The Six Nations are back, which naturally means Breitling is scrum-down with a new limited-edition Chronomat. Breitling has been the timing partner of this historic rugby tournament since 2022, when it took on the role of Official Timing Partner for the Guinness Six Nations, Women’s Six Nations and Autumn Nations Series. However, this is the first year it has included a female-oriented collection of limited editions in its Six Nations lineup, something Breitling has attributed to the growing prominence of women’s rugby. 

Clocking in at 32mm, this elegant three-hander will feature colours not used before in Breitling’s women’s lines. It follows the tradition of having six dials in hues related to the corresponding nations – burgundy for Wales, green for Ireland, dark blue for Scotland, a sea-blue to represent Italy, grey-blue for France, and silver for England. The addition of 18k yellow gold indices tipped with diamonds brings a little luxury and sophistication to what is essentially a robust sports watch designed to weather whatever life, or the rugby pitch, can throw at it. Powering this version, which is limited to 75 pieces, is Breitling’s Calibre 77, the brand’s very own SuperQuartz that it launched in 2001, and which is purported to be 10 times more accurate than a regular quartz. 

The 40mm version comes with an added extra – a GMT function, ideal for working out match start times wherever you are in the world. Easy to set via the crown, this is a caller or office GMT, meaning the watch has a 24-hour hand that is set independently of the hour hand in hour increments on a 24-hour scale. This is opposed to a true or “traveller” GMT where the watch’s hour hand is independent and can be jumped to the local time without your home hour and minute hands being affected. Both collections have gorgeous textured dials with alternating matt and horizontal finishes inspired by the stripes of a rugby pitch, a detail that especially stands out in the verdant green shade of the Ireland edition. They also have Breitling’s signature rouleaux bracelet, so named because the links are cylinders (rouleaux being the French for “rollers”), with its brushed steel surfaces and polished mid-links creating a play of light similar to that on the dial. The caseback of both versions bears an engraving of the Union crest and “one of 75” on the 32mm, while the 40mm is “one of 250”, under which beats the Calibre 32, with a 42-hour power reserve. 

‘You can feel the energy of rugby’s greatest championship, and all six unions in these limited editions,’ says Breitling CEO Georges Kern. ‘We are proud to be the official timekeeper of Six Nations Rugby, supporting both men’s and women’s rugby, and celebrate the bold spirit of a sport that resonates with Breitling’s sense of purpose.’ It’s not just a shared passion – there is also a sense of shared history. Not only were Breitling and the Six Nations, then known as the Home Nations Championship, founded within a year of each other – 1884 and 1883 respectively – but what was to become the Chronomat was launched 100 years after the founding of the Six Nations in 1983 as the official watch for the Frecce Tricolori, the renowned Italian aerobatics squadron. It is a small detail but one that illustrates the synergy between the pioneering spirit of this tournament and Breitling, a brand known for pushing boundaries and constantly seeking to redefine its place in the watch world. These new Chronomats may have been created to commemorate this year’s tournament, but they are the perfect addition to any watch lover’s wardrobe, whether they know what an ankle tap is or not. 

Breitling Chronomat 32 Six Nations, £3,950; Breitling Chronomat 40 Six Nations, £4,950.

All limited editions in the nation’s colours will be available in store and online in the UK and Ireland and sold in store in select EU countries, including France and Italy. breitling.com