BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Given the current global crisis that has forced people to stay indoors to help avoid the spread of Coronavirus, Swiss brand Breitling made a smart move of digitally launching its novelties for 2020. Today we will take a quick look at the new Breitling Superocean Heritage 1957 Capsule, a modern reissue of a 1957 reference.
Like many recent vintage-inspired releases such as the Top time-limited edition and the Navitimer Ref.806 1959 Re-edition, Breitling seems to have nailed it with the new Superocean Heritage 1957 Capsule Watches by sticking as much as possible to the original recipe and not overdoing things. The face of the 1957 capsule is highlighted by the distinctive circular cum wedge-shaped applied quadrant markings which along with the broad arrow hour and sword style minute hand look quite familiar to the ones found on the original reference. The remaining hour markers also have a wedge shape and unlike the printed ones on the original have been applied to give the watch a slightly modern vibe and a nice sense of depth.
Like the dial, the vintage influence flows over to the case as well. Fashioned out of stainless steel the case on this watch measures a relatively large 42mm in diameter but maintains the overall design of the original reference. So, you still get slender lugs, a fully polished finish, and a concave stadium-style dive time bezel. That said, as this a modern watch there are some nice touches to go with the time. For instance, the crystal on top is a domed sapphire unit and the bezel insert is also made of ceramic for better scratch resistance. Another point worth noting is that the new Capsule Watches offer a water resistance of just 100 meters as opposed to their inspiration that was rated at a healthy 200 meters.
Powering the new Capsule collection is the Breitling Caliber 10. This is an automatic movement that is based on the tried and tested Sellita SW 300-1 and has been chronometer-certified to ensure great accuracy. The movement operates at a frequency of 4Hz and offers a power reserve of around 42 hours.
To conclude, I would like to say that Breitling has yet again delivered a tastefully done collection of retro-inspired watches. The Breitling Superocean Heritage 1957 Capsule collection comprises of four new references; two stainless steel models with blue and black dials, a two-tone version with a black dial and complementing red gold hands, markers and bezel, and finally, a special 250-piece colorful limited edition that has its hands and indices painted with multicolor luminous paint. The watches would be available to purchase starting July 2020, priced at CHF 4,200 on strap and CHF 4,650 on a bracelet.
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