TOP TIME – MOMENTS OF FREEDOM WITH AUSTIN BUTLER
Austin Butler’s Hollywood ascent is the result of a lifetime dedicated to honing his craft. He’s received an Oscar nomination for his lead role in Elvis and starred in several other films including Dune 2, The Bikeriders, and the acclaimed series Masters of the Air. It’s a career that’s been defined by freedom—choosing his roles, crafting his characters, and collaborating with Hollywood’s biggest names. As the face of the new Top Time B31, featuring our first exclusive manufacture three-hand movement, Austin captures the energy of Breitling’s most free-spirited collection. Designed for those who embrace life on their own terms, Top Time reflects Austin’s seamless blend of character, individuality, and effortless style.
Austin Butler
ACTOR
Lately, Austin has been so busy with projects, film festivals, and awards that time is what he values most. When Breitling meets Austin at his on-set trailer, he says he’s learned over the years to take the time to enjoy those moments of freedom between takes. “Watching James Dean growing up—he just had this animalistic energy,” Austin says. “It drove me to want to act. There were years where I was just trying to make it work.”
Top Time for the Free Spirited
Top Time was never just about keeping time but expanding it—exploring the world in your way, at your own pace. It was introduced in the transformative 1960s, an era Austin has helped bring alive on screen through his roles in Elvis and The Bikeriders for a new generation. Top Time—then as now—symbolizes self-expression and individuality, offering a break from traditional watch design. Today, the Top Time’s vibrant energy returns in a series of bold, modern formats that carry forward its unconventional spirit.
When Austin Feels Most Free
In recent years, Austin has portrayed American icons—and become one along the way. In his roles, he works on becoming the character from the inside out, figuring out what makes them tick, why they get out of bed in the morning. “There’s freedom when the mind can focus on what it wants and where it needs to go. It’s when I feel most free. Part of confidence is success, but it also comes from within,” he says.
The Exclusive Time-Only Caliber B31
A return to the fundamentals of watchmaking, exclusive time-only Caliber B31 delivers precision and reliability in a sleek, modern form. Only 4.8 mm thick, the movement continues the tradition of in-house innovation established with the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, the benchmark for chronograph movements. With the Top Time’s open caseback, there’s a view on the intricate B31 mechanism at work, along with the decorative touches that went into it, including techniques of perlage and Geneva stripes—blending beauty and mechanics.
Dreams Come True
During his downtime, Austin enjoys riding his motorcycle and playing guitar. His success on screen has brought him to a sweet spot in life, though he remains, by his own admission, “kind of an introvert.” These days, he’s happy to leave much of the talk about his career to critics and fans. And for the most part, he says, he’s simply enjoying the ride: “A lot of my dreams have just kind of come true lately.”
