Calibre B01 is an automatic chronograph movement produced by Breitling since 2009 and supplied to Tudor as well.
Breitling introduced their calibre 01 (commonly called Cal. B01) in April 2009 in the Chronomat. It is a modern automatic chronograph movement with a column wheel and vertical clutch. It operates at 28,800 A/h, boasts a power reserve of 70 hours, and is a COSC-certified chronometer. The movement shares many characteristics with the Rolex Cal. 4130, and it has been reported that many of the same engineers worked on both movements.
Cal. B01 measures 30 mm diameter and 7.2 mm thick. This thickness is due to the movement’s modular design. This allows the chronograph components to be easily separated from the base for maintenance or replacement. Although nicely decorated, it is mechanically produced, reducing cost. One notable technical advance, self-centering chronograph hammers, is also useful in reducing the skill required during production.
Functions and Complications
Cal. B01 features the following displays on the dial:
- 30 minute chronograph counter at 3:00
- Date window at 4:30
- 12 hour chronograph counter at 6:00
- Small seconds at 9:00
Some versions of Cal. B01 lack the 12 hour counter at 6:00 and move the date window to that position. This is similar to the Tudor Cal. MT5813. These movements have 41 jewels rather than 47.
Breitling B01 Applications
Breitling has used Cal. B01 in a large number of watches, chiefly in the Chronomat and Navitimer series:
- Breitling Avenger Hurricane 12H
- Breitling Avenger Hurricane 45
- Breitling Aviator 8 B01
- Breitling Chronomat 44
- Breitling Chronomat 41
- Breitling Chronomat B01
- Breitling Montbrillant 01
- Breitling Navitimer 01 43
- Breitling Navitimer 01 46
- Breitling Navitimer 1 B01
- Breitling Navitimer 8 43
- Breitling Navitimer 8 B01
- Breitling Premier B01
- Breitling Super Avenger 01
- Breitling Superocean Heritage II B01
- Breitling Transocean Chronograph
B01 Chronoworks
The most exotic B01 movement is the B01 Chronoworks version, constructed mainly of ceramic with a silicon escapement and wheels and fewer jewels. Introduced in 2016 in the Superocean Heritage Chronoworks, the movement is radically modern yet the entire architecture remain. Thanks to the hexagonal boron nitride ceramic construction, 11 jewels were eliminated and these pivots are able to operate without lubrication. The center, third, and fourth wheel are constructed of silicon as well, and are constructed of deep-reactive iron etching (DRIE). The escapement and lever are also constructed of silicon, and a variable inertia balance is used. These enhancements increase power reserve to 100 hours.
Breitling B01 Family Overview
Starting in 2017, Breitling began supplying a version of Cal. B01 to Tudor. The resulting movement, Cal. MT5813, has a free sprung balance with a silicon hairspring, as is common in modern Rolex and Tudor movements. It is also decorated differently. Strangely, it is often quoted as having different dimensions: 30.40 mm diameter and 7.23 mm thickness.
| Calibre | Year Introduced | Jewels | Height | Winding | Date | Complications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B01 | 2009 | 47 or 41 | 7.20 | Automatic | Yes | Some Without Hour Counter |
| B02 | 2013? | 47 | Manual | Yes | 24 Hour | |
| B03 | 2017 | 47 | 9.15 | Automatic | Yes | Split Seconds |
| B04 | 2011 | 47 | 7.20 | Automatic | Yes | GMT |
| B05 | 2013? | 56 | Automatic | Yes | World Time | |
| B06 | 2015 | 47 | Automatic | Yes | 30 Sec Chrono | |
| B09 | 2019? | 47 | Manual | No | ||
| B12 | 2016 | 47 | 7.30 | Automatic | Yes | 24 Hour |
| MT5813 | 2017 | 41 | 7.23 | Automatic | Yes | No Hour Counter |