Change tends to be slow-going in the watch industry. But when it does eventually come, boy does it do it well. Very often the protagonist of change, Breitling is at it again with the introduction of some simply fantastic new popping colours to its famed Superocean collection, that it hopes will beach-proof your wrist game all summer long.
Embracing the growing confidence of men who want to add a pop of colour to their wrists, the new clutch of watches dropped are rainbow-dial editions of the 42mm Superocean Automatic 42 and the 36mm Superocean Automatic 36. The 42mm steel version of the new Superocean comes with rubber straps in turquoise, orange, yellow—and an all-new aquamarine.
Since the collection was given a design overhaul in summer 2022, the seaworthy line has really hit a note with a sporty, outdoorsy, beach-life audience, and staking a serious claim to become ‘the ultimate sea watch’.
Inspired by the Breitling Superocean Slow Motion model of the 1960s, the collection puts readability and personal enjoyment at its heart, due to the simplified dive watch featuring a high-contrast minute scale on the dial ring, chunky luminescent baton indexes and ‘paddle’ hands, making it easy to read below the surface.
The ‘Slow Motion’ name came by virtue of the fact that the 1960s chronograph edition used a chrono hand that made one revolution per hour, instead of the usual one per minute. The wearer could therefore directly read their diving duration with the chronograph hand and the minute track on the dial. Today’s Superocean retains the spirit of this practicality while reintroducing the seconds hand and integrating modern features for contemporary wearers.
Importantly, the unique rainbow-dial models have hour markers and hands coated in a brilliant gradient of Super-LumiNova hues—yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, red, and orange—that not only add a playful pop of colour during the day, but also glow in an array of shades in low light.
Could these be the watches of summer 2024? We certainly think so.