Welcome to the B-Hive: Breitling & Bucherer Release a Limited Edition Superocean Collection

Relaunched in the summer of 2022, Breitling’s clean-lined, pared-down Superocean collection struck a chord with enthusiasts and collectors for many reasons, with a lot of credit going to the brand for refreshing the popular dive watch with a slate of new colors as well as updated technical functions.
 

However, the brand also relaunched the Superocean collection at just the right time because this decade’s dress codes demand timepieces that can work in both casual and more formal situations.

Of course, while the new Superocean is a thoroughly modern watch, history still plays a significant role in its appeal. That’s why we’re intrigued by Breitling and Bucherer’s newly announced partnership!

For the first time, these two legendary Swiss brands, watchmaker Breitling and retailer Bucherer, have come together to produce a three-model limited-edition Superocean collection, with the initial inspiration for these eye-catching models is a tribute to the partnership between the two companies that began earlier this year. And what a celebration it is!

The collection is characterized by its striking use of colors – Bucherer blue for the exclusive Superocean 44 and the Superocean 36 models and black and burgundy for the  Superocean 42 –which lend each of these watches an elegance not often found in a tool watch.
 

Still, these watches are all built to meet the needs of divers. For instance, all three are equipped with a screw down crown, the COSC-certified, self-winding Breitling Calibre 17 movement with a power reserve of 38 hours, and come with a unidirectional rotating bezel with a scratch-proof ceramic inlay. Plus, they are water resistant to 300 meters, feature a high-contrast minute scale dial ring that lends these models extra reliability, and sport wide hands and indices that are coated with Super-LumiNova to make them easy to read.
 

Other than case size and dial color, the biggest differences between the three versions are that the 36mm model’s bezel has a white ceramic inlay and comes on a white rubber strap, while the 42mm and 44mm models have bezels with black ceramic inlays and come atop black rubber bands.
 

However, two aspects of the Superocean 42 set it apart from its stainless steel siblings: its case material (a combination of stainless steel and rose gold) and the color of its minute ring (burgundy red). But to understand why Breitling and Bucherer went in this direction for the 42mm, we need to travel back to the 1960s.

This Breitling x Bucherer collab was also inspired by a streamlined diver’s watch from 1965 that was stripped of all unnecessary functions, including the second hand and quickly became a fan favorite: the SuperOcean “Slow Motion.”
 

The Breitling’s Bucherer Exclusive Superocean models adapted many of the instantly recognizable elements of the original Slow Motion (but with the second hand restored).

Of these three new versions, the Bucherer Exclusive Breitling Superocean 42, with its black bezel, burgundy minute scale, black dial, rose gold case enhancements, and black rubber strap, best captures the spirit of the Slow Motion. One could say that Superocean 42 is the most sophisticated dive watch on the market.
 

Finally, perhaps it’s just us, but the 42’s burgundy minute scale dial paired with a black dial, ceramic inlay, and strap and the rose gold bezel and crown makes us think of the ultra-luxe crushed velvet used in high-end ladies’ evening wear from the 1960s.

Limited to 88 pieces each (in honor of Bucherer’s founding year of 1888), the three new Bucherer Exclusive Breitling Superocean models are available only at Bucherer and Tourneau boutiques – where, fun fact, you can also pick up a copy of Watchonista: Volume 05 – and are priced at $5,150 for the 36, $5,250 for the 44, and $7,400 for the 42.
 

For more information about the Breitling Bucherer Exclusive Superocean collection, visit either Bucherer’s website (for European buyers) or the Tourneau website (for North American enthusiasts). To find out which Bucherer and Tourneau stores are carrying Watchonista: Volume 05, use the “Magazine” tab above.