The favourite watch brand of airline pilots the world over, Breitling, have just launched a new Transocean series.
With the launch of the Navitimer in 1952, Breitling rapidly established itself as the cult watch among pilots and other devotees of aviation.
The brand supplied on-board chronographs for the propeller planes and subsequently the jet planes of numerous aircraft manufacturers and airlines, at one point becoming known as “official supplier to world aviation”.
In 1958, Breitling launched a new model called Transocean.
“Men who have faith in the mighty liners of the sky will trust the Transocean, for behind every Breitling wristwatch lies the experience of aviation precision” – ran the windy slogan.
The Transocean was designed to be an elegant yet high-performance shock-resistant, anti-magnetic and watertight model distinguished by its precise chronometer-certified self-winding movement. It caught on with pilots during the boom years in transatlantic travel.
The new Transocean
Now Breitling have been guilty of producing some crass and often downright ugly clunkers in their time, not least with the analogue/digital models such as the Emergency watch and the Aerospace series, but with the new Transocean they have managed to keep the lines elegant and clean and at the same time reminiscent of the classic chronographs of the 1950s and 1960s.
This new Transocean is a beefed up 60’s lookalike. And as someone wrote on the The Watch Forum, ‘why can’t all Breitlings be this subtle and classy?‘
The 43mm case has a slender bezel with a beveled profile and streamlined lugs which moulds to the wrist.
The round push pieces lend a subtle vintage touch, while the large “baton” type hands and crisp dial features make it easily legible.
At the heart of the new Transocean is the Calibre 01, a high-performance self-winding chronograph movement developed and produced within the Breitling workshop and chronometer certified.
Like all Breitling’s, the new Transocean is 100% Swiss made.
Limited edition
To celebrate the launch, Breitling are releasing the Transocean Chronograph Limited Edition; 2,000 in steel and 200 in red gold, equipped with a polished case and bezel and bearing the individual number engraved on the case middle.
These limited editions are available with two dial variations – Mercury Silver or Black – and come on a choice of leather or crocodile leather straps, or a woven steel bracelet.
The limited-edition model is water-resistant to 100 meters (330 ft) with a transparent back to reveal the chronograph calibre.
The steel edition is expected to retail at around US$6700, the gold will of course be considerably more.
