Featuring much of the same spec as the 46mm models above, the Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 watches come in a little smaller on the wrist at 44mm and don’t offer the patented bezel lock. Instead, we are offered additional dial colours and a single stunning bronze edition which comes with a matching bronze flange. Starting with the four stainless steel variants, these are available with a black dial, navy blue dial, turquoise dial or khaki green dial, all paired with a black ceramic inlay bezel other than the green dial which boasts a ceramic inset to match its centre. Each also features a white sloped flange, white Superluminova markers, 300m water resistant cases and a choice of rubber or steel straps. For the Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 Bronze watch, it’s breathtaking bronze case is engineered using a bronze with aluminium and silicum alloy for resistance to corrosion and improved susceptibility to staining. The bronze case then pairs with a black ceramic inlay bezel and a bronze coloured rehaut which blends naturally into the chocolate brown dial with gold-plated hardware. The Breitling bronze watch is also water resistant to 300 metres and like its steel counterparts is powered by the Breitling 17 automatic winding movement. It is available to order on a brown rubber strap.

As is typical for the “new” Breitling led by Georges Kern, this new redesign is a rather huge release of an entire family of new SuperOcean – comprising of a total of 16 novelties in 4 different sizes – 46mm, 44mm, 42mm and 36mm. The family also comprise of 3 case materials – steel, bronze and steel & gold. The entire collection uses the Breitling Caliber 17 as the automatic movement, which is basically an ETA caliber 2824-2 with a Breitling branded rotor. This caliber is said to be assembled and regulated by Breitling and is a Chronometer grade. The B17 has a power reserve of 38 hours.

In the 1960s, the emerging sport of scuba diving was all the rage, inspired by the adventures of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. In diving, timing was everything—measured almost exclusively in minutes—and Breitling wanted to not only provide the best tool watch for the task, but to give it a sense of style.

To create this early SuperOcean, Breitling’s designers eliminated any superfluous features that didn’t support the lifesaving needs of divers underwater. A high-contrast dial ring was introduced to the crucial minutes scale. Out went subtle indexes in favor of chunky luminescent batons for easy readability. And, in the boldest move of all, Breitling did away with the seconds hand, since divers … didn’t really need it. In its place came a revolutionary minutes-based chronograph, dubbed the “Slow Motion” because it took an hour to make a full rotation of the dial.

Today, Breitling launched a new Superocean that goes back to the Slow Motion’s simplified tool-watch philosophy. And while the collection has been revised to meet the needs of modern wearers (the seconds hand was, of course, a must), a keen eye will spot several design nods to the original.

The collection was unveiled to media, retailers, and influencers at the Wheels & Waves surf-and- motorcycle festival in Biarritz. The event followed a day of sea-themed activities with surprise visits from European surf and screen personalities. Present were surfers Andrew Cotton, Jérémy Florès, and Natxo Gonzalez, along with actors Guillaume Canet from France and Álvaro Morte from Spain.