Breitling Chronospace A56012.01 – 52Mondayz, week #33
Guess what!? This is the 26th episode in the 52Mondayz column. That means that we’re half way. Half way the year that every week I wear a different watch which we present to you here at Fratello Watches.
The Breitling Chronospace A56012.01 on my wrist
Breitling Chronospace A56012.01
And this week I’m going quartz again. A quartz watch from a brand which isn’t directly my favourite, however from which one or two models always had my interest. First the classic Breitling Navitimer is of course a watch one can’t neglect. This watch is as iconic and as of historical importance as the Rolex Daytona, Omega Speedmaster, Heuer Carrera and the like.
Secondly Breitling always attracted my interest with their professional analogue-digital models. Often placed in their Navitimer model range as well by the way. The cleanliness of the dial, the extreme legibility – of both the analogue as well as the digital displays – and the additional functions the digital part of the watch provide make these watches interesting and attractive to me.
Professional line Breitling watches
Currently I have three of these professional ana-digi Breitlings in my collection. From these models, this week I’ll wear the Breitling Chronospace with reference A56012.01. It’s a lesser seen model than for instance the Aerospace or even the Emergency, however to me certainly as interesting.
The Chronospace I’m wearing this week has a stainless steel case with a diameter of approximately 41 mm. Because quartz it’s a relatively thin watch. It’s height is only 9.5 mm. As well, the glass of the watch is placed at least 2 mm lower than the upper edge of the bezel, which gives the watch a very sleek appearance. Opposite to the more or less common rotating minute bezel on for instance an Aerospace, the bezel of the A56012.01 bezel is a complicated calculation tool.
The Breitling Chronospace’ displaying its2nd time zone function
The calculation functions of the bezel
The the bezel of most Navitimers can be used as a regular slide rule; the bezel of this Chronospace can’t. The main indications at the bezel are cardinal degrees, by which it can be used as a compass. And further it can be helpful in calculating an airplane’s rate of climb or decent, distance in climb or decent and gasoline consumption (at a rate of 11 1/2 gallons per hour). Interesting isn’t it? However probably not very useful for the most of us.
The Breitling Chronospace’ displaying its alarm function
Digital functions of the Chronospace
For most of us the most suitable digital functions of the watch will probably be the indication of the day and date, or the indication of the seconds and the date. Although personally I like the ‘no function’ function of the digital display a lot as well. Besides the no function and the day/date function there are the following options. Digital time, alarm, chronograph, 2nd time zone, and timer. Changing of these functions is easily – but not too easily – done by just turning the crown of the watch.
This Breitling Chronospace originally was supplied on a leather strap, a rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet. Except for divers I’m not fond of rubber straps and a stainless steel bracelet wasn’t supplied with my watch when I bought it. So I put it on a nice leather strap of one of Breitling’s colleagues. It suits it well in my opinion, and it makes the watch wear very comfortable.
The Breitling Chronospace A56012.01 case back
What’s the value?
If you should be tempted by this article, Breitling Chronospace’ of this type can be found pre-owned in good condition for approximately € 1.200,=. And, even for a quartz watch, with this Bretiling Chronospace A56012.01 you’ll buy an interesting instrument as well as a pleasant watch to wear for that kind of money.
