Breitling Montbrillant

The Montbrillant line was part of the Breitling catalog from 1996 to 2018 and contained a wide range of chronographs. Strictly speaking, the Montbrillant belongs to the wider Navitimer family of watches – and it shows. A slide rule bezel defines both models, and the case and dial designs are also remarkably similar. However, upon closer inspection, there are some notable differences between these two series.

One of the most obvious differences is the case size. Montbrillant watches range from 38 to 42 mm in diameter, making them much smaller than most Navitimers. However, there is one exception: the 47-mm Montbrillant Légende. Another difference is the hand shape. While most Navitimers use narrow baton hands, Montbrillant watches typically have sword hands like those typically found on pilot's watches from the 1940s and 50s.

However, the most significant difference is the Montbrillant's complications. In addition to a chronograph function, there are Montbrillant watches with moon phase displays, perpetual calendars, or flyback functions. Breitling equips these timepieces with either modified ETA base calibers or in-house calibers, including the B01 from 2009. In terms of materials, most models are made of stainless steel. However, there are also several rose gold or two-tone limited editions available.

Prices for a Montbrillant range from about 3,200 USD for a stainless steel chronograph with a date display to roughly 10,500 USD for a rose-gold limited edition with a perpetual calendar. Models with a moon phase display or triple calendar sell for between 3,500 and 5,800 USD. Watches with the in-house caliber B01 generally demand around 5,900 USD.

The first Montbrillant models appeared in 1996, under the reference numbers H30030 (in gold) and A30030 (in stainless steel). You can easily recognize these timepieces by the presence of "Navitimer" inscriptions on their dials. The caliber B30 ticks away inside their 38-mm cases. This movement is based on the ETA 2892-A2. What it lacks in a date display, it makes up for in a small seconds at 3, an hour counter at 6, and a minute counter at 9 o'clock.

Despite the subdials and internal slide rule bezel, the black or white silver-plated dial still looks tidy. Domed mineral glass protects the displays from the elements. Plan to spend around 3,300 USD for a well-maintained stainless steel model on a leather strap. The same watch on a stainless steel bracelet costs an additional 470 USD. Finally, the gold edition demands some 6,300 USD.

Breitling replaced the A30030 with the nearly identical ref. A41330 in 1999. The case and dial design are the same as its predecessor's except for the addition of a date display, which sits at 4:30 between the small seconds and 12-hour counter. Watches built after 2008 were also treated to sapphire crystal and the COSC-certified caliber B41 based on the ETA 2892-A2. You can purchase a pre-owned A41330 timepiece on a leather strap for roughly 3,100 USD. Those on a stainless steel bracelet cost about 3,400 USD. There is also a rose-gold edition available. It bears the reference number H41330 and requires an investment of roughly 7,800 USD.

The minute counter and small seconds have swapped positions and sit at 3 and 9 o'clock, respectively. Prices for this timepiece come in at approximately 5,800 USD on a leather strap and 6,600 USD on a stainless steel bracelet.

Breitling has created a number of different Montbrillant models with subdials at 3 and 9 o'clock. One example is the Montbrillant 1903 ref. A35330, which the Swiss company created in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' maiden flight. Its 42-mm case houses the B35 caliber. This movement is a modified ETA 2892-A2 with a Dubois Dépraz chronograph module. The result is a flyback chronograph that can measure periods up to 30 minutes. There's also a date display at 6 o'clock.

The dials have a two-tone design featuring a black central time display with white numerals and a white slide rule bezel with black numerals. There is also a version with a white center and black outer ring. This stainless steel timepiece costs between 3,800 and 4,500 USD depending on the exact model and its condition.

The Montbrillant Edition retains much of the design and color scheme of its sister model. However, its 43-mm case contains the series' only manual caliber, namely the B48 based on the Valjoux 7763. The solid case back features an engraving of Breitling's former building on Ruelle Montbrillant in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. You can purchase the stainless steel edition (ref. A48330) for around 3,700 USD in good condition. The rose gold ref. H48330 is significantly more expensive at about 9,200 USD.

At 47 mm in diameter, the Montbrillant Légende is easily the largest model in this series. Its case is available in stainless steel (ref. A23340) or a two-tone combination of stainless steel and 18-karat rose gold (ref. C23340). The chronometer-certified caliber B23 powers this timepiece. This movement is based on the Valjoux 7753. In terms of design, the Légende bears a strong resemblance to the Monbrillant Edition. Expect to pay roughly 4,500 USD for a well-maintained stainless steel watch. The two-tone edition generally changes hands for around 5,000 USD.

The Montbrillant collection also includes a few models with additional complications. One example is the Montbrillant Eclipse ref. A43030 from 1999. In addition to a moon phase display at 6 o'clock, the Valjoux-7758-based caliber B43 provides this timepiece with a date display at 3, a running seconds at 9, and a 30-minute counter at 12. What's more, this movement is COSC-certified in models with the reference number A43330. All this functionality sits within a 41.5-mm stainless steel case. Mineral glass protects the white silver-plated or black dial, which features large luminous indices. Depending on the model and condition, be prepared to spend between 3,400 and 3,800 USD on a Montbrillant Eclipse.

Breitling equipped the Montbrillant Datora ref. A21330 with the automatic caliber B21. This movement is based on the ETA 7751 and comes with a triple calendar. An additional central hand points to the date, while the day and month appear in windows within the 30-minute counter below 12 o'clock. There's also a 12-hour counter at 6 and a dual 24-hour display and day/night indicator at 9 o'clock. This 43-mm stainless steel timepiece is available with a white silver-plated, solid black, or reverse panda dial. The latter dial has a black background and white subdials. A well-maintained watch will set you back between 4,900 and 5,400 USD.

The Montbrillant 1461 Jours ref. A19030 is the most complicated Montbrillant model. This 41.5-mm stainless steel watch houses the automatic caliber B19, based on the ETA 2892-A2. As a result, it features a moon phase display and a perpetual calendar in addition to the standard chronograph function and slide rule bezel. Despite its complexity, the dial still looks rather tidy since several subdials contain two functions. There's a moon phase at 3, an hour counter and day display at 6, a month display and minute counter at 9, and a small seconds at 12 o'clock. Regardless of whether you choose a light or dark dial, this watch will set you back anywhere from 4,400 to 5,400 USD, depending on its condition.

The Montbrillant Olympus replaced the 1461 Jours in 2005. This model is technologically identical to its predecessor but comes with a new design. Perhaps the most notable detail is the bezel with a pearl-like texture. This lends the Olympus a distinctly retro feel. You can purchase the stainless steel ref. A19350 for about 5,500 USD. The rose gold model, the ref. H19350, demands nearly twice as much at 10,500 USD.