Breitling Datora Racing 'Dashboard' Dial, c. 1969

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

There is perhaps no more versatile complication than the chronograph. From race cars to rocket ships, boats to battlefields, you are likely to find a chronograph being employed to measure a plethora of tasks and times. From the Greek khrónos (“time) and gráphō (“to write”), a chronograph is a watch that has the ability to record time, generally via the addition of small sub-counters that register minutes and hours. One of the most interesting and wide-ranging of 20th-century vintage chronographs has to be Breitling’s Datora line. The model family debuted with classic-looking chronographs featuring date complications in the 1940s, but the 1970s is when peak funkiness was achieved. One glance at a ‘70s Datora lets you know that you’re firmly in the time of disco! This particular Datora, a Reference 2030, dates to circa 1969 and features a 38mm stainless steel cushion case with an acrylic crystal, a signed crown, barrel pushers, and a polished bezel. It contains a matte black exotic ‘racing’ dial with applied indices, an outer tachymeter scale, a dual-register chronograph layout with a date at 6:00, and a matching handset with a bright orange seconds hand. If this isn’t one of the coolest dials you’ve ever seen, full stop, then we’ll eat our hat! Powered by the venerable manually wound Valjoux 7734 movement, it comes paired to a fantastic Nero black Ralstra® rallye-style leather strap with an drilled steel pin buckle. Whether you’re a diehard automotive fanatic or you’re simply on the hunt for an unconventional chronograph, this Datora is a fantastic piece to snag.