Unveiling the new Breitling Top Time B01 Triumph Watch
Wednesday - 21 June 2023
Breitling’s new Top Time Triumph watch follows in the footsteps of its 2022 variant, with a striking ice blue dial and black-filled “squircle” sub-counters but now operates under the superior engineering of the in-house Breitling 01 movement.
During the 1960s and onwards, Breitling’s Top Time chronograph watches were an affordable option compared to its more expensive Navitimer and Chronomat models. They were designed for young men but were useful for racers and professional pilots. The entry-level watches were first launched in 1964 and were characterised by a bold yet elegant dial layout. Sean Connery, who played Agent 007 in the James Bond films was seen with a modified version of the Top Time watch on his wrist during the filming of “Thunderball”, whilst comedian Sid James also sported the Top Time watch in the 1973 “Carry on Girls” film. These are just a couple of examples of how celebrities from the entertainment and sports industry shaped the success of the Breitling Top Time watch over the years, etching its name into a long list of memorable luxury watches that have become a part of pop culture.
Ever since Willy Breitling, grandson of company founder Leon Breitling, developed the aircraft chronograph, the company has been enjoying a strong relationship with aviation and began supplying to the Royal Air Force not long after. Years after the introduction of the automatic chronograph, Breitling continued to make Top Time watches due to their high demand and unquestionable popularity. The production run for the watch finally ended in the 1970s until Breitling recently breathed new life into the model in 2020. The entire range is named after classic sportscars like the Chevrolet Corvette or the famous Mustang and the Thunderbird. Now, the series expands further to accommodate two more releases for 2023 – the Breitling Top Time B01 Deus, which we covered in more detail here and the Breitling Top Time B01 Triumph. Whilst the Top Time Deus watch is the third model to be released in collaboration with the Australian surf and motorcycle outfitter, Deus Ex Machina, the Breitling Top Time Triumph honours an original colour palette used for the Breitling Top Time ref. 815, which was released in the 1970s in a striking ice blue colour.
The new Breitling Top Time Triumph watch for 2023
The new 2023 Top Time releases by Breitling each offer a little something different, though both pay homage to a collection inspired by muscle cars of the 1960s. Their vintage dashboard gauge-inspired designs are now fitted with the brand’s in-house B01 automatic movement and come with a sapphire-backed case to show off the performance of the engine at work. The watches also have a more refined case executed with brushed and polished finishes that define the angles of the case better.
The new Breitling Top Time Triumph watch measures a 41mm diameter and has been crafted from stainless steel with a sapphire crystal glass top that is both scratch resistant and glare-free. The sapphire glass helps prevent any damage incurred to the dial from dust, light, and heat moisture. The watch is also 100-meter water resistant and comes on a choice of a black perforated leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp, or a more vintage-inspired Milanese-style stainless steel bracelet that secures to the underside of the wrist with a butterfly clasp engraved with the Breitling logo.
Perfectly legible, the rare ice blue colour of the new Top Time Triumph watch for 2023 is a near-on perfect match to the vintage watch from which it takes its inspiration. The squircle-shaped sub-counters offering 30-minute and small second functions are filled with a rich black colour that matches the tachymeter scale surrounding the edge of the dial. The display also features refined stick hour markers and straight hour and minute hands that have been treated with a layer of luminous material, as well as a central chronograph hand and the Triumph logo in black above the 6 o’clock location. This famous Zorro dial is part of the allure of the Top Time watch collection and is sure to appeal to experienced collectors as well as modern watch wearers looking for a vintage-inspired chronograph.
The new Breitling Top Time Triumph watch, as explained, is now fitted with the in-house B01 Calibre, which offers a staggering 70-hour power reserve whilst only using one barrel. The B01 is a column-wheel chronograph, which was first sent off for COSC testing by Breitling in 2006. It incorporates 47 jewels and a bimetallic automatic rotor into its design. Whilst the previous model features an engraved stainless steel caseback depicting an image of one of Triumph’s motorbike parallel-twin engines, this model features a sapphire-backed surface that offers a view of the movement through the back of the design, along with Triumph’s emblem etched into its surface.
If you’d like more information on the new Breitling Top Time Triumph watch, or the new Top Time Deus watch, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453 or view the new releases here.
