Alongside a bevy of new Chronomat models that include titanium references in both 42mm and 44mm formats (plus a green dial option that has also been added to the lineup), Breitling has just announced a pair of new limited-edition Chronomat watches that are produced in collaboration with the brand’s all-star basketball brand ambassador Giannis Antetokounmpo. Unlike some of Breitling’s collections, which are specifically dedicated to aviation or diving, the Chronomat is the brand’s all-purpose sports watch, and in addition to the two Breitling Chronomat Giannis Antetokounmpo watches that will be available to the public, the Swiss manufacturer has also created a piece-unique specifically for the NBA superstar himself.

As one of the NBA’s most dominant players, Giannis Antetokounmpo stands nearly seven feet tall, and while even enormous timepieces would likely still look appropriate on his colossal frame, the Greek basketball superstar’s personal preferences typically trend towards more modestly-sized watches. Last year, during a Breitling meet-and-greet that took place after a Milwaukee Bucks game, Giannis was wearing a 40mm Chronomat GMT. When asked what he would want as his ideal signature edition watch, Giannis responded that it would be something in stainless steel with an ice-blue dial and a case diameter in the neighborhood of 41mm. Although his initial projection about case sizing was right on the money, neither of the two new Breitling Chronomat Giannis Antetokounmpo watches are fitted with ice-blue dials, and while one is crafted from stainless steel, the other appears in solid 18k red gold.

The first of the two Breitling Chronomat Giannis Antetokounmpo watches is the model that I could see the NBA superstar designing for himself as a casual everyday timepiece, as it is largely based upon the watch that he was wearing at the Breitling meet-and-greet event last year. From a core design standpoint, the new Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo (ref. A32398A11L1A1) is the same watch as the standard 40mm Chronomat GMT, which means that you get a stainless steel case that measures 40mm in diameter by 11.77mm thick, with an overall lug-to-lug profile of 47.4mm. Like the core-collection models, this latest limited edition features a cambered sapphire crystal, a unidirectional rotating timing bezel, a screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, and 200 meters of water resistance. However, unlike the standard Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 watches, the new Giannis Antetokounmpo edition has the basketball star’s signature engraved into its solid screw-down caseback.

The movement and bracelet fitted to the Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo are identical to what can be found among the standard-production models, and powering the watch is the brand’s Caliber 32 automatic GMT movement, which is based upon the core architecture of the ETA 2893. Running at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours, the Breitling Cal. 32 offers independent adjustment of the 24-hour hand and date, and it is also a COSC-certified chronometer, which means that it adheres to the timekeeping tolerances of -4/+6 seconds per day. Meanwhile, the bracelet fitted to the Chronomat GMT Giannis Antetokounmpo is the same Rouleaux style that you will find throughout the current Chronomat collection, which features brushed and polished surfaces and secures with a butterfly-style folding clasp and a push-button release.

Aside from its caseback engraving, the most significant differences between the new Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo and its standard-production counterparts are the colors of its dial and hands. While the overall design is largely identical, the color of the dial has been updated to a brighter shade of green that is intended to recall the “Good Land Green” color of the Milwaukee Bucks (Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team). Additionally, rather than having small red accents like the standard green dial Chronomat GMT model, the “GMT” text and the 24-hour hand now appear in a bright hue of yellow. Lastly, as a small nod to the partnership, the counterweight for the seconds hand is shaped like the NBA star’s initials instead of the usual Breitling “B” logo (similar to what was done on the Victoria Beckham Chronomat watches), and it now appears in a “GA” shape on both of the new Chronomat Giannis Antetokounmpo watches.

The other new limited-edition Giannis Antetokounmpo model is the 18k red gold Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Giannis Antetokounmpo, which is available on either a rubber strap (ref. RB01344A1L1S1) or a matching red gold bracelet (ref. RB01344A1L1R1). From an external perspective, this premium model is largely the same watch as the limited-edition Superbowl LVIII version that was launched earlier this year, which means that it features an 18k red gold case that measures 42mm in diameter by 15.1mm thick, with a lug-to-lug profile of 50.5mm. Just like its standard-production siblings, the Chronomat B01 42 Giannis Antetokounmpo features a cambered sapphire crystal surrounded by a unidirectional rotating bezel, along with a screw-down crown flanked by a set of chronograph pushers, and 200 meters of water resistance. However, rather than being fitted with a solid caseback like its GMT sibling, this limited-edition chronograph receives a display caseback to showcase its internal movement.

The dial of the Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Giannis Antetokounmpo is finished in the same bright green color as its GMT counterpart, although it is paired with a contrasting black tachymeter scale surrounding its perimeter, along with a trio of black sub-dials with a date window subtly integrated into the register at the 6 o’clock location. A golden outline of a basketball appears within the minute totalizer on the left-hand side of the display, while the hands and applied hour markers are finished in red gold to match the case of the watch, Additionally, similar to its stainless steel GMT-equipped sibling, the Chronomat B01 42 Giannis Antetokounmpo has the NBA star’s initials integrated into the shape of its hands, with the counterweight for the central chronograph seconds hand appearing in the same “GA” shape that can be observed on the Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo model.

Just as its name suggests, the Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Giannis Antetokounmpo is powered by the brand’s manufacture Caliber B01 automatic chronograph movement, which is a COSC-certified chronometer that operates with a column wheel and vertical clutch. Running at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 70 hours, the Breitling Cal. B01 is the brand’s flagship series of movements, and it has become the new standard for Breitling chronographs in recent years. Additionally, while the Chronomat B01 42 Giannis Antetokounmpo is available with a solid red gold Rouleaux bracelet, the model is also available with a dark green version of the brand’s Rouleaux-style rubber strap that is completed by a red gold folding clasp. This style of strap mirrors the appearance of the Rouleaux bracelet’s links. While it was first introduced to the 42mm Chronomat models on the limited-edition Super Bowl LVII watch, it will now also be available as a standard option for the rest of the Chronomat B01 42 series.

While the two new Breitling Chronomat Giannis Antetokounmpo watches will be produced as limited editions and sold to the public, the Swiss brand has also created a piece-unique version for Giannis himself that offers a rather unusual take on the chronograph model from the series. The one-of-a-kind watch is largely the same as its publicly-available siblings in terms of its overall design and construction, and it features a 42mm red gold case paired with a matching red gold Rouleaux bracelet and the manufacture Cal. B01 chronograph movement. However, rather than having black contrasting elements on its dial, the trio of registers and tachymeter scale appear in white, and the applied red gold hour markers are Eastern Arabic numerals, rather than the luminous baton-style indexes that are fitted to the commercially-available Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Giannis Antetokounmpo watches.

Given that Giannis Antetokounmpo has been with the Milwaukee Bucks for over a decade, the decision to create his signature edition watches in the colors of his team simply makes sense, as almost anyone who is a Giannis fan is virtually guaranteed to also be a fan of his team. That said, I would have personally liked to see some small elements of ice blue mixed into the design as a subtle nod to his Greek heritage, simply because this was his initial vision for the watch when he was first casually asked about it nearly a year and a half ago, and it would have been interesting to see his original vision come to complete fruition. However, I also fully recognize that not all shades of green and blue play equally well with each other, and it might have come down to choosing one color or the other, with ample options for ice-blue dials already available within Breitling’s current catalog.

In terms of pricing and availability, the stainless steel Breitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 Giannis Antetokounmpo (ref. A32398A11L1A1) will be produced as a limited edition of 1,750 examples, and it will be priced at $6,150 USD, which means that it costs the exact same as what the brand currently charges for its standard-production counterparts. Meanwhile, the 18k rose gold Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Giannis Antetokounmpo will be produced as a limited edition of just 250 examples, and it will cost $23,000 USD when purchased on a rubber strap (ref. RB01344A1L1S1) or $42,500 USD when paired with a matching red gold bracelet (ref. RB01344A1L1R1), which makes it the same price as the standard-catalog versions of the Chronomat B01 42 in red gold. While Breitling is a proudly Swiss company, many of its limited editions and collaborations have absolutely nothing to do with Switzerland, and just like the new Giannis Antetokounmpo models, they instead celebrate the brand’s partnerships, ambassadors, and the passions of the individuals who wear its watches. For more information on the Breitling Chronomat Giannis Antetokounmpo watches, please visit the brand’s website.