The Superocean collection was unveiled in 1957, which means it celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2017. Humans approaching their sixtieth birthday are generally starting to think about retirement. Not so for the watch collection, which continues to innovate, releasing new models that combine cutting-edge technology with timeless aesthetics. To celebrate the anniversary, Breitling gave this iconic watch a redesign, while retaining its original spirit.
In 2017, the Superocean Héritage II was released. It’s available in several colourways and comes in two case sizes, 42 or 46 mm. Some versions also have a chronograph. At Baselworld 2018 the family grew still further, with the addition of the Superocean Héritage II B01 Chronograph 44, the Superocean Héritage II Chronograph 44 and the Superocean Héritage II B20 Automatic 44.
In 2018 Breitling joined forces with the Ocean Conservancy, an NGO whose mission is to raise awareness of the problem of marine trash, and to motivate people to take action to clean up the seas. At the same time, Breitling signed a partnership with Outerknown, a sustainable clothing brand committed to environmental protection and conservation, co-founded by... Kelly Slater! Which is something of a coincidence, since the American surfer is a member of Breitling’s Surfer Squad. The ocean is a big part of his life, and protecting it is something he feels very strongly about. “As strange as it sounds, the beach is, in effect, my office, so I am confronted with pollution on a daily basis,” he explains.
The partnership between the watch brand and the clothing retailer has resulted in a meticulously designed timepiece. For the first time in its history, Breitling is offering a watch with a strap made out of recycled materials. The NATO strap is made from ECONYL®, a nylon thread manufactured from fishing nets, and the pattern on the strap is inspired by a fabric made by Outerknown. Breitling’s environmental commitment even extends to the packaging, which is made from 100% recycled materials.
It will come as no surprise that one colour option for the Superocean Héritage II Chronograph 44 Outerknown is blue, in reference to the seas and to Planet Earth, often called the “blue planet”. The watch’s blue dial shimmers like the ocean depths. And while SuperLuminova pigments generally come in variations of green, here, the luminescent spots at the top of the bezel at 12 o’clock and on the hour and minutes hands emit a blue glow that matches the dial and the dark blue taffeta strap.
The 44 mm version, however, is all black, from the sombre DLC steel case and its unidirectional ceramic bezel to the nickel-plated dial markers and the “B” of the Breitling logo – perhaps in reference to the ocean bottom, where no light reaches.
The markers and figures around the 30-minute and 12-hour counters, however, are picked out in white, affording optimal readability underwater. For, let us not forget, this watch was originally designed to meet the needs of professional divers.
The hour, minute, second, date, day and chronograph functions are driven by the Breitling 13 calibre, an automatic movement that beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph, and has a power reserve of 48 hours. As a reminder of the collaboration with Outerknown, the brand logo, as well as being embroidered onto the strap, is also engraved on the caseback.
This majestic diving watch, which celebrates the close connections between Breitling, Outerknown and the oceans, can be purchased for CHF 6,650.
