This Limited-Edition Breitling Salutes Canadian Military History 

As a brand whose heritage is inextricably linked to aviation, Breitling is a reliable source of unusual collabs that will appeal to anyone with a passion for flight. Recent highlights have included a Boeing 747-themed Navitimer released to mark the end of the famed passenger aircraft’s production run, and a collection of Super AVI chronographs dedicated to some of the most famous planes of WWII. The Swiss watchmaker’s newest release, the Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Royal Canadian Air Force Limited Edition, is cut from the same cloth as these and will resonate with anyone with a fondness for Canadian military history or a personal link to the Royal Canadian Air Force. 

Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Royal Canadian Air Force Limited Edition 1-2025

As its name suggests, this 50-piece limited-edition was created in honour of the RCAF, which marked its 100th anniversary in April of 2024. Featuring a white dial with contrasting black subdials and a 44mm stainless steel case with a matching bracelet, this Avenger is distinguished by a unique Royal Blue subdial at 9 o’clock featuring the RCAF logo (called a “roundel” in military jargon). Its reverse is also unique, with the RCAF Centennial Logo printed on the sapphire glass and ONE OF 50 engraved into the steel case back.

Breitling’s legacy of aviation watchmaking dates back to the 1930s when Willy Breitling, the third generation of the family to helm the company, formed the HUIT Aviation Department, which was dedicated to creating precision aircraft instruments and pilots’ chronographs. This would lead to many innovations in the worlds of military and civil aviation, including — perhaps most famously — the creation of the Navitimer for the US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in 1952. 

The 1930s was also a pivotal time for the advancement of aviation technology and Canada’s budding air force, which started the decade with a few open-cockpit Armstrong Whitworth Siskins and finished it as an important supplier of both aircraft and pilots to the Allied war effort. Throughout the Second World War, Canadian pilots distinguished themselves in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres, assisting in antisubmarine efforts and playing an important role in the Battle of Britain, the first major German defeat of the war. Canada also played an important role as a training ground for British pilots and as a manufacturer of the famed Lancaster Bomber, which was used by the British Royal Air Force. 

Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Royal Canadian Air Force Limited Edition

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Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Royal Canadian Air Force Limited Edition

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It also kickstarted Canada’s aerospace industry, which in turn allowed companies like de Havilland, Bombardier, and Avro — makers of the ill-fated Avro Arrow — to become respected names in the aviation world. For the 50 enthusiasts lucky enough to snag a Breitling Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 Royal Canadian Air Force Limited Edition, wearing it will be a testament to this heritage, and the many ways Canadian pilots, engineers, crew members, and countless others have helped to shape the history of the skies for the last 100 years.

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