Breitling Superocean Automatic 42

Performance and style for all your water-based pursuits.

In the 1960s, the new sport of scuba diving was all the rage. For divers, timing was everything, and Breitling set out to give them the most clear-cut dive watch possible by eliminating any feature that didn’t support their lifesaving needs underwater. This pared-down watch was named the Slow Motion. What remained were clean lines, chunky luminescent indexes, squared-off hands and a high-contrast dial ring, all aimed at maximum legibility. Practical, yes. But what people really fell in love with was the look.

Breitling’s new Superocean harkens back to the simplified tool-watch philosophy of its 1970s forerunner, the SuperOcean Slow Motion. That classic dive watch was designed for maximum legibility underwater with broad luminescent baton indexes and “paddle” hands, as well as a high-contrast minute scale. Breitling’s new Superocean retraces the Slow Motion’s highly recognizable design while modernizing it with enhanced water resistance 300m (1000ft), a scratch-proof ceramic-inlayed bezel, a sporty rubber strap option, and, in the case of this 42mm version, a striking bronze case. The special bronze alloy used has an excellent resistance to corrosion but will still develop a subtle patina over time that makes the watch even more unique. 

Best of all, this is no longer strictly a dive watch—surf with it, swim with it, hit the beach bar with it, then wear it out to dinner. The Superocean perfectly balances the nostalgia of its heritage with a fresh new look.