Within the modern Breitling lineup, the Endurance Pro collection is the brand’s most purpose-built sports watch, pairing lightweight cases with thermocompensated SuperQuartz movements to create a modern version of the classic sports chronograph. Since 2021, Breitling has had a partnership with the IRONMAN racing series as its official luxury watch sponsor and over the past couple years, the brand has created a number of different IRONMAN-themed models that celebrate one of the world’s most famous and demanding triathlon competitions. As its latest new release of 2023, Breitling has created two new limited edition Endurance Pro IRONMAN watches, with one model crafted from carbon composite, and the other positioned as a premium version of the Endurance Pro that features a case made from brushed titanium.
The first of the two new 2023 IRONMAN-themed models is the Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Edition, which is essentially just a new colorway of the original Endurance Pro IRONMAN that we previously reviewed here. Similar to the Endurance Pro IRONMAN Finisher model, the new Endurance Pro IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Edition features a case made from Breitlight (carbon composite) that measures 44mm in diameter by 12.5mm-thick, with an overall lug-to-lug profile of 52.49mm. Just like the standard production models, the new IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Edition features a flat sapphire crystal above its dial, a rubberized crown and a pair of pushers on the 3 o’clock side of the case, and a screw-on caseback that helps create a 100 meters of water resistance. This means that Breitling’s Endurance Pro watches are more than capable of standing up to any swimming stages that might be part of your triathlon.
With that in mind, unlike the Endurance Pro IRONMAN Finisher model, the new Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Edition embraces a turquoise colorway with bright yellow accents on the chronograph hands. Additionally, similar to the various Endurance Pro University Edition models, the new Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship watches feature the IRONMAN logo within the sub-dial at the 6 o’clock location. With that in mind, rather than having the “Breitling” name on its 22mm-wide two-piece rubber strap, the new Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship models have the “IRONMAN” name in large letters on either side of their straps. Beyond that, the rest of the new Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship Edition watches remain largely unchanged, with a bidirectional solar compass bezel and a pulsometer scale printed along the contrasting ring that surrounds their anthracite-colored dials.
Meanwhile, the other new model joining the lineup is the Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship Edition, which is a premium rendition of the Endurance Pro that swaps out the Breitlight carbon composite case of the standard models for one that is made from brushed titanium. While the turquoise-colored Endurance Pro IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Edition is intended to be a tribute to the IRONMAN competition in Lahti, Finland (which takes place from August 26 to August 27, 2023), the titanium Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship Edition is dedicated to the men’s competition in Nice, France (which takes place on September 10, 2023) and the women’s competition in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (which is held on October 14, 2023).
In addition to having a brushed titanium case, the new Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship Edition also features a different colorway than the rest of the models from the collection. Similar to its turquoise-colored sibling, the new Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship Edition also features an anthracite dial, although bright blue takes the place of turquoise, and the yellow highlights on the hands have been swapped out for equivalents that are finished bright orange. The rest of the watch, including its dimensions, is very much in-line with its carbon composite siblings. While the turquoise Endurance Pro IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Edition features white text on its bezel, these same markings appear in black on the titanium Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship Edition to offer better contrast against the gray tones of the metal.
Powering both of the new Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship Edition watches is the brand’s Caliber 82 thermocompensated quartz movement, which features a 30-minute chronograph that is capable of measuring times down to 1/10th of a second, along with an automatically changing date display located at the 4:30 position. Based upon the core architecture of an ETA movement design, the battery-powered Breitling Cal. 82 offers standard chronograph functionality, although it also features a split-timing feature, which can be activated by pressing the lower pusher while the chronograph is still running. Additionally, just like nearly all of the brand’s contemporary movements, the Breitling Cal. 82 is a COSC-certified chronometer, which means that it is accurate to within approximately ten seconds per year.
The Endurance Pro collection is one of Breitling’s most affordable lines of watches, and while the two new IRONMAN World Championship Edition models cost slightly more than their standard-production siblings, they are still some of the least expensive Breitling watches currently available. The Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Edition with its carbon composite case is accompanied by an official retail price of $3,600 USD, while the titanium Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship model costs slightly more at $3,950 USD. Additionally, despite their differences, both of the new IRONMAN-themed models will be produced as limited editions of 250 pieces each, and this separates them from the previous IRONMAN editions of the Endurance Pro. Participating in an IRONMAN competition is one of the most physically demanding activities within the world of sports, and training for one can often take individuals multiple months or even years to properly prepare for a race. Participating in an IRONMAN competition is a truly unique experience, and these new Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN World Championship watches allow athletes to commemorate their accomplishment in the form of a watch that can be worn while they train for their next event. For more information on the Breitling Endurance Pro Ironman World Championship watches, please visit the brand’s website.
