We provide service and repair of the Breitling Chrono-matic,, Navitimer, Cosmonaute and other Breitling Chronograph that use the Calibre 11/12 movement. The service includes complete disassembly of the movement, inspection, cleaning, oiling and timing and adjustment. The case is completely disassembled including the pushers and cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, and the crystal is polished or replaced. Contact me if you have any questions, or would like to initiate repair of your vintage watch. See my FAQ for additional information.
Photo journals of Breitling Chronographs we’ve repaired:
- Breitling Cosmonaute Chrono-matic Caliber 11 SERVICE and REPAIR
- Breitling Navitimer Chrono-matic Chrongraph Service & Repair
Breitling Chronograph Calibre 12 History
In the early 1970s, Breitling introduced a series of chronographs powered by the Caliber 11 & 12, one of the world’s first automatic chronograph movements, jointly developed by Heuer, Breitling, Büren, and Dubois Dépraz in 1969 .See our post on the repair of the Navitimer with the Calibre 12. Also see the external page How Heuer, Breitling, And Hamilton Brought The Automatic Chronograph To The World.
Breitling used the Caliber 12 in a variety of bold, modern chronographs during the 1970s, including models like the Chrono-Matic, Navitimer, and Pult (Bullhead) chronographs. These watches typically featured distinctive design features such as left-hand crowns, large cushion or tonneau-shaped cases, and colorful dials—hallmarks of 1970s watch design.
The Caliber 12’s modular construction combined a Büren micro-rotor base movement with a chronograph module by Dubois Dépraz, allowing automatic winding with a full chronograph function. Though eventually phased out by the quartz revolution, Breitling’s Caliber 12 chronographs remain iconic today, representing a bold fusion of innovation and style from a transformative era in watchmaking.
