Breitling Montbrilliant Olympus

What if we told you there was a complicated calendar watch to be had well under $10,000? How about under $5,000?

Hear us out: The Breitling Montbrilliant Olympus — and the more recent Super Chronomat — uses a little-known complication that the brand refers to as a ‘four-year calendar.’ Sitting between an annual calendar and a perpetual calendar in terms of sophistication, a four-year calendar needs adjusting once every leap year — or once every 1,461 days. (Oh, and Breitling combines it with a triple-register chronograph, just for kicks.) Pretty neat, if you ask us!

Normally, this level of sophistication in a movement would cost you big-time moolah. Not so in the case of this Montbrilliant Olympus from the 2010s: Based on the famed Navitimer, it’s an incredible amount of watch for the money, as we’ll happily explain:

Housed in a 42mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, dual pump pushers, and a beaded bezel, it features a silver multi-tone dial with multiple timing scales, luminous ‘Arabic’ indices, a matching ‘dauphine’ handset, a triple-register chronograph, and a four-year calendar with day, date, month, and moonphase displays.

Powered by the automatic Breitling Calibre 19 based on the venerable ETA 2892-A2, the Montbrilliant Olympus features a solid caseback depicting the first Breitling manufacture on Montbrilliant Street in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Paired to a stainless steel multi-link bracelet with a signed, locking clasp, it’s simply a jaw-dropping value play, if you ask us. 

We know you’ll love it!

Breitling, one of the most illustrious names in the annals of the “tool watch,” was founded by Léon Breitling in 1892. And though the firm is no longer operated by its namesake family, it still produces some of the world’s best pilot’s watches, many of which now feature in-house movements.

The company first started manufacturing wrist chronographs as early as the 1930s. In 1936 they became an official supplier to military forces of the United Kingdom and Canada. While perhaps best known for the Navitimer and Chronomat lines — which were used heavily by pilots of many nations — Breitling also produced scores of other chronograph models that merit consideration, such as the more affordable Top Time and Premier. Dive watches, such as the Super Ocean, are also part of the company’s offerings.

The late 1970s was a turbulent time for the Swiss watch industry, and many storied houses were swept away by the Quartz Crisis. By 1978, Breitling was in trouble due to the illness of its leader, Willy Breitling, and the steep decline in sales that had cut through the entire industry. Unable to keep operations going, the company was liquidated, and parts, toolings and naming rights were sold off.
Between 1979 and 2017, Breitling continued under the ownership of the Schneider family. In 2017 an 80% stake in the firm was sold to a British private equity firm, with the remaining 20% sold in 2018. In 2019, the company released the caliber B01, an in-house, automatic chronograph movement that’s since found its way into the Chronomat and Navitimer collections, bringing the tale of this famed manufacturer full circle.

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.