Breitling has long been known for its precision-made chronometers that are particularly useful to aviators, with their Chronoliner model the most well-known. This new version, the Chronoliner Blacksteel, reasserts itself as the world’s premier captain’s watch.

The Swiss company has reimagined the classic 1950s Chronoliner, outfitting it with a broad bezel of scratch-resistant ceramic featuring an original star-shaped cut-out along with a matching dial and rubber strap with steel mesh Aero Classic bracelets. The all-black livery accentuates the watch’s timelessness, while the steel case is coated with a carbon treatment and satin brushed to create a subtle contrast against the ultra-shiny bezel. The 46 mm dial is also mostly black, with tone on tone counters, contrasted only by the red-tipped hand that enables second timezone readings (the bidirectional rotating bezel indicates a third timezone). In keeping with classic aesthetics of aviator watches, white and silver indications pop out from the black background, offering optimal legibility that’s reinforced by the luminescent-coated oversized hands and hour-markers. The case is water-resistant to 100 m, with a power reserve of at least 42 hours.

When they say the Chronoliner is the world’s most useful aviation timepiece, Breitling isn’t lying. This watch combines the two functions most useful to pilots and globetrotters: the triple timezone display, and a chronograph to measure flight times. All these functions are precisely and reliably powered by a self-winding chronograph movement certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute). Performance at the controls.