The Breitling Chronomat B01 42 “Frecce Tricolori,” reference AB01344A1C1A1, is a 250-piece limited edition honoring the Italian aerobatic squadron behind the 1983 Chronograph Frecce Tricolori. Its defining combination is a blue insignia dial, stainless-steel Rouleaux bracelet and COSC-certified automatic Caliber 01. This is a look at the watch as it was launched in 2020, including owner Ben Hodges’s hands-on impressions—not a claim about current availability.
What makes the Frecce Tricolori edition distinctive?
Breitling traces the Chronomat to a collaboration with Italy’s Frecce Tricolori aerobatic squadron. The company says the Chronograph Frecce Tricolori was developed in 1983 and became the blueprint for the Chronomat, introduced in 1984. As Breitling puts it, “It was the blueprint for the Chronomat to follow one year later.” Breitling’s official page for reference AB01344A1C1A1 identifies this special edition as a tribute to that history.
The watch carries the squadron insignia on its blue dial and pairs it with a stainless-steel Rouleaux bracelet. Its caseback is marked “ONE OF 250,” matching Breitling’s stated production limit. The limited-edition specification page describes the 42 mm steel case as 15.1 mm thick.
Specifications for reference AB01344A1C1A1
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Reference | AB01344A1C1A1 |
| Production | Limited to 250 pieces, according to Breitling |
| Case | Stainless steel; 42 mm diameter; 15.1 mm thick, per Breitling’s listing |
| Dial and bracelet | Blue dial with Frecce Tricolori insignia; stainless-steel Rouleaux bracelet |
| Movement | Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01; self-winding mechanical; COSC-certified; 28,800 vph; 47 jewels |
| Power reserve | Approximately 70 hours, according to Breitling |
| Functions | Chronograph, hours, minutes, seconds and date |
| Crystal and caseback | Anti-reflective domed sapphire crystal and screw-in sapphire caseback, per Breitling |
| Water resistance | 200 m / 660 ft |
Specifications are drawn from Breitling’s page for the limited edition and the June 24, 2020 Fratello hands-on review.
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- Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Chronograph Automatic Men's Watch AB0134101K1A1
How did it wear in the 2020 hands-on review?
Ben Hodges wrote that he ordered the watch after its April 2020 launch and received it in May. In his June review, he favored the limited edition’s restrained, tone-on-tone blue dial over the more showy impression he associated with earlier Chronomats. He also drew attention to the contrast between polished and brushed surfaces and the squadron colors on the dial. Those are one owner-reviewer’s impressions from 2020, rather than universal judgments or repeatable test results.
Hodges called out the 15.10 mm thickness, which is consistent with Breitling’s 15.1 mm listing. The exhibition caseback displays the movement and the edition inscription. The 200 m water-resistance rating is a published specification; the review does not establish independent water-resistance testing.
Rank #2
- Cambered sapphire, glareproofed both sides
- Signature 'Rouleaux” bracelet
- Power reserve approx. 70 hrs
- Watch movement type: Breitling 01 (Manufacture) automatic-self-wind
- Band color: silver and gold
Launch-era price and availability
Fratello’s June 2020 specification list gave a price of €8,100 and a five-year warranty. Those are historical details from that review, not a current price quote or confirmation of present warranty terms. Hodges reported that the limited edition had been fully allocated to retailers at the time of his article. That contemporaneous allocation report does not establish whether a particular example can be found now; current inventory and secondary-market prices are not established here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not confuse it with the later Chronomat B01 42
“New” refers to the 2020 launch of reference AB01344A1C1A1. Breitling’s current US site also lists a Chronomat B01 42 under reference PB0158101C1S1, but it is a different configuration and should not be treated as a current listing for the Frecce Tricolori edition. The current-family page gives that reference a 13.77 mm thickness, a stainless-steel-and-platinum case, a rubber strap and a US price of USD 12,800 excluding sales tax. Those details belong to PB0158101C1S1, not AB01344A1C1A1. See Breitling’s page for the distinct current reference.
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Rank #4
- Rubber watch strap soft and dust-resistant , comes with a quality stainless steel buckle, which is made of stainless steel.
- Please measure the width of your watch lug before ordering. It is important that your watch's lug width is the exact width of the band you select.
- Softness is moderate, wear very comfortable,Compression molding, sturdy and ,Wearable strap/wrist strap,suitable for original watch.
- Comfortable Fit: Soft, skin - friendly rubber conforms to wrist curves. Multiple adjustment holes ensure a perfect fit for all wrist sizes, offering stable, non - tight wear.
- Easy to insert and remove,very suitable for your watch.
Rank #3
- Model UB0121211F1A1
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
