Breitling Top Time Classic Car Editions with New Engines

Breitling Top Time Classic Car Editions with New Engines.

Just in the last few years, Breitling has moved away from launching separate limited editions linked to the rebirth of the Top Time Ref. 810 chronograph in favor of full-fledged capsule collections. The roots of the design for the four new Top Time Classic Cars Editions can be traced back to the same Top Time ref. 810.

The company has showcased them just a few days before the start of Watches and Wonders 2023. Ref. 810 was part of the brand's collection from 1964 through to 1972. Its absence was felt for many years. The classic chronograph with contrasting counters only returned in 2020 with the mask of "Zorro" on its dial.

Since then, they've continued experimenting with updated Top Times. Two models appeared which were co-designed with the Australian custom motorcycle workshop Deus Ex Machina, along with a chronograph in partnership with motorcycle manufacturer Triumph.

In August 2021, the company decided to merge the history of Top Time with classic American muscle cars from the 1960s. A capsule collection was unveiled: a trio of models in honor of the Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang and Shelby Cobra.

A sequel to this collection has come two years later: watches dedicated to the same three cars have been developed, and a forth Ford Thunderbird model has been welcomed to the series.The biggest changes are hidden under the hood.

Caliber 25 and Caliber 41 (both based on ETA calibers) have been replaced in the Top Time Classic Cars Editions by a B01 COSC-certified chronometer movement — a more fitting solution for a series inspired by impressive speed.

The movement has a power reserve of 70 hours. Some adjustments had to be made to the novelty's dimensions to fit the new engine. A uniform case size was introduced: now all the watches are housed in cases measuring 41 mm in diameter.

All the chronographs have three counters. The only exception is the Shelby Cobra model. Its previous version also had two counters instead of three. The watchmakers at Breitling explain that aesthetic reasoning is behind this decision: the place of the lower subdial is taken by the round Cobra logo.

Apart from the white Ford Thunderbird, these watches have colorful dials that make them stand out, and not only that, they've got other colored accents too: chronograph hands and segments on the tachymeter scale.