Why the Breitling Superocean Makes Such a Good Tool Watch

Breitling has a long and storied history, so much so that it barely needs any introduction. It’s one of those brands that has always had a loyal following, and for good reason. We’re going to touch on some of them in today’s piece as we explore why the Breitling Superocean makes for such a great tool watch. We can do that by looking at some key features of the Superocean and by following the story of the brand’s first dive watch.

What Is the Breitling Superocean Watch?

If you’ve never experienced, learnt about, or even heard of the Breitling Superocean watch, you’re in for a real treat. It has been part of Breitling’s catalogue for over 60 years and boasts a cutting-edge spec that includes (but is not limited to) helium escape valves, chronometer-certified movements, colourful bezels, and water-resistant ratings of 2000 meters. There are several reasons why discerning collectors love to wear the Superocean, even if they don’t intend to actually dive with it. Dive watches are, after all, a popular genre of watch that people love for their functionality and powerful aesthetics. Aside from this, the watch tells a story and is leveraged further by brand provenance and superior materials.

Today, Breitling Superocean watches come in a range of styles and at different price points. On the pre-owned market, you can expect to pay anything between a couple of thousand pounds to rarities from the 1950s, which can acquire price tags of around ￡20k. Above all, the Breitling Superocean is an attractive, solidly built dive watch ranging from a manageable 36mm diameter to a much bolder 48mm. Either way, with plenty of dial and strap combinations available, not to mention water-resistant capabilities that range from 200 to 2000 meters, there’s an option out there for everyone.

The History of the Breitling Superocean

Most important of all, collectors love the story of the Superocean and the evolution of its design over the decades. The 1950s marked the birth of the Superocean watch. It came about during a time when the demand for dive watches was rising. Nautical missions and aquatic sports were booming, as was the need for safety equipment for amateur divers. In 1957, Breitling launched the ref. 1004 - a simple time-only diver and the ref. 807 – a chronograph version. The former appealed to the style-conscious diver while the latter was decidedly sportier, despite sharing the same Superocean name.

Designed for elegance and performance, these watches looked different from anything else on the market at the time. They were designed to maximise legibility in dark light-limiting conditions. The bezel had a unique concave structure, which contributed to better wearability for periods of time, combined with a slim case and elongated lugs. Modifications and improvements came when Willy Breitling extended on the design of the ref, 807 with a chronograph that was even easier to read elapsed time. Since minute recorders were difficult to view underwater, Willy Breitling decided to create a watch that used the chronograph minutes on the main hand, as opposed to the seconds hand. It would make a full rotation once every hour and was named the “Slow Motion” watch. To make it possible to see if the minute function was engaged or not, Breitling equipped the watch with an indicator at 6 o’clock. It would appear yellow if activated and black if not in use.

The Superocean was once again modified in 1964 when Breitling created the Chrono-Matic model, equipped with the first automatic chronograph calibre, developed in collaboration with Heuer and Hamilton. A newly patented waterproof bezel then arrived, followed by the “Deep Sea” model, designed for venturing further underwater.

Today the Superocean comes in many styles and colours, including rainbow-coloured indexes and hands, not to mention classic designs on muted blue, green, black and grey dials with mesh-style bracelets for a more classic, vintage-esque aesthetic.

If you’d like more information on the Breitling Superocean or would like help in sourcing one, please contact our Charles Martin sales team on 01889 560 002 or email us on https://charlesmartinwatchcompany.com/pages/contact-us