The day before its launch, I briefly met the latest Avenger in a restaurant on the outskirts of Amsterdam. A storm had struck, and inside the restaurant, one could hear the wind becoming louder and louder as raindrops kept bombarding the windows. The new Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 looked completely calm and collected. Unshakable self-confidence is what you want in a superhero and perfect clone Breitling watches. Weeks later, with a clear blue sky over The Hague, the revamped, now much leaner and meaner Avenger landed on my desk at Fratello HQ in all its oversized glory. We cleared our schedules and decided to hang out for a couple of days. Read on to find out if we bonded.
The new Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 in green (AB0147101L1X1) is a handsome “fella.” Strictly speaking, that’s not an objective observation, but a little field experiment revealed that all the subjects to whom I showed the replica Breitling watches for sale reacted positively. I heard good comments on the refined look, the slightly sleeker proportions when compared to the previous, very bulky Avenger Chronograph, and mostly positive remarks regarding the dial color. The matte green dial takes inspiration for its slightly powdery-looking hue from the color of vintage Land Rovers.
The typical color green of the original Land Rover that appeared in the late 1940s is the result of scarcity. Only military surplus supplies of aircraft cockpit paint were available right after WWII, so the first batch of Land Rovers left the factory in slightly various shades of light matte green. The color suits the new Avenger B01 Chronograph 44. As you might know, the Avenger has been around for more than 20 years. It was always big, bold, brash, and designed for fighter pilots. Well, it was designed for men who regularly watch the movie Top Gun, I would say. Still, the different variations showed extreme resilience and optimum readability, so in theory, they were practical instruments befitting the aeronautical spirit of Breitling.
They were always just a bit too bulky for my taste. Luckily, the revamped Avenger, especially the chronograph version you see here, feels much better. It shaves 1mm off the diameter of the previous Avenger Chronograph 45. It also brings the thickness down from 16.4mm to 15.2mm and shortens the lug-to-lug length from 55.7mm to 53mm. The reshaped and resized Avenger still pumps iron and lifts heavy objects regularly. But it now also does cardio, works on its core stability, and sometimes even dabbles in a bit of yoga when no one’s looking. That’s why it also lost a bit of weight. The previous 45mm steel version weighs 159 grams, but the leaner and meaner 44mm new version weighs 22 grams less.
The almost faded-looking green dial shows black sub-dials as well. The strong color contrast gives the watch a strong appearance. The wide pencil hands and baton indexes provide easy readability. They also remind the wearer that while the Avenger might look a bit more fashionable, its roots are instrumental. The red-tipped chronograph seconds hand is also a functional but subtle touch.
On the wrist, the new Avenger looks more refined, but how does it feel? Well, the brushed steel 44mm case wears very well. Mind you, it’s not a fully brushed watch. There are plenty of smaller surfaces that got the polished treatment, such as the side of the bezel. But because brushed surfaces are in the majority, the top replica Breitling watches don’t look as big as they truly are. By the way, the stepped lugs show a line with a more matte finish that visually slims down the watch. Also, because of the watch’s case and lug shapes, it feels exactly as big on the wrist as the dimensions suggest.
Let me explain. My 44mm Chronoswiss Timemaster has very basic shapes, and apart from looking bigger than 44mm, it also wears bigger than that. Don’t get me wrong; the Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 is still an XL watch. And it’s more of a tool watch than a suave all-arounder. Yes, the bezel tabs are now smoother, the crown is no longer so crude, and the newly designed rectangular pushers contribute to the watch’s easier-on-the-eye appearance. Still, the 300m-water-resistant Avenger looks better with sneakers than with loafers in my humble opinion.
That’s also due to the military-style leather strap with a folding clasp that looks more “urban casual” than classic “sport chic.” Thankfully, the strap is also comfortable because the folding clasp is simple and understated enough for me not to want a standard pin buckle immediately.
The updated Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 is a very easy-going watch. I suspected that much after our first encounter, and the watch didn’t disappoint. The combination of an integrated chronograph movement, sleeker case, refined details, and smart colors works wonders for the flagship of the Avenger collection. From a functional perspective, it works, and it does from an aesthetic perspective too. Also, the price doesn’t feel too outlandish. I think Breitling has created a very handsome blockbuster of high quality replica Breitling watches with the Avenger B01 Chronograph 44.
Did we bond? Yes, we did. The best selling fake Breitling watches work for me. It sits well on the wrist if I put it on snugly to keep it from moving (it’s never a good idea to have a large steel 137g watch moving around on the wrist anyway). The color green speaks to me, but I also realize that this color, just like the blue and the beige dial variants, won’t work in a first- or only-watch kind of situation. The full-black version is a more middle-of-the-road option, but it also is way plainer than its colored family members. So, while the Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 is not a GADA watch, it is one that you can put on when you want to empower yourself and feel the superhero vibe without going fully over the top.