Breitling’s Iconic ’80s Steel Sports Watch Gets Revamped with 32 New Dial Colors
You don't have to be an NFL fan to enjoy these watches.
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The NFL isn't associated with watches in the way that professional golf , Grand Slam tennis and Formula 1 are, but Breitling is working hard to change that perception.
The Swiss brand, known for elite tool watches , is following up its 2024 NFL collection with a subtle but impactful change that should resonate with a much larger audience, regardless of football alliances.
The Chronomat GMT 40 NFL Team Edition does not use team logos on the dial. - Credit: Breitling
Breitling remains the NFL's official timepiece partner for the 2025/2026 season, marking the collaboration with a collection of 32 Chronomat GMT 40 steel sports watches representing each team in the league.
The release improves upon the Chronomat B01 42 chronograph released last season, which featured each team's logo on the small-seconds dial. That small detail isolated the luxury-tier watch to die-hard NFL team fans.
Each Chronomat GMT 40 dial uses the featured team's primary color, while the GMT hand is the team's secondary color. - Credit: Breitling
This time around, Breitling made the brilliant decision to scrub team logos from the dials. This opens the collection to a much larger market of non-football fans and entices NFL team fans who prefer not to flaunt it on their wrist.
I'm a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan, but I don't want the team's logo on the dial of my watch, especially one as prestigious and expensive as a Breitling Chronomat .
Each Chronomat GMT 40 has the NFL team logo etched into the caseback. - Credit: Breitling
However, I am open to spending $6,600 on a luxury watch with an Eagle's Midnight Green dial, and the team logo tastefully etched into the caseback. I'm certain that enough football fans share my sentiment to make this watch a hit.
A classic '80s steel sports watch
Breitling introduced the Chronomat in 1984 to celebrate the brand's 100th anniversary. It was based on a special edition chronograph that the brand's CEO designed a year earlier for Italian jet pilots, called the "Frecce Tricolori."
An original 1984 Chronomat reference 81950 V7750. - Credit: Breitling
The original Chronomat was an automatic chronograph with a steel bezel featuring interchangeable "Rider Tabs," which allowed the 15 and 45 to be swapped to make it a count-down or count-up bezel.
The other definitive feature introduced in 1984 is the "Rouleaux" bracelet with interconnected tubular steel links.
The Chronomat is a significant piece of Breitling's history because it marked the brand's reinvestment in mechanical chronographs at a time when quartz movements dominated watchmaking.
Just like last year's NFL editions, the Miami Dolphins version once again wins the style race. - Credit: Breitling
Unfortunately, the "Rider Tabs" are now fixed to the Chronomat's unidirectional steel bezel. However, Breitling revived the "Rouleaux" steel bracelet with a butterfly clasp in 2020.
The modern GMT variant has a 24-hour track on the chapter ring, which uniformly matches each team's primary color on the dial for the NFL edition.
The Chronomat GMT 40 has a 24-hour track on the chapter ring. - Credit: Breitling
While Breitling simplified the bezel, it improved the dial by adding a beveled edge to the hour and minute hands, along with a lumed arrow point and a script "B" counterbalance to the seconds hand.
Non-fans welcome
With 32 options, the Chronomat GMT 40 NFL Teams Edition has something for everyone. As stated above, you don't have to like football to be drawn to this collection.
Teams like the Carolina Panthers, pictured above, offer vibrant dial colors. - Credit: Breitling
Teams like the Steelers, Falcons, Saints and Raiders offer black dials with yellow, red, gold and silver GMT hands, respectively, that stick to the watch's historically industrial theme. The Dolphins, Panthers, Chiefs and Bengals offer vibrant dials that are refreshing departures from Chronomats of the past.
There is some overlap, with only ardent fans able to differentiate the Bills, Giants and Patriots references, for example. And I have to admit that I don't love the Eagles dial (they should have gone with Kelly Green).
The Green Bay Packers offer one of the best options. - Credit: Breitling
Two of my favorite options, based objectively on color, are the Packers, reminiscent of British Racing Green, and the Bears, with a deep navy and orange combination.
The Chronomat GMT 40 offers one of the most interesting and overlooked designs in Breitling's esteemed catalog in a staggering assortment of color options.
It is the most tasteful team-affiliated watch I've seen, and you don't even have to care about the NFL to enjoy owning one.
Availability and price
The Breitling Chronomat GMT 40 NFL Teams Edition is available now from Breitling for $6,600.
Breitling also released a 44mm, quartz-powered Endurance Pro chronograph with a black dial and black rubber strap. The watch sports each NFL team's logo on the dial and the primary color on the chapter ring.
Breilting Chronomat 40 GMT NFL Team Edition
Specs
| Case Size 40mm |
|---|
| Movement Breitling claiber 32 automatic |
| Water Resistance 200m |
About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men's Health. Now, he's on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.
