hublot 301.PX.130.RX offers the Chronomat with either a black, gray, or silvered dial (matched to a black or brown Louisiana alligator strap - which is really nice). On the dial you can begin to see the attention to detail Breitling places on the breitling AB012721/C889 case as well as the movement. While tonneau in shape, the case and dial are attractive. The dial is easy to read with large properly sized hands and applied hour markers. Both the hands and hour markers feature very crisp mirror polishing and have luminant applied to them. The "cobble" textured center dial is also a nice touch.
While I am not a huge fan of asymmetric dials, the http://www.syrauto.com/latest-breitling-chronomat-44-cb011012-c790-tt-cheap-watch-2t5k.html does it well. The large big date window is easy to see and the power reserve indicator helps visually balance it on the dial. While the face of the Chronomat is not exactly modern in its approach, it is done well and offers a satisfying visual experience that won't wear on the eyes over time. Interesting design elements do however appear on the case. The almost "architected" sides of the steel case help reduce visual mass (as this is not the thinnest of cases at 13.25mm thick).
Big in stature the Chronomat case is offered in steel and is 38.5mm wide by 53.3mm tall. The slightly rounded lugs keep it looking good on medium to large sized wrists. Comfort is overall very good and - once again - the quality and finishing of the case impressed me. Over the dial is an AR coated sapphire crystal and the case is water resistant to 30 meters.
Understanding the Spherodrive technology and its benefits made me suggest back in 2009 that (and I am paraphrasing) "all mechanical movements should use this technology someday." Unless there are mechanical drawbacks that I am not aware of, the Spherodrive system for connecting mainspring barrels to movements is a no-brainer improvement over the the standard technique. There is however the matter of price. Breitling's Chronomat watch retails for 11,950 Swiss Francs. True, quality is high and you get an in-house made movement, but it is still an expensive endeavor. Mechanical technophiles and serious enthusiasts will be attracted by the technology, though I am afraid many casual watch lovers simply won't understand the technology enough at this point. Breitling is moving in the right direction as a technical innovator, and I want to see Spherodrive technology implemented into more contemporary watches, in new movements with automatic winding, and at prices that are in the $5,000 - $8,000 range.
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