Breitling Unveils NEW 2023 Top Time Deus & Triumph Watches

In this article, we’re going to show you the two latest Breitling releases from the Top Time range, made in collaboration with Deus Ex Machina and Triumph, whilst also covering the story of the brand’s collectable 1960s Top Time watch design. 

Breitling’s collaborations with Deus Ex Machina and Triumph

Swiss watchmaker Breitling’s Top Time watch is a chronograph with lashings of vintage flair. In the 1960s, it was considered an affordable entry point into the brand’s catalogue but in 2020 was revived with a slew of new models dedicated to 1960s muscle cars. The vintage watches from this collection are some of the most sought-after in the industry, yet the brand’s younger iterations prove just as popular. The chronograph was first released in 1964 and continued in production until the mid-1970s. Initially, the chronograph was only offered in a bi-compax layout, but watches with three sub-counters began entering the market towards the late 1960s – both designs of which were offered in a panda or reverse panda design. In 2020, the famous two-counter Zorro dial was brought back, followed by chronographs inspired by 1960s muscle cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, and Shelby Cobra. Motorcycle enthusiasts were also treated to Top Time watches like the Triumph, designed in collaboration with the motorcycle manufacturer, as well as a watch designed in partnership with Australian custom motorcycle and surfboard producer Deus ex Machina.

So far, there have been two variants of the Breitling Top Time produced in collaboration with Deux ex Machina.  The first was the A233101A1A1X1 produced in 2021 with a 41mm stainless steel case with a cream-coloured dial and classic panda “squircle” counters. It featured vibrant red and orange accents on the hands for an emphatically sporty touch, as well as the Deus brand motto, "In Benzin Veritas" printed on a black tachymetric scale. On the back? A specially engraved image of a vintage biker and motorcycle. A perforated rally strap in leather completed the design perfectly. The second model was the reference A233112A1A1X1, produced in 2022 – another 41mm stainless steel model but one that swapped out the black-filled chronograph sub-counters with a bright blue colour to match the tachymeter scale surrounding the edge of the dial. Once again, vivid shots of red and orange punctuate the design, whilst a perforated brown leather strap was chosen to enhance a masculine and sporty feel on the wrist.

In that same vein, Breitling has also collaborated with the eponymous English motorcycle manufacturer, Triumph to create an equally stylish watch for motorcycle fans. The Breitling Top Time Triumph watch was released in 2022 and its colour palette was a nod to the brand’s much earlier 1951 Triumph 6T and Breitling Top Time ref. 815, released in the 1970s. It featured an ice blue dial with black-filled sub-counters in Breitling’s famous Zorro dial design. The back of this watch is engraved with a sketch of a Triumph motorbike's parallel-twin engine.

Before now, the Breitling Top Time Deus watches and the Top Time Triumph watch have all been powered by the Breitling calibre B23, based on the ETA Valjoux 7753. The difference with the new models is that they are now powered by an in-house developed movement - the Breitling Manufacture B01 Calibre. Each model also comes on a choice of a black leather band or a stainless steel mesh bracelet with a butterfly clasp.

The new Breitling Top Time Deus watch for 2023

The new Breitling Top Time Deus watch will appeal to surfers, bikers, boarders and backpackers with its innovative black, white and red design that conveys Deus Ex Machina’s key colours. Encouraging the wearer to embrace the freedom to explore, it is fitted with a tri-compax arrangement of chronograph counters – each one filled with a silver colour and set against a classic black background. The Deus emblem can be seen below the Breitling name at the top of the dial, whilst striking red and orange tachymetric details (a colour combination that has been used before) compliment the bright red hue of the watch’s central chronograph second hand. The sub-dials are “squircle” in shape (neither square nor circle) and pair nicely with the lightning bolt-inspired chronograph hand. Together, these elements all create a look reminiscent of a vintage dashboard gauge. For the first time, the Tip Time Deus is fitted with the in-house B01 movement, which performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and provides a power reserve of 70 hours. The company motto is emblazoned onto the surface of the dial, whilst this time, a black perforated leather strap with contrast stitching down the edges completes its vintage dashboard gauge-inspired chronograph design. This time the back of the case is open, with a sapphire crystal glass exhibition window displaying the Deus logo in its characteristic orange-red colour.

The new Breitling Top Time Triumph watch

Very similar in design to the previous Top Time Triumph watch, this new model features the same ice blue panda design in the famous Zorro layout and is once again inspired by the 1960s café-racer culture. The model measures a diameter of 41mm with a sapphire back and has been crafted from stainless steel. The rare blue colour of the dial is perfectly matched to the vintage original that it takes its inspiration from and features the black-filled “squircle” sub-counters at 3 and 9 o’clock offering 30-minute and small second functions. Stick indexes around the hour track keep the watch looking refined and classic, whilst the tachymeter scale around the edge is executed in black, enabling the scale to stand out with contrast. As mentioned, both new Top Time watches are fitted with the in-house B01 movement, which was first sent off for COSC testing by Breitling in 2006. The B01 is a column-wheel chronograph that incorporates 47 jewels and a bimetallic automatic rotor into its design. The new Top Time Triumph watch by Breitling is completed on the same black perforated leather band with a stainless steel buckle.

If you’d like more information on the new Breitling Top Time Deus and Triumph watches for 2023, you can call and speak to our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453.