By Jovan Krstevski
Breitling’s been crushing it lately with Top Times, Navitimers and the occasional curveball, but their vintage style divers flew under the radar; until now. Enter the Superocean Heritage B31 Automatic: a full-blown revamp that finally gives this retro diver some real bite.
Size-wise, it’s 44mm, 42mm, or 40mm; all stainless steel. No wild overhaul, but a sleeker shape, smoother curves, a domed crown and extra polish inside and out. The standout is that wide ceramic bezel with a subtle overhang and crisp notching. Color options include Piano black, forest green and deep navy, though no blue for the 40mm. There’s also a touch of red gold (just bezel and crown) on the 44mm blue and 42mm black versions.
Breitling went all-in on sunburst dials; deep, vibrant, and crisp in the light. At 12 o’clock, there’s the vintage style “skewered circle” index from the original 1957 model. The other markers are polished, faceted daggers and the hands are broader, brighter, and heavily lumed. The arrow hour hand now leans into a cathedral-style shape. A white date window sits at 6 o’clock.
Inside lies the new B31 automatic movement built by Sellita exclusively for Breitling. It runs at 28,800 bph, has a 78 hour power reserve and is COSC certified. Finishing includes Geneva stripes, perlage, engraved gold text and a skeleton rotor worth flipping the watch over for.
The stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet leans vintage, while the rubber version copies the weave with a deployant clasp and tang style setup. Both come with fitted endlinks for a more refined fit. Available now, priced from $6,200 to $8,200 USD.
