Keen to get ahead of the horological maelstrom that is ‘Watches & Wonders’ (essentially the luxury watch’s industry once-a-year answer to CES) Breitling has decided to throw the whole kitchen sink at enthusiasts – launching not one, but 10 new releases earlier this week.
Split between the brand’s historic Premier (6 new additions) and muscle car-themed Top Time collections (4 new additions), these watches reinforce Breitling’s habitual dominance in the sports chronograph arena – especially as the latter now includes an all-new reference, inspired by the 1950s Ford Thunderbird.
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Defined by bold red accents overlaid on a white-dial/tachymetre combo, this new addition to the Top Time collection’s classic car-themed vertical (which also pays tribute to the Shelby Cobra and Chevrolet Corvette) can be distinguished by its Thunderbird logo – positioned at 12 o’clock.
The Thunderbird’s laidback, touring-focused heritage comes across effectively in this Top Time: realised through a combination of open, tone-on-tone design and sparing (but effective) use of primary colour. Ergo: the faint teal accents used to highlight the running seconds versus the stronger red hues for denoting the chronograph functions.
Tangential to the new Classic Car ‘Top Time’ models, Breitling is also adding 6 variations to its best-selling Premier line – a stalwart of the brand, historically meant to combine classical watchmaking with a sporty edge.
These half-dozen new chronographs, straddling the line between horological statement and everyday wearer, are all fitted with the Calibre 01 in-house movement (the primary advantage being a thinner profile in-case and smaller oscillating mass).
Of the new pieces, with the exception of the $55,000+ pink gold reference (because that frankly must be in its own category), we’re most taken with the salmon, green, and blue dial treatments.
Despite the presence of numerous mid-century design cues – the smooth bezel, rectangle-shaped pushers, bi-compax layout and applied numerals – these Premier releases all feel pretty modern, helped along by an impactful 42mm case and the sort of contemporary performance one can expect from Breitling.
All of the new Top Time and Premier chronographs are now available to purchase, direct to your doorstep, online.
