The Breitling Top Time, is an unconventional chronograph designed for ‘young and active professionals’. It quickly became the watch of choice for a sporty in-crowd of men and women equally drawn to the watch’s bold proportions.
In the mid-1960s, auto-racing was having a heyday, with a whole subculture springing up around “café racers,” stylish motorcycles, used to transport their riders from hip café to hip café. The freewheeling 1960s café racer spirit is back in a spectacular new Top Time collaboration between Breitling and British motorcycle brand Triumph. Now in its 120th year, Triumph combines historic craftsmanship with contemporary design to create its classic motorcycles.
“Triumph’s heritage and modern-retro aesthetic are just two of the many things we have in common, their blending of tradition with technology is completely in sync with what we do.”
Georges Kern, CEO, Breitling
For their debut collaboration, Breitling is producing a Top Time Triumph watch with a distinctive brushed finish in the bowtie motif nicknamed “the Zorro dial” by Top Time collectors. Triumph, meanwhile, is launching 270 co-branded motorcycles—the Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition—whose buyers will have the privileged opportunity to purchase a special owner’s version of the Top Time Triumph, this one with a sunray dial and engraved caseback featuring the individual number of the bike.
Both watches have distinctive ice-blue dials. This unique colour has two major references: a blue Triumph Thunderbird 6T from 1951, and a rare, blue-dialed Breitling Top Time Ref. 815 from the 1970s. Features include a subdued racing-themed calfskin leather strap that lets the hero dial shine; Breitling and Triumph logosthat sit subtly at 12 and 6 o’clock; oversized mushroom pushers that allow for easy control over the chronograph’s stop-start and reset functions; and a high-contrast tachymeter scale that provides clear legibility of speed readings.
The watches are powered by the Breitling Caliber 23, a COSC-certified chronometer with a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. And one more cool feature collectors will love: The casebacks are etched with a detailed design sketch of Triumph’s parallel twin engine.
“This collaboration is born out of a shared philosophy of bold and original design. The Top Time Triumph brings that uncompromising style and craftsmanship together.”
Nick Bloor, CEO, Triumph
Triumph Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition
Only 270 of these motorcycles will ever be made. Here’s a closer look at their exceptional co-created design:
Polychromatic Blue scheme
Complementing the dials of the Top Time chronometers, the color scheme was inspired by the Triumph immortalized in the legendary 1953 biker movie The Wild One.
Premium specification
Higher specification, fully adjustable Öhlins piggyback twin rear suspension units combine with all of the latest generation Speed Twin performance, capability and technology for the greatest Speed Twin ride ever.
Unique engine detailing
Billet-machined aluminum clutch and alternator embellishers with a dark anodized finish showcase an exquisitely machined Breitling logo.
Premium leather seat
Perforated black leather with contrasting grey stitching complements the Top Time Triumph watch strap and features an elegantly embroidered Breitling “B.”
Custom instrument faces
Co-designed by Breitling, the motorcycle’s speed and RPM gauges take their styling cues from the Top Time Triumph dial design.
Technical Specifications:
TOP TIME TRIUMPH
Reference: A23311121C1X1
WATCH MOVEMENT
Caliber: Breitling Caliber 23
Diameter: 30 millimeters
Depth: 7.9 millimeters
Winder: self-winding mechanical, unilateral with ball-bearing
Power reserve: approximately 48 hours
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: oscillating pinion, 1/4th second and 30-minute counters
Display: hour, minute, second
Certification: COSC-certified
CASE
Material: stainless steel
Diameter: 41 millimeters
Height: 14.27 millimeters
Water resistance: up to 3 bar (30 meters)
Glass: convex sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides
Caseback: snapped, stainless steel, with engraved Triumph parallel twin engine design sketch
Crown: non screw-locked, one gasket
DIAL/HANDS
Ice blue with special brushing
Super-LumiNova® luminescent hour markers, hour and minute hands
STRAP
Black racing-themed calfskin leather strap with folding buckle
PRICE
£4,500.00 (non-limited edition)
For more information please visit Breitling