Breitling Top Time Limited Edition Watch

There are few Swiss watchmakers that do limited edition watches that are more sought after than that of Breitling and we’re pretty sure their latest offering that falls into this bracket, the Top Time Limited Edition Watch, will positively fly off the shelves over the coming months. It is available to purchase from the Hodinkee store and has a price tag of $4990 which, considering how attractive it is and the fact it’s a limited edition, represents a pretty good investment in our book here at Coolector HQ.

With just 2000 being made available to purchase, the Breitling Top Time Limited Edition Watch certainly won’t be short in admirers so make sure you move quickly if you like what you see here. It is a contemporary take on the colourful Top Time, one of the brand’s most iconic mid-century chronograph timepieces and this re-release is one of our favourites from Breitling that we’ve seen in some time at The Coolector.

Rebirth of an Icon

The Breitling Top Time has been well and truly brought back to life with this awesome limited edition offering as a 41mm stainless steel chronograph with pump pushers. The dial on this beauty is executed in a classic “Zorro” motif – which is an affectionate moniker created by vintage collectors that references the disguise worn by the famous pulp novel character – with a pair of registers and an assortment of bright red accents.

Great to look at and classically styled, the Breitling Top Time Limited Edition Watch ($4990) is right up our street here at Coolector HQ and takes its design inspiration from a wide array of classic Top Time references. The case design, for example, with its sharp facets and striking lugs, is immediately evocative of the ref. 810 Mark 2 from the 1960s. The breathtaking dial design, that boasts amazing high-contrast accents and the eye-catching “Zorro” look, reflects the gold-plated ref. 2003.4 from 1969.

The contemporary mid-size case has been fully polished, and features a linear aesthetic with an abundance of sharp facets and angles. The dial is both geometric and graphic, courtesy of its character-filled “Zorro” design motif. The two sub-dials, a 30-minute chronograph register at three o’clock and a small seconds display at nine o’clock, slope ever so slightly downward and have a thoroughly impressive and detailed level of concentric snailing that immediately catches the eye.

Powerful Performance

The Top Time from Breitling was originally known for housing a manually wound movement during its heyday, but for its relaunching in today’s watch, the Swiss watchmaker has paired it with automatic Breitling caliber 23 to deliver an unbeatable, modern performance. This is a workhorse movement, which is certified as a chronometer by COSC, has a running autonomy up to 48 hours.

Priced just shy of $5k, the Breitling Top Time Limited Edition Watch obviously doesn’t come cheap but if you’re in the market for a new luxury watch in 2020, this would undoubtedly be one of our top picks here at The Coolector. Chock full of fine features which includes sapphire crystal glass casing, 30m water resistance, brown nubuck leather strap with pin buckle and the COSC-certified Breitling automatic caliber 23 movement – what’s not to like?