The new Breitling Top Time Limited Edition ‘Zorro’ sets hearts ablaze with its drugged up ultra-retro meets super-sexy contemporary vibe

The new Breitling Top Time Limited Edition ‘Zorro’ sets hearts ablaze with its drugged up ultra-retro meets super-sexy contemporary vibe

Breitling is on fire. If the brand’s new 2020 releases have shown us anything, it’s that no matter what the other brands might release this year, Breitling has already left its mark on the horology world. 

They have been hitting it out of the park for the last three months, first giving us the Breitling Navitimer B03 Chronograph Rattrapante 45 — an ode to the brand’s 85 years long run of producing technologically advanced movements — that was followed by the AVI Ref 765 1953 Re-Edition — a nod to a classic from Breitling’s archive of amazing heritage watches — and then the Premier Bentley Mulliner Limited Edition — a unique tailor-made and high-precision timepiece. 

They have now launched the new Breitling Top Time Limited Edition ‘Zorro’.

As the nickname of Zorro suggests, it’s an unique and unconventional stunner of a watch with a drugged-up high dose of retro that depicts the two chronograph sub-dials in the sexiest way possible. 

The Context 

Breitling is famed for its association with aviation and known for creating high-precision timepieces since 1884.

The new Breitling Top Time Limited Edition ‘Zorro’ is a descendent of the 1960s Top Time model that was popular especially amongst the younger crowd due to its devil-may-care bold attitude. 

“Breitling aficionados have always loved the Top Time’s dial. When it was released more than 50 years ago, it was a watch that appealed to a younger audience committed to enjoying the freedom and the spirit of the 1960s, and, amazingly, after all this time, it continues to stand out. The Top Time is an important but often-overlooked part of our heritage, and we know it’s going to resonate with men and women who love this blend of history, design, and great performance.”

Breitling CEO Georges Kern

Watch. Meet James Bond.

Rolex and Omega are usually the names that come to mind when people mention James Bond’s watches. But did you know that the dapper spy also had a Breitling connection? 

The original Top Time featured in 1965’s Thunderball movie. In it Q hands James Bond this watch that the world’s favourite spy uses to avert a nuclear catastrophe by locating stolen missiles that had been hidden underwater. 

This original watch did have a slightly different dial that featured a chronograph with a Geiger counter, and while the new release is missing that, it’s making up for it with contemporary looks and styling.

Watch. Meet Future.

The Breitling Top Time Limited Edition ‘Zorro’ will be the brand’s first watch offered with a blockchain-based digital passport. 

This cutting-edge technology is being put in place to establish a more secure and private connection between the brand and its valued clients. The blockchain-based digital passport will be used to confirm the authenticity and ownership of the watch and the owners can access the watch’s digital passport at any time.

Given the entire pandemic issue going on these days this will also allow the buyers to access the watch earlier online via Breitling’s e-commerce channel later this month. 

The Specifications of the reference A23310121G1X1 

This new release from Breitling comes with the following specifications: 

The heart used — Breitling Calibre 23 — is a COSC-certified, self-winding movement featuring an oscillating pinion chronograph and an unilaterally acting ball-bearing rotor. The 30mmx7.9mm movement beats at the frequency of 4Hz (28’800 A/h) and offers a 48-hour power reserve.

Compare this to the fab favourite Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 which is an automatic with dual-acting ball-bearing rotor movement and the main difference you get is of the increased 70 hour power reserve. I know it’s not the same as having an in-house movement, but at the price point, the Breitling Calibre 23 of the new ‘Zorro’ watch is a pretty worthy option.

It is cased inside a 41mm diameter and 14.27mm thick stainless steel case that offers a 30m (3 ATM) water resistance owing to a non-screw-locked single gasket crown.

The watch face shows the traditional functions of hours, minutes and seconds, a decimal scale and chronograph with a 30-minute counter at 3’o clock and a small-second sub-dial at 9’o clock.

The Dial

The beautiful silvery white dial with white sub-dials framed by black ‘masks’ and red accents is protected by a convex sapphire glass crystal with antireflective coating on both sides. 

If you spot this in the wild, the dial will make you pause and just look, keeping you transfixed in its beauty. The concentric circled sub-dials spin such a wonderful visual effect against the black ‘mask’ that’s its something that will be truly appreciated by all watch enthusiasts.

It features striking red accents visible on the hands and the sub-dial at 3’o clock that really elevate the retro look of this watch. The bold but restrained use of colours is understated elegance, that resonates well with the legacy of the brand.

Other features 

The new Breitling Top Time’s modern retro look is perfectly complemented by its brown nubuck leather strap. 

The watch is limited to 2000 pieces, with the snapped, steel closed caseback  engraved with “ONE OF 2000.” 

Watch Ya Gonna Do About It?

The new Breitling Top Time Limited Edition ‘Zorro’ is a red hot beast of a playful watch with a strong visual wrist presence. 

Legibility is key in chronographs, and the Top Time Limited Edition ‘Zorro’ expresses that in bundles. The dial itself is cluster free and clean. 

The red hour and minute hands as well as the dot markers for each hour are coated with Super-LumiNova® that will ensure legibility in all lighting conditions. 

The hour markers are applied and raised, while the sub-dials are sunken and these features combine to provide a fair sense of 3D effect to the dial as well. Completing the retro look are the piston pushers at 2 and 4’o clock. 

Given that the watches are limited edition, they are something that Breitling watch enthusiasts will surely lap up real quick. 

The watch is a daily wearable watch — it’s a bit thick though so may not fit under the cuff — and can be paired well with jeans and t-shirts over the weekends, or on Fridays for a semi-formal business meeting. 

The watch is only 4’950 CHF and for that price, it is an absolute steal. 

Anyone looking to own a piece of Breitling with an added one hell of a dose of retro should definitely go for this one. For a price less than some of their Navitimers, you get a whole lot of bang for your buck and candy for your wrist. 

For more information on this watch and other Breitling watches, head to their website here.