Every so often, in the world of high-end goods, a partnership gets your attention. For example, Breitling and Bentley spawned some of the greatest Breitling of all time, inspired by a collection of luxury cars. This time, it's Breitling and Bucherer, two powerhouses in the watch world, combining forces to bring us three unique Exclusive Superoceans.
BUCHERER EXCLUSIVE BREITLING SUPEROCEAN COLLECTION - Credit Breitling
Relaunched in 2022, the current Superocean was striking and a little divisive. It looked every bit like the classic dive watch, but the minute hand with its square block of lume left some of us feeling a little sunken! It's not that we are unaccustomed to such shapes; we love a Tudor snowflake; it's just – well, let's keep it as divisive. One clear thing was that Breitling was keen to retain the striking style of the original Superocean Slow Motion from the 1960s and 70s.
BUCHERER EXCLUSIVE BREITLING SUPEROCEAN COLLECTION - Credit Breitling
In a new exclusive partnership, Breitling and Bucherer have collaborated to create three limited-edition Superocean models, all featuring unique colours and fine materials. This partnership leaves us with Breitling vintage homage sub-aqua functionality merged beautifully with Bucherer's influence and design. The watches are available exclusively from Bucherer, not Breitling boutiques.
BUCHERER EXCLUSIVE BREITLING SUPEROCEAN COLLECTION - Credit Breilting
The new Superocean watches are available in three sizes. 44, 42 and 36mm. Each one has been designed with the size in mind and, consequently the expected customer demographic. The Bucherer Exclusive Breitling Superocean 44 is available with a unidirectional rotating bezel in black with a ceramic inlay and screw crown. The black rubber strap and high-contrast dial ring really do take us back to the classic Slow Motion dive watches from the formative era of SCUBA as a sport.
With a striking white unidirectional rotating bezel and matching rubber strap, the Bucherer Exclusive Breitling Superocean 36 brings summer or winter confidence and is arguably the most striking of all the new models. Arctic colours stand proud with a single splash of orange on the seconds hand. This stunning Superocean it is the first model we have seen where the square minute hand really works thanks to the proliferation of white on the design.
BUCHERER EXCLUSIVE BREITLING SUPEROCEAN COLLECTION - Credit Breitling
The 42 is, Breitling claims: "almost too beautiful to hide underwater". The bright red ring reminds us of Breitling Superoceans from two or three generations ago when stylized 1990s numbers were deployed along with bold orange, yellow, red and blue wide rehauts. Despite classical elegance, this model is, like all the others, a pure diver's watch needs. The burgundy dial adds luxury, and the use of rose-gold unidirectional with ceramic inlay means that this model will be bought primarily as a fashion accessory. All be it one that can survive to a depth of 1000 feet.
Technically, these watches are of course full Superoceans; therefore are equipped with Breitling Calibre 17 automatic movements offering a 38 hour power reserve, beating at 28,800 vph and with 26 jewels. To guarantee 300m water resistance each one of the special editions has a double gasket screw-down crown as well as cambered sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. Super Luminova is generously applied to all critical areas and all Superoceans come with a two-year warranty.
BUCHERER EXCLUSIVE BREITLING SUPEROCEAN COLLECTION - Credit Breitling
What do we think?
Once you get your head past the square lume on the minute hand the latest iteration of the Breitling Superocean is a very striking watch. Thanks to Bucherer (whose influence is clear to see) these special editions add greater design sophistication to ostensibly tool watches. We don't have a price for these new models, so you'll have to pop into your local Bucherer store to find one, but don't take too long because they are limited to 88 pieces each and available from today.
