Originally launched in 2020 as the brand’s new entry-level lineup, the Breitling Endurance Pro is a lightweight quartz chronograph that is specially designed for athletes. With a practical set of features that can be used for a variety of sports and fitness applications, the Endurance Pro represents a versatile horological canvas, and last year in 2023, Breitling partnered with four universities within the United States to create thematic versions of its Endurance Pro chronograph. While the original quartet of Endurance Pro University Edition watches consisted of models dedicated to Princeton University, the University of Alabama, the United States Naval Academy, and the University of Michigan, it was clear that this concept could be expanded to other schools, and for its latest release of 2024, Breitling has launched the Endurance Pro Stanford University Edition, which celebrates the West Coast’s most prestigious learning institution.
The modern Breitling Endurance Pro collection is loosely inspired by the brand’s Sprint chronograph from the 1970s, which was a watch for athletes that featured a pulsations scale and a lightweight resin case. That said, rather than being a vintage-inspired recreation of the original 1970s Spirit model, the Endurance Pro is a thoroughly contemporary timepiece, and in addition to featuring a rotating compass bezel and a thermo-compensated SuperQuartz movement, the Breitling Endurance Pro is crafted from Breitlight, which is a Swiss-made carbon composite material that weighs 3.3 times less than titanium and is 5.8 times lighter than stainless steel. Both inside and out, the Breitling Endurance Pro is definitively modern in its execution, although it still adheres to the fundamental concept of the brand’s 1970s Spirit sports watch, and it aims to be a lightweight and practical timekeeping companion that can easily integrate into a wide variety of different athletic activities.
Although Breitling created a limited-edition titanium Endurance Pro in collaboration with the famous Ironman Triathlon, the new Endurance Pro Stanford University Edition follows in the footsteps of the previous four University Edition models. Consequently, its Breitlght case adheres to the same dimensions, and it measures 44mm in diameter by 12.5mm thick, with a lug width of 22mm, an overall lug-to-lug profile of 52.49mm, and a total weight of 64.2 grams (including its strap). Similar to other University Edition models, the Endurance Pro Stanford University Edition features a flat anti-reflective sapphire crystal protecting its dial, while a screw-on Breitlight caseback engraved with the university’s logo closes up the reverse side of the watch, and its rubberized crown and start/stop pusher both receive red accents to match Stanford’s school colors. Additionally, while neither the crown nor chronograph pushers screw down to the case, the Endurance Pro still offers 100 meters of water resistance, which should be more than enough to withstand life as a multi-purpose sports watch.
Similar to the original four University Edition watches, the dial fitted to the new Breitling Endurance Pro Stanford University Edition follows the same fundamental layout as the core-collection models, with a trio of chronograph registers, a date window at 4:30, and a pulsations sale surrounding the periphery of its display. Although the dial itself is matte black, its various elements appear in Stanford’s signature colors of white and red, and while red-accented hands are a detail found on all five Breitling Endurance Pro University Edition models, the red highlights on the chronograph hands offer a particularly cohesive appearance when combined with Stanford’s school colors. Additionally, just like the other Endurance University Edition models, Stanford’s name is printed below the sub-dial on the right-hand side of its display, while the university’s logo appears within the running seconds register at 6 o’clock, and its hands and indexes both receive an application of Super-LumiNova to help aid with visibility in low-light conditions.
Powering the new Breitling Endurance Pro Stanford University Edition is the brand’s Caliber 82 SuperQuartz chronograph movement, which can also be found inside the various other Endurance Pro models. Based upon an ETA foundation and offering a battery life of approximately three to four years, the Breitling Cal. 82 features an integrated thermal sensor that allows it to compensate for fluctuations in temperature that can negatively affect the accuracy of a traditional movement, and this allows the Breitling Cal. 82 to be a COSC-certified chronometer with an accuracy rating of +/-10 seconds per year. Additionally, while the chronograph itself is only capable of tracking events up to 30 minutes in length, it offers a higher degree of precision than a traditional analog stopwatch, and the sub-dial at 2 o’clock is a dedicated 1/10th second counter that enables users to easily measure small intervals of elapsed time.
While Breitling updated the strap on its standard Endurance Pro models earlier this year, the new Endurance Pro Stanford University Edition is paired with the collection’s original style of rubber strap that prominently features the Breitling name across its outer surfaces. Tapering from 22mm at the case down to 20mm on the underside of the wrist, the strap offers a standard two-piece design, and it is completed by a signed tang-style buckle that is made from Breitlight. However, while the original four Endurance Pro University Edition watches receive rubber straps that match their respective colorways, the new Stanford University Edition is paired with a black rubber strap that affords it a greater degree of aesthetic versatility, and the only other Endurance Pro model currently available with a black strap is the Ironman Finisher version that celebrates individuals who have completed the legendary triathlon.
As Breitling’s least expensive model, the Endurance Pro is ideally suited to serve as the foundation for a university-inspired sports watch, and while school-branded timepieces have historically been rather inauspicious and budget-friendly creations, Breitling’s Endurance Pro University Edition collection offers an entirely more premium way for people to embrace their alma mater, while still existing at a price point that is significantly below the brand’s flagship models. With an official retail price of $3,700 USD, the Breitling Endurance Pro Stanford University Edition costs the exact same as what the brand currently charges for its other university-branded models, and while Stanford is now the fifth school to have a signature version of the Endurance Pro, I wouldn’t be surprised if Breitling continued to expand this highly popular collection to include other prestigious universitie known for their championship-winning sports teams. For more information on the Breitling Endurance Pro Stanford University Edition, please visit the brand’s website.