Breitling Colt Chronographe, c. 1996 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Analog/Shift · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Analog/Shift · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Breitling Colt Chronographe, c. 1996

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

Maker / attribution: Breitling (maker)
Date: c. 1996
Historical period: Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dimensions: Case 38 mm
Dealer: Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Stock no.: 40940016
Credit line: Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (40940016)
Catalogue title (original): Breitling Colt Chronographe (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 40940016), this is a wristwatch by Breitling, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1996. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 38 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

If you’re gonna spring for a quartz-powered tool watch, a Breitling Colt should be at the top of your list. Launched in the 1980s, the Colt was intended as a military timepiece, but its good looks, practical feature set, and myriad styles and sizes has since made it a favorite of civilians everywhere. Available in both quartz and mechanical versions, the former are truly excellent value for money — especially if you can find a cool model from the 1990s or early 2000s. This particular Colt, a Reference A53035 'Chronographe', dates to circa 1996 and is a cool, affordable chrono that should fit just about any wrist! Housed in a 38mm stainless steel case with a signed, screw-down crown, dual pump pushers, and a unidirectional steel timing bezel with ‘rider tabs,’ it features a gloss black Tritium dial with applied indices, a triple-register chronograph with silver subsidiary registers, a matching handset, an outer tachymeter scale, and a date window at 4:30. Powered by a Swiss quartz movement, this Colt comes fitted to one of our Analog:Shift alligator-pattern leather straps. On the lookout for a cool go-anywhere, do-anything chronograph? Consider your hunt over!

Historical context

Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)

Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.

Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Quartz Revolution

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

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
Quartz crystal oscillator — Component

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 Colt Chronographe, c. 1996." Analog/Shift (dealer), New York, 40940016. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/breitling-colt-chronographe-9c40fb.