Manchester’s cup runneth over. A brand new AP House recently opened, Oasis have come home with their comeback tour and now Erling Haaland, record-breaking striker for Manchester City, has bestowed his name and watch-designing prowess on a trilogy of Breitling Chronomats.
Two of the references are limited editions that can be bought by the public, a third piece has been created exclusively for Haaland and four of his closest friends and family.
Even the limited editions are unique because they both have meteorite dials, which are naturally as individual as a fingerprint.
“I wanted something one of a kind,” says Haaland, who is described as having been deeply involved in the design.
“The Chronomat just clicked. It’s clean, all metal or with a rubber strap – it lets you go bold with the dial. And the meteorite makes each one different. You’re never going to see the same watch on someone else’s wrist,” he adds.
The City striker has been a brand ambassador for Breitling since the start of the 2022/3 Premier League season when he broke the single season scoring record with 36 goals.
The two Haaland Signature limited editions that are going on sale are a Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 in stainless steel and platinum for 500 pieces, and a Chronomat B01 42 in 18ct red gold, limited to 250.
Haaland ‘s own exclusive design for five watches is another Chronomat B01 42 with a meteorite dial, but comes in a full rose gold case and integrated bracelet.
Their dials are made from slithers of the Muonionalusta meteorite, which exploded away from a dying star over 4.5 billion years ago, travelled across the universe, and now lie scattered across northern Sweden.
Two of the watches use rose gold for hour markers and for central hours, minutes and chronograph hands and the smaller indicators in chronograph counters and a small seconds sub dial.
The GMT piece has steel hours, minutes and seconds hands but uses rose gold for its GMT pointer.
Meteorite dials
Meteorite dials have become increasingly popular in recent years, driven by the popularity of space rock styles from Rolex.
Haaland’s Chronomats are the first time that Breitling has ever used the material.
“Erling plays like he’s from another planet, so when we talked about materials, a meteorite dial was the perfect fit. It’s a watch as powerful and singular as he is,” says Breitling CEO Georges Kern.
Breitling’s Manufacture Caliber 01 is used in both Chronomat Bo1 watches, which have a power reserve of 70-hours.
The rose gold limited edition of 250 pieces has an open case back exposing a golden skeletonised rotor and bridges decorated in the Cotes de Geneve style.
The watch can be worn on either a gold rouleaux (rolled/tubular) bracelet or a black rouleaux-style rubber strap.
The one-of-five exclusive has a depiction of Haarland in his signature goal-celebration yoga pose on its sapphire case back.
The 500-piece limited edition Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 comes in a trimmer 40mm x 11.77mm steel and platinum case housing a Breitling Caliber 32 COSC-certified movement with 42-hour power reserve.
It is concealed behind a closed steel back engraved with Haaland in his yoga pose and can also be worn on a choice of bracelet in steel or a rubber strap in the same rouleaux style.
Prices start at approx $11,000 for the steel and platinum watch on the rubber strap.
The rose gold limited edition costs approx $30,000 with the black rubber strap or approx $53,500 on its matching golden bracelet.
The five-piece exclusive edition for Haarland is not for sale.