By the 1960s, self-winding wristwatches had become increasingly dominant in the watch market. To step up their game in the fiercely competitive industry, the next race was to develop an automatic chronograph movement. A top-secret partnership was formed between Breitling, Buren, Heuer, Hamilton, together with movement makers Dubois-Depraz to work on the automatic chronograph caliber under the codename “Project 99”.

In 1969, their first automatic chronograph movement, caliber 11, was launched. It was an awe-inspiring mechanism in which the spring is wound by means of an off-centered oscillating weight. Unlike most self-winding movements, the winding rotor is not placed atop the movement. Instead, it is concealed under the first layer of the caliber. This invention enabled the development of a variety of chronograph wristwatches named CHRONO-MATIC, easily recognizable thanks to their left-placed crown - a unique feature due to the modular construction of the movement.

Fitted with the historically intriguing caliber 11, this rare vintage Breitling impeccably melds form and function. Accompanied with box and paper, the present lot would be a great addition to any collection.