Breitling Lands A Touchdown By Becoming The Official Timepiece Partner Of The NFL
If last year’s 32-strong collection of Chronomat B01 42s in NFL team colors was the rookie season, this year is the sophomore breakout for Breitling. The Swiss watchmaker has announced that it is becoming the popular sport league’s inaugural timepiece partner, along with the release of new watches to the NFL collection. What can we expect from this partnership? We may have to wait for the season to kick off next month to comprehend fully. However, we can predict timing boards and digital banners prominently featuring the iconic cursive B logo and Breitling’s bold branding. Coinciding with the latest news, there are two Breitling timepieces in 32 variations each, stylized in various franchise colors. Alongside the Chronomat B01 42 from last year is the Chronomat GMT 40 for a more scaled-down and simplified display. A more approachable entry in the lineup is the Endurance Pro 44 in titanium.
Mike covered the details of last year’s Chronomat B01 42 range here. With each edition limited to 104 pieces, I was skeptical that the US$9,200 price would be too high for even die-hard sports fans to snap the watches up. As far as I can surmise, seven of the 32 franchise colors are sold out, at least on the Breitling website. Those include the Philadelphia Eagles (last season’s Super Bowl champions), the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers (two of the most successful teams in NFL history), as well as, surprisingly, the Buffalo Bills, which Mike may disapprove of. I haven’t followed a team in a while, but the Denver Broncos get my support, primarily due to John Elway’s crossover appeal in the UK as a high-performing athlete. Hence, the Broncos’ orange dial with navy accents was my favorite.
Breitling Endurance Pro 44 NFL Team Editions
Breitling is making a punt by introducing the NFL co-branding to a different range of watches. We’ve seen the Endurance Pro in titanium for the Ironman series of triathlons. But this is the first time the Endurance Pro 44 titanium represents a different sport. Most details of the Endurance Pro remain the same, including the 44mm diameter, 12.5mm thickness, and bidirectional compass bezel. The COSC-certified SuperQuartz caliber 82 also powers the watches, making this option, at US$4,400 / €4,400 / £3,650, significantly less expensive than the original in-house mechanical B01 Chronomats. The main talking point is that the 32 variations of this model use the exact Pantone color code provided by the teams for the pulsometer scale and hands. It’s less overt than the vivid Chronomat dials, but you still have the team insignia at the 6 o’clock sub-dial and the NFL shield emblem on the titanium case back.
The league prohibits players from wearing watches during games, but I can foresee the coaching staff wearing the Endurance Pro 44. On-field officials may also wear the Endurance Pro 44, similar to the Six Nations rugby tournament match officials. You would probably not see any team colors or allegiance on these watches, though. The franchise versions are definitely more for the fans. Unlike the initial Chronomat B01 42 models, which are still available, the Endurance Pro 44 is not limited. Another departure is that the Endurance Pro 44 NFL Team Editions are available worldwide and online rather than USA exclusives.
Breitling Chronomat GMT 40 NFL Team Editions
If last year’s Chronomat was too flashy for you, the smaller Chronomat GMT 40 downplays the team obsession. The pusher-less 40mm case is slimmer and sleeker, with the dial shade being the only cue to your fandom. There are no NFL logos on the dial, and with the less obvious team palettes, such as the Las Vegas Raiders in black and white, the watches may be confused for being part of the regular collection. However, the aqua and coral shades for the Miami Dolphins show a bit more character. To truly showcase your team support, each stainless steel case back features an engraving of the franchise logo. While the option to time the game is missing without the chronograph, the GMT hand comes in handy when visiting East or West Coast games to track home and local time.
Depending on the team, some watches include a contrasting GMT hand with matching GMT text on the dial. But I must say, the versions with all-steel hands and monotone dials are pretty attractive. The stainless steel case houses the automatic COSC-certified B32 movement with a 42-hour power reserve. You also still get the stylish Rouleaux bracelet and hidden butterfly clasp. Even with the svelte 11.77mm case thickness, the GMT 40 still achieves 200m water resistance. While the Chronomat GMT 40 lacks some engaging functions, such as the chronograph and removable rider tabs of the Chronomat B01 42, it’s still a stylish watch that carries the theme of each team. Likewise, the Chronomat GMT 40 NFL Team Editions are non-limited releases and cost US$6,600 / €6,500 / £5,350.
Final thoughts
Breitling aims to capitalize on the NFL’s vast and fervent legion of fans with tribalistic support for their teams. Any visit to a pre-game tailgating session in the stadium parking lot demonstrates how passionate these fans are, sporting face paint, team jerseys, mascots, and branded coolers, all to prove their dedication. All this leads to spurring on their teams on the long road to the Super Bowl. The championship final is the biggest sporting event in the US annually and draws enormous crowds and advertising opportunities. The Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl LIX winners, even have a 59-piece Classic AVI 42 limited edition in 18K red gold to commemorate the triumph. The US$41,000 watch features the midnight-green tones for the Eagles and team mascot on the running seconds register. On the solid red gold case back is the Super Bowl LIX logo.
There will likely be a commemorative timepiece for next year’s Super Bowl LX winner, but we have a long season ahead before we can crown a champion. In addition, Breitling will also present custom timepieces for select winners at the 2026 NFL Honors awards ceremony. I lean towards the Endurance Pro 44 from the releases today as a nice entry for NFL fans into the Swiss brand. With a lightweight titanium case, rubber strap, and titanium folding clasp, the Endurance Pro is formidable for all seasons. I also enjoy the applied Breitling wings logo, which is reserved only for the Professional SuperQuartz collection. Each watch comes in a special NFL presentation box with a removable travel pouch. You can learn more about the Endurance Pro 44 NFL edition and the Chronomat GMT 40 collection here.
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Who is your money on for this NFL season? And which is your favorite Breitling NFL watch? Let us know in the comments below.
