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Breitling Avenger II Seawolf 45mm Stainless Steel
Ref. A17331101B2A1
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Stepping up in Breitling's range
The Seawolf sits at the extreme end of Breitling's Avenger line, built around a 3000-metre rating that places it among a very small number of production watches capable of supporting saturation diving operations. That use case explains the helium escape valve set into the case side — as a diver decompresses over hours or days, the valve bleeds off helium that would otherwise force the crystal out. It is a functional detail, not a decorative one. At 45mm across and 18.39mm thick, this is not a watch that understates itself. The 242-gram bracelet weight means it sits on the wrist with immediate authority, and the lug-to-lug of 55.6mm suits a larger wrist well. The Volcano Black dial uses aviation-style Arabic numerals rather than the indices more common on dress divers, which gives it a directional, almost instrument-like legibility at low light. The unidirectional rotating bezel is sized to operate with gloved hands. The Calibre 17 inside is an ETA 2824-2 base movement carrying COSC certification — the same architecture found across professional toolwatch production, valued here because it is robust, consistent over long service intervals, and straightforward for any competent watchmaker to work on wherever the owner happens to be.
- Reference
- A17331101B2A1
- Brand
- Breitling
- Collection
- Avenger
- Case size
- 45mm
- Case thickness
- 18.39mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA 2824
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 3000m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 55.6mm
- Power reserve
- 38 hours
Learn more about Breitling
Léon Breitling founded a workshop in Saint-Imier in 1884 specialising in chronographs and precision counters for industrial, scientific, and sporting use — deliberately narrow ground at a time when most makers built everything.
The family's technical contribution is the chronograph as we use it. Gaston Breitling introduced a wrist chronograph with a dedicated pusher separate from the crown in 1915, unpicking the start-stop-reset sequence from the winding mechanism. Willy Breitling added the second pusher in 1934, separating reset from stop and completing the two-pusher layout every chronograph has used since.
Aviation followed naturally. The Chronomat arrived in 1942 with a rotating slide rule bezel, and the Navitimer in 1952 refined the idea into a circular flight computer capable of fuel burn, climb rate, and unit conversion. It became the semi-official watch of pilots and remains the brand's signature.
Breitling was among the consortium — with Heuer, Hamilton, and Dubois Dépraz — racing Zenith and Seiko to the first automatic chronograph in 1969.
The company faltered badly in the quartz crisis and stopped trading in 1979. Ernest Schneider bought the name and rebuilt it around aviation and oversized cases. A change of ownership in 2017 brought Georges Kern and a deliberate softening toward slimmer, more archival designs.
- 1884
- Léon Breitling opens his chronograph workshop.
- 1915
- The first chronograph pusher independent of the crown.
- 1934
- The two-pusher chronograph layout is completed.
- 1952
- The Navitimer introduces the aviation slide rule.
- 1979
- The original company closes; Ernest Schneider revives the name.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (3,382), Back in Stock (2,749), Automatic Watches (1,742), Watches 44mm and Over (1,006), Sports Watches (830) and Dive Watches (590).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 3000m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Breitling's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 45mm is a large watch with real presence
- 18.39mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
- 38-hour reserve means winding it after a day off
Breitling Avenger II Seawolf alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | A17331101B2A1 | M25600TB-0001 | 140077904150 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,550 | £3,250 | £2,450 |
| Case size | 45mm | 42mm | 43.5mm |
| Water resistance | 3000m | 500m | 300m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Titanium bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | 70 hours | 120 hours |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 3000m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 38 hours fully wound — so it will usually stop if you leave it off overnight.
What size strap does it take?
22mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 55.6mm, which suits wrists from roughly 18.5cm (7¼ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb at £2,550, pre-owned. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.
Is this available new?
Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as pre-owned only, at £2,550 from Mappin & Webb. A pre-owned watch has been worn, and is normally sold under the retailer’s own warranty rather than the manufacturer’s.
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