All-black and delightfully “mean,” the Breitling Super Avenger Military is a rare example of a 24 hour watch. In the United States we refer to 24-hour-format time as military time. That is because here, it is primarily the military that uses this format while civilians use a 12 hour format. We are partial to our AMs and PMs. Many who live or travel outside of the US know the the 24 hour format is used heavily all over the world for a range of purposes from television schedules to movie times. Having said that, if you want an analog watch (mechanical or otherwise) that indicates the time in a 24 hour format you have precious few options. Though, you are in luck if you want to wear a digital watch full time.
This new Super Avenger Military Limited Series timepiece takes the excellent looks of the Breitling Avenger and combines them with the brand’s Calibre 22 automatic movement that displays 24-hour-versus-12-hour format time. We last saw use of this movement in the Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute watch (hands-on here). Also a limited edition watch, the Navitimer Cosmonaute was much more retro in style, and clearly a Navitimer in design. It was also just 41.5mm wide, and this Super Avenger is much more modern (and larger).
At 48mm wide in black-coated steel, the Super Avenger Military is a pretty solid looking timepiece. Do you like the stencil style font on the dial? The case is also water-resistant to 300 meters and comes on a military-style canvas strap. It also has a diver-style rotating bezel. The Calibre 22 automatic chronograph movement has a 12 hour chronograph and the date, in addition to offering the time in a 24 hour format (that I imagine takes some getting used to in terms of reading it at a glance). The movement is also COSC Chronometer certified.
I don’t know how much use I would get from a 24-hour-format dial, but then again I am not in the military. These types of watches are in demand from select groups – which is probably why this is a limited edition. Though I do really like the Super Avenger collection of watches. If you are looking for something modern and masculine and really want a mechanical watch with the time displayed in a 24 hour format, then one of your few choices is the Super Avenger Military. As a limited edition, Breitling will produce just 500 pieces with a retail price of $7,400. breitling.com