Breitling announces a new squad – the Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection with three new chronographs. This squad pays homage to classic sports cars from the 1960s. This unconventional trio of racing chronographs draws inspiration from the Chevrolet Corvette, the Ford Mustang, and the Shelby Cobra, three icons of the American car culture.
Press Release info with commentary in italics.
Commentary
With renewed interest in American muscle cars, an indication which may be sparked by the popular movie Ford vs Ferrari. The movie outlines the exploits of Carroll Shelby and his work with Ford against rival Ferrari. Shelby who was also responsible for the Shelby Cobra. It was powered by a Ford engine, as Chevrolet had declined the use of one of theirs as they feared it would compete with the Corvette. Thus all three vehicles in the Top Time Classic Cars Capsule are tied together. Implicated and iconized by this new collection. The Shelby Cobra, the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang, all cornerstones in Americana and the muscle car crowd.
We think this collection is a timely introduction. With this, we can see that Georges Kern and his marketing team is totally plugged into pop culture, observing the interest of the public and reacting directly.
The watches are based on two of Breitling’s chronograph movements – the caliber 25 (29.3mm diameter) and smaller caliber 41 (25.4mm diameter). Both are derivative movements. Both are Chronometer-rated chronograph movement based on the ETA 2892-A2. The 25 has a tricompax 3/6/9 layout while the 41 is a bicompax.
The watches are colour coded – blue dial with white sub-dials for the Shelby Cobra in the 40mm case, red dial with black sub-dials for the Chevrolet Corvette in 42mm case, and green dial with black sub-dials for the Ford Mustang in a 42mm case. The case back carry the identification marks of the logo of the three cars.
As is usual, with Breitling designs, especially of late, the visuals are spot on, and the watches look beautiful. Hands-on and photography session is already requested, and we will bring you the detailed review then.
New: Breitling Top Time Classic Car Capsule Collection
Retail price is SGD 7,350 / CHF 5,250 / USD 5,500. Boutique only, available from October 2021.
This unconventional trio of racing chronographs draws inspiration from the Chevrolet Corvette, the Ford Mustang, and the Shelby Cobra, three icons of the American car culture. The timepieces themselves are a nod to the original 1960s Breitling Top Time models, which were designed for “young and active professionals”. Today’s modern-retro interpretations are perhaps even more youthful and free-spirited.
“It’s about the journey, not the tempo. And that’s true whether you’re tinkering under the hood
Breitling CEO
or hitting the road for a Sunday ride celebrating these beautiful machines.”
Georges Kern.
These disruptive chronographs with a motoring twist stand out for their bold dial colors with orange and yellow or red and blue touches and racing-themed watch straps in calfskin leather. Engraved stainless-steel casebacks showcase each car’s logo in impressive detail, and the chronograph pushers punctuate the dial. All three watches are water-resistant up to 10 bar (100 meters).
The range includes the Top Time Chevrolet Corvette in red and black, based on the striking design of the Corvette C2 from the mid-1960s, often referred to as the “Sting Ray” by aficionados.
Fun fact: Did you know that carmaker Louis Chevrolet was a Swiss racing driver born in the watchmaking city of La Chaux-de-Fonds? Then there’s the green and brown Top Time Ford Mustang version, inspired by a car developed in record time in 1964, sparking a new genre of compact and affordable sports cars. It soon reached iconic status at the hands of rock stars and Hollywood actors and also played an iconic role on the silver screen. Last but not least there’s the Top Time Shelby Cobra version in blue and brown. Our mood board for this watch revolved around the formidable machine created by the iconic American race-car driver and manufacturer Carroll Shelby for 1960s competitions, which mixed classic British chassis design with American racing ingenuity and engineering. The watch hints at one of its distinctive paint jobs: blue with white racing stripes.
The 42 mm cases of the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang versions house the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 25, a self-winding 1/8th of a second chronograph movement with a power reserve of about 42 hours. Both watches feature a tachymeter scale and three black contrasting subdials. Their dials display the car logos at the 12 o’clock position.
Inside the slightly smaller 40 mm Top Time Shelby Cobra beats the COSC-certified Breitling Caliber 41, a self-winding 1/4th of a second chronograph movement with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. It has a white tachymeter scale and two white contrasting subdials, plus the Cobra logo at the 6 o’clock position.
But this racing heritage isn’t about rushing around. Instead it’s about a vehicle that delivers a
sense of freedom and joy. So much so that you might even lose track of the time …
Breitling Top Time Classic Cars Specifications
TOP TIME CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Reference: A25310241K1X1
WATCH MOVEMENT
Caliber: Breitling Caliber 25
Diameter: 29.3 millimeters
Depth: 6.9 millimeters
Winder: self-winding mechanical, bidirectional with ball-bearing
Power reserve: approximately 42 hours
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: 1/8th of a second chronograph, 30-second, 15-minute and 6-hour totalizers
Display: hour, minute, second
Certification: COSC-certified
CASE
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 42 millimeters
Height: 13.65 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 10 bar (100 meters)
Caseback: snapped, steel
Crown: non-screw-locked, two gaskets
DIAL/HANDS
Red with black tachymeter scale and black contrasting subdials
Super-LumiNova® luminescent indexes and hour and minute hands
STRAP
Black racing-themed calfskin leather strap with folding clasp
TOP TIME FORD MUSTANG
Reference: A253101A1L1X1
WATCH MOVEMENT
Caliber: Breitling Caliber 25
Diameter: 29.3 millimeters
Depth: 6.9 millimeters
Winder: self-winding mechanical, bidirectional with ball-bearing
Power reserve: approximately 42 hours
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: 1/8th of a second chronograph, 30-second, 15-minute and 6-hour totalizers
Display: hour, minute, second
Certification: COSC-certified
CASE
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 42 millimeters
Height: 13.65 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 10 bar (100 meters)
Caseback: snapped, steel
Crown: non-screw-locked, two gaskets
DIAL/HANDS
Green with black tachymeter scale and black contrasting subdials
Super-LumiNova® luminescent indexes and hour and minute hands
STRAP
Brown racing-themed calfskin leather strap with folding clasp
TOP TIME SHELBY COBRA
Reference: A41315A71C1X2
WATCH MOVEMENT
Caliber: Breitling Caliber 41
Diameter: 25.4 millimeters
Depth: 6.8 millimeters
Winder: self-winding mechanical, bidirectional with ball-bearing
Power reserve: approximately 42 hours
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: 1/4th of a second chronograph, 30-minutes
Display: hour, minute, second
Certification: COSC-certified
CASE
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 40 millimeters
Height: 13.30 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 10 bar (100 meters)
Caseback: snapped, steel
Crown: non-screw-locked, two gaskets
DIAL/HANDS
Blue with white tachymeter scale and white contrasting subdials
Super-LumiNova® luminescent indexes and hour and minute hands
STRAP
Brown racing-themed calfskin leather strap with folding clasp
