Lightness is the order of the day at BaselWorld 2016 and, most unusually, it is pilot’s watch heavyweight Breitling leading the way. So, the Breitling Avenger Huricane – at a bold 50mm – absolutely looks the part of the muscle watch that fans of the brand love but there is more here than meets the eye. When we heard about a 50mm behemoth lurking about at Breitling, we had to have a look at what might have been a discordant note at the fair. Instead, we find that the privately-owned watchmaker is offering lightweight strength, much like a 21st century sports car, in the way of a very special alloy known only as Breitlight.

Some 3.3 times lighter than titanium and 5.8 times lighter than steel, this new material has been pioneered and patented by the watchmaker’s material research team. As a result, the watch actually feels quite comfortable on the wrist (it will not work with cufflinks orsit well under your shirt sleeve). According to Breitling, the new material offers exceptional resistance to scratching and corrosion; it is also anti-magnetic and hypoallergenic. At the presentation, we were told that carbon has been deployed liberally in the case construction and that Breitlight may not strictly speaking be a metal at all ( the press kit also calls it “warmer than metal”). All of this makes for a very practical watch, an impression strengthened by the rubber strap with black military textile fiber on exterior. The movement is the automatic in-house calibre B12.

Specs

• Dimensions: 50mm
• Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph
• Power Reserve: 70 hours
• Movement: B12, automatic
• Water Resistance: 100 meters
• Material: Breitlight
• Strap: Rubber and fabric