of the case, smooth fixed bezels, and long, tapered hands. These watches were just as much stylish dress watches as they were precise chronographs.
The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph ref. AB0118221G1P1 marries the nostalgia of the early Premier watches with a contemporary design set, including nicely rounded lugs, an exhibition sapphire case back, and the Breitling caliber B01 self-winding movement with an incredible 70-hour power reserve. We chose this model because it also has that charming bi-compax panda dial so many collectors are after with contrasting chronograph registers.
When it comes to chronographs at this price point, the Breitling Premier offers a lot of value. It’s no longer available for the US retail market. New Premier models have prices just a bit beyond entry-level Breitling range. However, pre-owned prices are often half that of comparable stainless steel 42mm models still in production today.
Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph Specs:
| Reference: | AB0118221G1P1 |
| Metal Finish: | Stainless Steel |
| Case Size: | 42mm |
| Crystal: | Cambered Sapphire |
| Bracelet: | Alligator Leather/Deployant Clasp |
| Dial: | Chronograph, Date |
| Movement: | Breitling 01 Automatic |
| 2024 Aftermarket Price: | Approx. $5,495 |
More on Breitling:
The Best Breitling Watch
History of Breitling
Who is Universal Genève and Why Did Breitling Buy Them?
Final Thoughts
Most of the offerings inthe Breitling catalog are deemed “affordable” compared to some of the other brands on the market today, even more so if you shop the grey market instead of paying full MSRP. It is possible to find many of the most sought-after models for below $5k. This list is just a small example of what is currently floating around the market, but we hope it helps you pick the perfect entry-level Breitling for your collection.
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