Breitling celebrates American automotive culture with the Top Time Classic Cars Capsule collection. For this purpose, the Swiss company is presenting three chronographs, each inspired by a classic racing car from the 1960s. They appear with eye-catching dials that are intended to capture the feeling of freedom and joy of life that emanates from the historic vehicles. Last but not least, they bear the logo of the matching car. The watches appear on leather straps with a racing look and are available now.
Breitling puts the spotlight on three iconic racing cars. First, the Shelby Cobra, a sports car that combines British chassis design with an American engine. Then the Ford Mustang. What the Porsche is to Germans, this car may be to Americans. Combining compact size and sportiness, this car appealed to rock and movie stars as well as families. Finally, Breitling focuses on the second generation Chevrolet Corvette, also called the “Stingray”. Due to its sleek shape, the model still enjoys great success today.
However, Breitling also wants to celebrate vehicle culture itself with the three chronographs. Breitling CEO Georges Kern is not concerned with adrenaline: “What counts is the journey, not the speed. This applies just as much to the tinkering under the bonnet as it does to a Sunday outing, where these beautiful vehicles are duly celebrated.” The Manufacture emphasises the feeling of freedom and joie de vivre that these cars convey.
This is precisely the sentiment that the watchmakers wanted to capture in the design of the three Top Time Classic Cars chronographs. As a starting point, they chose the Breitling Top Time watches from the 1960s, which were designed for “young and active professionals”. Now, in 2021, they present themselves in a modern retro style with gaudy dial colours inspired by the typical paintwork of the cars.
Caroll Shelby was a US racing driver and constructor of sports cars. In the 1960s, he dreamed of a vehicle that combined British chassis design with American motorsport technology. The result was the Shelby Cobra, which married a small, lightweight chassis with a powerful American big-block engine. When the car was presented in 1962, it immediately became a great success, which continues to this day. The distinctive blue paint with white racing stripes was the inspiration for the design of the Breitling Top Time Shelby Cobra.
The Breitling Top Time Shelby Cobra appears in a 40 x 13.3 mm stainless steel case that is complemented by angular lugs. The surface is largely polished and flows into an extremely narrow bezel. In addition, there are two retro-style pushers above and below the unscrewed crown. The latter is equipped with two seals and thus enables water resistance to 100 metres. On the back, meanwhile, there is an engraving of the Cobra logo on the screw-in back.
The blue dial with its white contrasts is reminiscent of the famous paint job on the Shelby Cobra. At 12 o’clock is a retro version of the Breitling lettering. The Swiss also place the Cobra logo at 6 o’clock. The white tachymeter scale on the periphery can be used to measure the speed of an object, e.g. a racing car. The totaliser at 9 o’clock counts up to 30 minutes. Opposite, at 3 o’clock, there is a small seconds. Finally, the Top Time Shelby Cobra indicates the time with the help of hour and minute hands and indices with Super-LumiNova coating.
Inside the watch is the Breitling Calibre 41, which offers automatic winding with a power reserve of 42 hours. Last but not least, the movement has been awarded the COSC chronometer certificate. The Top Time Shelby Cobra appears as part of the Breitling Top Time Classic Cars Capsule collection. The manufacture presents it on a brown calfskin strap in racing style with a folding clasp.
Breitling also takes the opportunity to spotlight the first generation of the Ford Mustang. The model was produced from 1964 to 1969 and met with great enthusiasm due to its compact size, sportiness and affordable price. However, it was mainly rock and movie stars who helped the Mustang to incredible success. The car was featured in popular films of the time and thus left its mark on an entire generation. In fact, Ford still produces the sports car that proudly bears the horse logo to this day.
The Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang has a slightly larger 42 x 13.64 mm case made of stainless steel. Except for the dimensions, however, it has the same features and polished finish. On the back is an image of the Mustang logo. In addition, Breitling also places references to the water resistance of 100 metres and the chronometer certificate here on the edge.
The dark green dial of the Top Time Mustang has three contrasting counters in black and a black tachymeter scale. First, there is a 15-minute totaliser at 9 o’clock. Then, at 6 o’clock, the hours are counted. Breitling also places a small seconds at 3 o’clock. Conveniently, the hands of the two totalisers have a coloured hand so that it is immediately clear that they refer to the chronograph. Last but not least, two hands with luminous material indicate the time from the centre. Breitling also uses the vintage lettering on this watch. The manufacture furthermore places the Mustang logo underneath it.
Breitling equips the Top Time Ford Mustang with the Breitling calibre 25. This movement offers automatic winding in both directions up to a maximum power reserve of 42 hours. It also bears the COSC chronometer certificate. Breitling presents this watch on a brown racing-style leather strap. It also features a folding clasp.
The Breitling Top Time Chevrolet Corvette takes up the second generation of the Corvette, which Chevrolet sold from 1963 to 1967. This sports car, known as the “Stingray” by enthusiasts, goes back to a prototype from 1959. With its sleek shape and low profile, the car still delights fans today. Breitling chose a Corvette with a characterful red paint job as the inspiration for the watch.
The Breitling Top Time Chevrolet Corvette has the same case as the Top Time Ford Mustang. It measures 42 mm in diameter and is made of stainless steel. Also included are the two pushers and the unscrewed crown. On the back, however, there is an image of the Corvette logo. Meanwhile, the water resistance of 100 metres is the same as the other versions.
On the rich red dial, Breitling adds contrast with three recessed black counters and a tachymeter scale. Here, too, the watchmakers opted for a 15-minute and 6-hour counter plus a small seconds. The Breitling lettering and the Corvette logo also stand out on the dial. Meanwhile, the model designation sits south of the centre hands.
The manufacture also uses the Breitling calibre 25 in the Top Time Chevrolet Corvette, which offers automatic winding from both sides and a power reserve of 42 hours. Of course, this Top Time also bears the chronometer certificate. The watch comes on a black calfskin strap in racing style. This strap too has a folding clasp.
The three chronographs from the Breitling Top Time Classic Cars Capsule collection are available now. The price for the Top Time Shelby Cobra, Top Time Ford Mustang and Top Time Chevrolet Corvette is 5,290 euros each.
