Superocean Automatic 42

The story

Performance and style for all your water-based pursuits. In the 1960s, the new sport of scuba diving was all the rage. For divers, timing was everything, and Breitling set out to give them the most clear-cut dive watch possible by eliminating any feature that didn’t support their lifesaving needs underwater. This pared-down watch was named the Superocean Slow Motion. What remained were clean lines, chunky luminescent indexes, squared-off hands and a high-contrast dial ring, all aimed at maximum legibility. Practical, yes. But what people really fell in love with was the look. The new Superocean retraces the Slow Motion's celebrated design codes, while adding modern features, like a scratch-proof ceramic-inlayed bezel and brightly colored dials. Broad hands and indexes in a rainbow gradient of luminescent Super-LumiNova® allow for easy readability (and extra fun). The watch is water resistant to 300 m (1,000 ft), as well as being shock-, sand- and saltwater-resistant. The bronze version uses a special alloy that has excellent resistance to corrosion, yet will still develop a subtle patina over time that makes the watch even more unique. The rubber strap comes with a folding clasp that allows for micro-adjustments of up to 15 mm for easy wear over rashies and wetsuits. For safety, the bezel is uni-directional. Best of all, this is no longer strictly a dive watch—surf with it, swim with it, hit the beach bar with it, then wear it out to dinner. The Superocean perfectly balances the nostalgia of its heritage with a fresh new look.