Introduced: Late 1990s (approx. 1997–1998)
Purpose / Inspiration: Part of the Windrider collection, the Crosswind was built as a luxury chronograph with pilot muscle and boardroom polish. Think Chronomat bones with bigger case presence, bold Roman numerals, and elevated detailing—designed for those who wanted function and flair in equal measure.
Designer: Developed under Ernest Schneider, this was Breitling’s answer to the growing market for power watches—oversized, flashy, but still mechanically serious.
Materials & Features:
- 43.7mm case in steel, two-tone, or solid gold.
- Powered by the Breitling Caliber 13 (Valjoux 7750 base)—automatic, COSC-certified chronograph.
- Features included screw-down pushers, signature rider-tab bezel, date at 3, and a highly detailed dial with applied Roman numerals and guilloché textures.
- Often paired with the Pilot or Navitimer bracelet.
Discontinuation Status: Discontinued in the early 2000s, replaced in spirit by later Chronomat Evolution and Chronomat 44 models.
Chronograph Power Suit: A statement piece that still meant business.
Elegance with Edge: Roman numerals and 200m water resistance don’t usually mix—but here they do.
Big Watch, Bigger Presence: When you walked in with a Crosswind, the room noticed.
A Pre-Kern Heavyweight: Built for those who liked their watches like their planes—loud, fast, and full-featured.