The spring of 2020 has been an onerous time for many people out there, dreaming of enjoying the great outdoors as they did in previous years. Just in time, Breitling have released their 2020 novelties, which give us a taste (in horological form) of the fresh air, clear waters and blue skies that we desperately crave right now.
Straight in with a blast of nostalgia is the new Breitling Superocean Heritage ‘57 Capsule Collection, featuring four timepieces that draw directly upon the laid-back mid-century coastal vibe. The Superocean was launched in 1957, hence the name of the capsule collection. The Capsule Collection concept Breitling’s strategy to explore mini-narratives inspired by culture and heritage. They will be produced only for a short time, making these a limited edition, although with no fixed final quantity.
The new Superocean timepieces reference the earliest Superocean models, with their concave bezels and phi hour markers at each dial quarter. Steel models come in black and blue dial options, whilst a two-tone model channels pure vintage glory with bronze-brown dial accents. One particularly enjoyable model is limited to 250 pieces, and features rainbow-hued hour markers. You can almost smell the sea breeze, tinged with the slightest hint of free-spirited patchouli.
The Navitimer continues its conquest of the feminine wrist with new 35mm models inhabited by the self-winding Breitling Cal. 17. Sport chic has never looked so good, with the beaded bezel of the new models translating the scalloped profile of the classic Navitimer into a more polished design.
Answering the need for versatility in a woman’s habillage, the Navitimer Automatic 35 features dial options of blue, silver opaline, salmon, and white mother of pearl. The models with mother-of-pearl dials bring an additional level of elegance with diamond-set hour markers and multi-link bracelets. These are offered in steel, steel and gold, and full gold versions. The emblematic Navitimer slide rule is present in each of the new Navitimer Automatic 35 timepieces — beauty and brains, all in one package.
The Breitling Chronomat is perhaps the most recognisable modern Breitling watch, introduced during that period of bombast and power dressing — the 1980s. The pronounced curves and prominent bezel “tabs” of the original 1984 Chronomat have been streamlined for 21st-century tastes, but the imposing spirit of the early Chronomat remains.
Breitling’s technical reputation revolves around their in-house chronograph cal. B01, which established them as a fully integrated manufacture and marked a watershed in Breitling history. They are one of the top producers of chronometer-certified timepieces in the industry, and the new Chronomat models represent an icon of the brand, fitted with their most historically significant movement — the essence of modern Breitling.
