Jewellery & Watch News
The new Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 42, 36 and 44 models arrive in a tantalising rainbow colour palette, capturing the charm and sophistication of the parred back “Slow Motion” SuperOcean watch of the 1960s.
Are you preparing for a season of outdoorsy, beach-type pursuits? You need the new colourful and summer-ready Breitling SuperOcean Automatic watch on your wrist. Even better, get the matching lady’s version and rock the surfer vibe along the coast with your partner this summer.
The History of the Breitling SuperOcean “Slow Motion”
It was all the rage in the 1960s. The scuba diving scene was emerging and surfing was a way of life. New coastlines were explored as enthusiasts living for the thrill of the water went in search of new undiscovered waves. Yes, new wave was found. Surfers designed their own boards and the culture on the coastline became a lifestyle choice. A movement in fact. Surfing was all about “hotdogging” a wave – a ride, glide and slide approach (since the shortboard hadn’t yet been invented). Oh, and wearing a watch!
At the time, Breitling had already launched its first dive watch. Nautical leisure activities and aquatic sports were screaming for a sporty timepiece, though. It was this demand that led Breitling to release two important watches in 1957. One was a simple three-hander, intended for the tastes of gentlemen wanting to look stylish on the beach. The other was a chronograph for divers who needed a tool for reliability and performance out on the water. They both went by the name of the SuperOcean.
200-meter water resistance meant that the SuperOcean could be enjoyed for much more than just a quick dip in the sea. They also had legible dials with circular and triangular hour markers that were oversized for guaranteeing readability in all situations. The rotatable bezel had a concave look that made it particularly stylish without compromising on grip. The 39mm case also had a slim, ergonomically formed profile with elongated lugs that enabled it to hug the contours of the wrist better. But in the mid-1960s, Breitling decided to re-think the design of the SuperOcean. The concept of the “Slow Motion” watch was birthed from an idea of using the main chronograph hand as an indicator for diving duration.
To achieve this, master craftsmen at Breitling had to create a unique calibre. The chronograph hand made a complete revelation each hour, instead of every 60 seconds, allowing the diver to track his descent. To counteract the confusion of this slow-moving hand, and to enable the diver to check that the watch was running at a glance, Breitling equipped the watch with a running indicator at 6 o’clock, which appeared yellow when the chronograph hand was activated. Eventually, the manual-wound movement of the “Slow Motion” watch was replaced with an automatic one in 1969, and Breitling launched a new patented rotating bezel.
The New Rainbow Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 42 and 36 Watches
The 42mm and 36mm sizes of the new Superocean Automatic Rainbow watches make for a beautiful matching “his and hers” duo. They each feature an unmissable hour track with colours that transition from yellows, greens and blues on the first half of the dial, to purples, reds and oranges on the second half. These features are sharp, crisp, and coated with lots of Super-LumiNova material to help promote clarity during the night or in dark conditions. Protecting the entire surface of the dial is a sapphire crystal glass front with anti-reflective and scratch-resistant properties. The square minute hand draws attention towards the centre of the dial, where only the essential design elements feature; a simple orange baton hour hand, for example, and a blue-pipped lollipop second hand. The dials of all four variants of the 42mm version are black and are framed by a matching black smooth and glossy unidirectional rotating bezel. The feature moves in a counter-clockwise direction to ensure accuracy and safety is preserved whilst exploring depths down to 200 meters.
What brings most impact to the wrist, however, is the vividly coloured rubber bands of the Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 42 watches. They come in options of orange, yellow, blue and turquoise – each one fastening with a steel folding clasp engraved with the Breitling name. The models are all powered by the Calibre 17, which offers a power reserve of 38 hours once fully wound and a performance rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
The lady’s Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 36 watch follows in the same design language as the larger 42mm models. But this one features a dramatic white dial and a matching white ceramic bezel, this time framed in an 18ct rose gold trim. The white rubber strap gives this watch a clean and contemporary style, as does the display, allowing the colours of the rainbow to pop. Suffice to say, these new Breitling SuperOcean watches are reliable, eye-catching and capture the ‘60s surfer style to boot.
The Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 44
As well as the colourful rainbow versions of the 42 and 36mm Breitling SuperOcean Automatic watches, the Swiss maison reveals a new 44mm model with a turquoise dial and black ceramic bezel. It shares the same dial layout as the 42 and 36mm options, as well as a closed caseback concealing the Calibre 17 behind it. The watch also comes in three strap options; a matching turquoise rubber band, a classic black rubber strap, or a stainless steel bracelet with a Breitling-engraved folding clasp.
Order the New Colourful Breitling SuperOcean Automatic Watches Now
The new Breitling SuperOcean Automatic Rainbow (and turquoise) watches are now available to order with us here at C W Sellors. For more information on any of the models we’ve featured in this article, give us a call and speak to a member of our sales team today on 01335 216004 or ask us a question via email on sales@cwsellors.com
