NEW CLASSIC
Top Gun is flying again, Kate Bush is in the charts, Doc Martens are on shoe racks. The common thread? Nostalgia. While the new normal throws up challenges, consumers are rewinding a few decades to find comfort in the familiar. For its part, watchmaker Breitling is turning back time to the 1960s and ’70s. The Swiss brand recently launched a redesign of its sporty SuperOcean sea watch, recalling the original Slow Motion from that era while introducing contemporary features and a bright colour palette. This modern-retro tool watch combines the history of underwater adventure by the likes of marine explorer Jacques Cousteau with the style of a timepiece intended to be worn in the surf, epitomised by the Breitling Surfer Squad of Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons.
The case
Available in four sizes (46, 44, 42 and 36 millimetres), the watch comes in three case metals – steel, steel/gold and bronze. The ceramic-inlay bezel is scratch-proof, unidirectional on three of the sizes and bidirectional with a patented lock on the 46 millimetre. And for the present-day adventurer, the new SuperOcean is shock-, sand- and saltwater-resistant.
The dial
The Slow Motion watch was a minutesbased chronograph because it took an hour to complete a full rotation of the dial (divers don’t require a seconds hand). The latest version sees the return of the seconds hand, alongside the distinctive square minute hand, bold against a series of colourful dials. It’s water-resistant to 300 metres and features the broad hands and indexes coated in Super-LumiNova for underwater readability.
The movement
Breitling is one of only a few watchmakers to manufacture its own calibres and the quality is confirmed by its status as a COSC-certified chronometer. Its automatic Breitling Caliber 17 comes with a two-year warranty and 38-hour power reserve.
The band
A sporty rubber strap and a new three-row metal bracelet give two band options. Each comes with a folding clasp that allows for micro-adjustments of up to 15 millimetres, making it easy to wear over a wetsuit.
The price
Breitling SuperOcean Automatic 44 watch / $6790 / breitling.com
Love all
Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams – tennis is no stranger to precious jewellery worn on court. But the term “tennis bracelet” was born when player Chris Evert halted a match at the 1987 US Open to find a diamond bracelet that had fallen off her wrist. Innovative Italian jeweller Roberto Demeglio has taken the concept one step further, employing the patented Ex-Tensible system to render the tennis bracelet elastic so it’s safe and easy to wear. With 15.12 carats of emerald-cut sapphires, it’s good to know this gem is staying put.