Breitling Avenger II 43 GMT, 2015 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Analog/Shift · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Breitling Avenger II 43 GMT, 2015

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Breitling (maker)
Date: 2015
Historical period: Contemporary Horology (2010 – Present)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dimensions: Case 43 mm
Dealer: Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Stock no.: 40940077
Credit line: Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (40940077)
Catalogue title (original): Breitling Avenger II 43 GMT (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number 40940077), this is a wristwatch by Breitling, made in Switzerland, dated 2015. The Atlas places it in the Contemporary Horology period (2010 – Present) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 43 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

Breitling has long been purveyor of chronographs to pilots, and the original Breitling Chronomat models of 1942 were built from the ground up to be no-nonsense instruments for use in the cockpit. Since then, Breitling has exponentially expanded their line of aviation-centric timepieces, moving into more mechanically (and visually) complex chronographs, as well as more straightforward, legible designs such as the Avenger line. This Reference A32390, a Breitling Avenger II 43, dates to 2015 and features a 43mm stainless steel case with a bidirectional steel bezel, a sapphire crystal, signed crown, unidirectional ratcheting timing bezel, a luminous black dial with applied indices and a matching handset, a red GMT arrow hand, framed date window at 3 o’clock and a signed black rubber strap with a signed steel, twin-trigger deployant clasp. In great condition, this is a hell of a good value for a contemporary pilot's watch, ready to endure many adventures - and a great opportunity to take a contemporary Breitling for a spin to see what they're all about!

Historical context

Contemporary Horology (2010 – Present)

Silicon components, connected watches, optical-lattice research clocks and a thriving independent scene.

Smartwatches became the world's best-selling watches, while mechanical watchmaking focuses on craft, innovation (silicon components, new escapements) and independent makers.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Mechanical Renaissance

Atlas type guide

Military, pilot and travel watches

The wristwatch owes much of its adoption by men to warfare and aviation. Wristlets — small pocket watches soldered with lugs and worn on a strap — were used in colonial campaigns and became standard equipment in the First World War, with protective grilles over the crystal ('shrapnel guards'). Louis Cartier's Santos (1904), designed for the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, is often cited as an early purpose-made pilot's watch.

In the Second World War governments specified watches in detail: the German B-Uhr observation watches, the American A-11, and the British 'W.W.W.' (the 'Dirty Dozen' set of 1945). After the war, jet travel brought GMT and world-time watches, which show two or more time zones at once — Louis Cottier's world-time mechanism and the Rolex GMT-Master (1955) are examples.

What to look for

Military markings on the case back: broad arrow, issue numbers, 'W.W.W.', 'A.T.P.'
High-legibility black dials with luminous Arabic numerals; oversized crowns for gloved hands.
24-hour hands and rotating 24-hour bezels or city rings on GMT/world-time watches.
Wire lugs on early wristlets converted from pocket watches.

Dating clues

Wire-lug wristlets: c. 1900–1925.
Military specifications of the Second World War: 1939–1945.
GMT and world-time wristwatches: mainly after 1950.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication
GMT / dual time — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsRecorded
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Analog/Shift — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Breitling Avenger II 43 GMT, 2015." Analog/Shift (dealer), New York, 40940077. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/breitling-avenger-ii-43-gmt-64f35a.