We are trying to make Wednesdays the day we focus more on watches for women, but suddenly this undeniably macho Breitling Seawolf Avenger came along, and what could we do but break our date.
It’s the latest addition to Breitling’s Avenger series of timepieces, a sleek divers’ model outfitted in black and tough enough to descend to serious undersea depths.
Within the Breitling philosophy, the conception of a chronograph is governed by four essential criteria: sturdiness, functionality, precision and aesthetic sophistication. The Avenger is a perfect illustration of this approach. The limited-edition Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel is a professional-grade diver’s watch with a case made of steel and blackened by means of a highly-resistant carbon-based treatment. The watch is water-resistant to the extreme depth of 3,000 metres – deeper than any man can go without the need of specialised deep sea diving equipment.
The watch is powered by Breitling’s Calibre 17, a self-winding movement that has been chronometer-certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The movement has 25 jewels and a high frequency of 28,800 vph, and includes a date function.
The 45mm case has a screw-locked crown and a curved sapphire crystal, which has glare-proof treatment on both sides. The ratcheted bezel rotates in one direction, making the watch useful in an actual diving situation.
The ‘volcano black’ dial echoes the brooding black of the case. The white hands and indices contrast well, and make the dial easier to read beneath the waves.
Strap options include Breitling’s perforated “Ocean Racer” or the rubber Diver Pro, with a raised central ridge.
In a limited edition of 1000, the Breitling Avenger Seawolf Blacksteel will retail at $4,720.
