Breitling’s Avenger Hurricane debuted last year in a massive 50-mm case made of the brand’s proprietary Breitlight metal. This year, in a bit of good news for those with smaller wrists and more modest tastes, Breitling is launching a version of the watch with a slightly less voluminous, but still substantial, 45-mm case, in two dial colors.

The new 45-mm Breitling Avenger Hurricane retains the Breitlight case of its larger predecessor, and also incorporates the 12-hour dial design of the most recent models launched earlier this year. Breitlight is a proprietary high-tech material that is 3.3 times lighter than titanium and 5.8 times lighter than steel but significantly harder than both. Breitling also touts the material’s exceptional resistance to scratches, traction, and corrosion; thermal stability; and antimagnetic and non-allergenic properties. Warmer to the touch than other metals, Breitlight is also notable for its mottled surface texture.  

The watch’s case is water-resistant to 100 meters (330 feet) and has a unidirectional rotating bezel with rider tabs. The screw-locked crown and chronograph push-pieces have a grooved checkerboard pattern for a non-slip grip, a feature aimed at pilots wearing gloves. The extra-thick sapphire crystal has been glareproofed on both sides and the hands and numerals ? the latter in a military-style stencil font ? are luminous.

 

Driving the watch’s timekeeping, date display, and 1/4-...