ReviewBreitling Race Ahead With Their Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection
Breitling's three stunning chronographs are inspired by classic American racecars of the 1960s; an ode to the spirit of freedom, revival and rebirth, exuded by these mean machines of that era. Here’s a closer look at the Top Time Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, and Shelby Cobra timepieces
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Watches and cars have always shared a close bond owing to the supreme engineering and innovation involved in both the segments, as well as a shared common goal—precision—whether in terms of timekeeping or delivering mileage that’s promised. So, it comes as no surprise that Breitling chose to unveil their Top Time Classic Cars chronograph collection that seeks inspiration from vintage cars at the Geneva Watch Days 2021 edition, during a live-streamed presentation. It’s not the first wheel-driven collaboration for the independent brand, known for their popular association with the British luxury carmakers Bentley. However, this new range celebrates the spirit of American racing culture and that’s what makes it special. The capsule collection comprises three versions—red, green and blue chronographs that celebrate edgy design codes of the 1960s, and pay homage to classic sports cars from that era. Each watch is inspired by one of three icons of American motorsports culture—the Chevrolet Corvette, the Ford Mustang, and the Shelby Cobra. The timepieces are also a nod to the original 1960s Breitling Top Time models, which were designed for ‘young and active professionals’. And these modern-retro interpretations are perhaps even more youthful and free-spirited.
“Racing is in Breitling’s DNA since our association with motorsports started in 1905 when our founder, Léon Breitling applied for a Swiss patent for the first chronograph specifically designed to measure the speed of racing cars,” explained Breitling’s CEO, George Kern, at the presentation, while talking about how the brand have captured the essence of these iconic racing cars beyond simply placing their logos on the dials. “The spectrum of this project covers all aspects when it comes to manufacturing watches inspired by vintage cars because both share the same mindset when it comes to design and architecture. We have used a very minimalistic and to-the-point approach to build them, combined with a strong input of technique and performance. So they share the same spirit.”
These three disruptive chronographs with a motoring twist stand out for their bold dial colours that capture the spirit of the 60s when bright and neon shades were a rage. Right from oversized plastic jewellery in vivid hues to funky, polka dot dresses and bright bell-bottoms—the era was dominated by colours, which were an important factor when it came to freedom of expression. Breitling have also tried to capture this essence with the new Top Time chronographs. Let’s take a closer look at these timekeepers.
A Celebration Of Design And Freedom
In 1964, Breitling introduced the new Top Time collection, two years after the first designs were presented. Back then, it was an affordable chronograph with simple yet elegant lines and exceptional quality and precision—the perfect watch for young men and women interested in sports and technology.
With this, Breitling wanted to offer a sportier and more contemporary collection, breaking away from traditional design codes. The intention was also to perfectly adapt the new models to the dynamic lifestyles of young people who weren’t interested in professional tool watches meant for timing laps on race circuits or calculating flight time while manoeuvring planes at high altitudes. The name—Top Time—was deliberately kept short and catchy to underline the modern design of the collection and the vibrant energy of that time period.
Crafted in stainless steel, the new range includes the 42mm Top Time Chevrolet Corvette in red and black, based on the striking design of the Corvette C2 from the mid-1960s, often referred to as the ‘Sting Ray’ by aficionados. Then there’s the 42mm green-and-brown Top Time Ford Mustang version, inspired by a car developed in record time in 1964, sparking a new genre of compact and affordable sports cars. And last, but not least, there’s the Top Time Shelby Cobra version in blue and brown, measuring a slightly smaller 40mm. While the Corvette and Mustang watches are powered by Breitling’s COSC-certified calibre 25, the Shelby Cobra is equipped with the automatic calibre 41. Featuring engraved casebacks that display their respective cars’ emblems in great detail, these watches are water-resistant to 100m and can function smoothly for at least 42 hours.
“When you look at the cars, they’re obviously different. On the one hand you have the Corvette and the Mustang, which are slightly longer, wider and a bit more sophisticated, so we’ve tried to translate these qualities to the product going with a slightly larger case for them, a 30-second chronograph complication, and three registers on the dial. On the other hand, we have the Shelby, one of the most iconic American racing cars that was more compact but didn’t compromise on performance. So, we’ve chosen a slightly smaller, 40mm case with a minimalistic two-register dial,” Kern stated as he elaborated on the genesis of this collaboration.
“We wanted American cars because they represent and are quite suited to our aviation background and history. We also wanted to have accessible cars, and back then, the Ford Mustang was among the sports cars available for a wider audience. Today, these three cars represent strength, force and design, and all are very different, yet they all celebrate the spirit of the 1960s. We also wanted American cars and not German or Italian, because they represent the powerful impact they had on the society during that period, replete with their bright colour schemes, which were more alluring to the younger generation,” explained Kern.
Three Icons of the American Car Culture
The second-generation Chevrolet Corvette, distributed from 1963 to 1967, is the most sought-after version of this American legend. The ‘Sting Ray’ took inspiration from a 1959 racing-focused prototype. Thanks to its slinky low-profile body, it looks stunning to this day. And with its performance both on the road and on the track, it has always haunted the dreams and sparked the imaginations of aficionados around the world.
The first-generation Ford Mustang, produced from 1964 to 1969, was compact, affordable, and sporty. With some models suited to families and others ideal for race-focused sportsters, it was a true icon, popular among rock stars and actors. It also featured in some of the era’s most popular movies. Automotive enthusiasts know that the original Mustang helped define the coolness of a whole generation. This beloved living legend is still in production and is as relevant to today’s customers as it was in the 60s.
In the early 1960s, the Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby imagined a car that combined British chassis design with American racing engineering. He created the Shelby Cobra—a sports car that ingeniously matched a small, light chassis to a strong, reliable American big-block engine. When it was introduced in 1962, the Cobra was met with instant success. The original Shelby Cobra is still blisteringly fast and highly sought-after today.
Top Time Chronographs: A Vibrant Trio
While the red version stands out for its deep, rich dial hue, inspired by the ultra-sophisticated Chevrolet Corvette, the green Ford Mustang version looks quite pleasing with its verdant hue. It is inspired by the iconic car that became extremely popular with rock stars and Hollywood actors back in 1964, and even played an iconic role on the silver screen, being driven by legendary actor Steve McQueen in the 1968 film, Bullitt. The last in the trio—the Top Time Shelby Cobra version in blue and brown revolves around the formidable machine created by the iconic American race-car driver and manufacturer Carroll Shelby, for competitions in the 1960s, mixing a classic British chassis design with American racing ingenuity and engineering. The watch hints at one of its distinctive paint jobs: blue with white racing stripes.
So, it’s evident that choosing these colour schemes was a deliberate attempt at replicating these models to stand out as ‘wrist machines’ rather than just appealing to a younger audience. Even the stunning Premier chronograph series, unveiled earlier this year, reflected the brand’s conscious choices of brighter colours. “We are on a mission to redefine Swiss watchmaking and we want to become the undisputed leaders in the neo-luxury segment. It is very much an intuitive decision, since we want to be the cool, relaxed alternative to the more conservative and traditional watch brands out there, where the monotone dials can sometimes get boring. And as a brand, we also like colours and know what our clients expect from us. The mint green was very well-received in both the Chronomat and Premier watches by the customers, who want to have an alternative to the more traditional execution of watches,” Kern stated, while also mentioning that they had to navigate several legal challenges in terms of getting the logos, the rights, and the branding for these new chronographs.
But he’s really stoked at the results and all that the brand have achieved. “We are doing great and getting stronger by the minute. I think today, all the elements of the brand fall together. We want to illustrate neo-luxury and for this, it’s important that we are casual. We also have to be inclusive in the way we talk to our consumers and the kind of associations we have, and we also have to be sustainable. And there’s nothing more sustainable than a vintage car because you keep it forever and don’t destroy it. In terms of design we want to be modern-retro and the new Top Time collection fits in very well with all these aspects. It’s young, it’s hip and cool, and this is what we want to be,” he elaborated.
The Top Time Classic Cars chronograph collection is a celebration of sheer joy and freedom of the swinging sixties, and one can surely expect to enjoy the ride with these stunning chronographs strapped onto the wrist, and be transported back in time.
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Breitling Top Time
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