Breitling’s legendary sea watch is reinvented in the new Breitling Superocean 2022 watch collection as it debuts a pared-down aesthetic reminiscent of the original Superocean Slow Motion from the 1960’s and 70’s. The release offers an abundance of choice, with four case sizes (46mm, 44mm, 42mm and 36mm), three case metals and two strap options to choose from.
The history of the Breitling Superocean 46mm began in the 1950’s when the demand for high-performance dive watches was at an all time high. In 1957, the Swiss watch manufacturer launched two diving watches, a time-only piece and a chronograph, both named the Breitling Superocean. Their 200m water resistant cases, concave bezels and oversized markers offered everything professional and amateur divers needed for underwater exploration. By the mid 1960’s, Willy Breitling decided he wanted to improve the performance of the Superocean, focusing on the easy and safe reading of diving duration. The minute recorder is typically small for effortless reading under the water and so instead, Breitling developed a calibre where the main chronograph hand would indicate the elapsed dive time. Housing this calibre was the Breitling Superocean Slow Motion watch. With its instantly legible dial, thick minutes track and ratcheted bezel, it became an essential tool for divers.
It is the original Breitling Superocean Slow Motion watch that inspires the new 2022 collection launched today. It revives the statement minutes track and thin ceramic bezel inlay complemented by a new metal rehaut and similar shaped hands and indexes for easy legibility. Adding to the retro aesthetic is several modern features including a bright palette of colour found on the dials, a choice of three case metals and a newly designed black rubber strap with two-toned texture. There’s also the introduction of a new folding buckle with micro-adjustment and a special Breitling Superocean 2022 Limited Edition designed in collaboration with brand ambassador Kelly Slater. To help you find which new Breitling Superocean watch is for you, here’s a full run down of the 2022 collection…
Starting the line-up of Breitling Superocean 2022 watches is a duo of 46mm models. These are both engineered from stainless steel and debut the thin ceramic bezel inlay in a choice of black or blue, both outlined with by a metal rehaut and paired with a large sloping white flange which displays the minute scale. At the centre, a matching black or blue dial makes room for distinctive box-shaped indexes and large hands, the minute hand in particular paying homage to the original Superocean Slow Motion with a square-shaped lollipop tip. Meanwhile the seconds hand is coloured in contrasting red.
The Breitling Superocean Automatic 46 watches are the only pair in the entire new collection to feature a patented Breitling bezel lock which you can see on the left hand side of the case. This is a brand new technology from the Swiss brand and ensures the bezel is firmly secured in place so you can maintain accurate time of your dive. The cases also feature screw in case backs, screw down crowns, sapphire crystal glass and a 300 metre water resistance. Powering the new Breitling Superocean 2022 watches in 46mm is the Breitling 17 calibre which is automatic winding, COSC-certified and promises a power reserve of 42 hours.