The story
The 1960s was a decade of experimentation, fun, freedom and energy. Whether cruising on a motorcycle or revving up a sportscar, living life at full speed was the order of the day. Willy Breitling felt this change of pace and set out to design an unconventional chronograph that would capture the verve of era. He called it the Top Time. That spirited tradition continues today with Breitling partnering with some of the coolest names in wheels to create its Top Time designs. A collaboration with British heritage motorcycle brand Triumph, this watch’s highlight is its ice-blue dial. The distinctive shade was precisely color matched to a Triumph Thunderbird 6T from 1951, and a rare, blue-dialed Breitling Top Time Ref. 815 from the 1970s. Collectors are sure to pick up on a few other throwbacks to vintage Breitling that include a retro logo, mushroom chronograph pushers and a “Zorro” dial design. The bowtie motif introduced on Top Time in the 1960s (and nicknamed for the wily swashbuckler’s mask) has been subtly integrated using a metal brushing technique that creates a radiant play of light and texture. The design features a Triumph emblem at 6 o’clock, a speed-measuring tachymeter scale and contrasting “squircle” (not quite square, not quite round) subdials that give the feel of a vintage dashboard gauge. It also comes with a brag-worthy engine under the hood: the exceptional Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01.
