The Swiss house Breitling has been manufacturing the Transocean line since 1958. Although the design of the collection has been updated over time, dress watches have retained their retro character. Initially, it was marketed as a highly precise three-needle clock, but soon the line went on to offer chronographs. What’s more, Breitling chronographs have made history in the aeronautical field. The Omega Speedmaster Professional MoonwatchIt was the first wristwatch to travel to the Moon. On July 21, 1969, he accompanied astronaut Buzz Aldrin to step on this natural satellite for the first time. Seven years ago, on May 24, 1962, Scott Carpenter wrapped a Breitling Navitimer around his wrist and traveled the Earth’s orbit. The first wrist chronograph used in the space environment was a model of the Breitling house.
The design of the https://www.thewatchcompany.com/breitling-transocean-chronograph-unitime-46mm-ab0510u4bb62.html is inspired by the chronographs of the 50s and 60s. Even three-needle watches are also inspired by the same era. The spheres, if we compare them with other Breitling models, are sober in black, white or blue with cane-like indexes. Accompanied by the polished bezel, without a doubt, this watch is much more elegant. In addition, the collection offers a wide selection of bracelets: leather straps in different colors and rubber, fabric or steel bracelets. The caliber, certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Control (COSC), guarantees high precision. It also offers both mechanical and quartz movements of excellent quality.
The chronograph with 70 hours of autonomy
The arrangement of the sub-spheres in the form of “V” is the first feature that highlights the Breitling Transocean Chronograph. Experts often call it tricompax: it positions the small seconds at nine, the 30-minute counter at three and the 12-hour totalizer at six o’clock. This arrangement creates a three-dimensional effect, an aesthetic feature that Tag Heuer used in the first Carrera model of the 1960s. It also highlights the tachymeter scale, which allows to calculate the speed over a certain distance and which is integrated to the edge of the sphere. In the Speedmaster Professional model, said scale is placed on the bezel. For its part, the Breitling watch features a polished bezel.
Inside the Breitling Transocean Chronograph, the B01 manufacturing caliber is housed. With more than 70 hours of autonomy, this watch can remain stored during the weekend without operating problems. The boxes are available in steel, two-tone versions of steel and red gold, as well as models made only in red gold. A steel watch, with a round black dial, unused, 5000 euros, while the gold versions combined with a blue dial reach 15,000 euros. The spheres are also available in gray and brown.
The Breitling Transocean Chronograph 1461 offers a 42-hour power reserve, as well as a moon-phase and semi-perpetual calendar function. In fact, the name of the watch refers to this last complication: it is necessary to adjust the calendar after 1461 days, that is, after each leap year. The price of this model is around 6500 euros. The 43 mm diameter box made of stainless steel combines a dial with red and black elements.
Universal clock and chronograph
The current Breitling Transocean Unitime offers a world time and chronograph function. In the year 1951, when the house first launched the Unitime, the model did not have a function to time intervals. The time zone was adjusted by means of a rotating bezel. In addition, it integrated an inner ring with the names of 24 cities for each time zone. To display the current time, the bearer only had to place the reference point of his current time zone at the 12 o’clock position.
With a stainless steel case, the Transocean Unitime is around 5000 euros, while the bicolor models reach 8000 euros and the version made in rose gold amounts to 20,000 euros. Braided steel bracelets and crocodile skin are perfect to accompany this model. The sports models opt for a rubber or cowhide strap.