Breitling Superocean Watches

About Breitling Superocean Watches

When people think of the Breitling brand, they immediately recall their pilot’s watches, like the Chronomat or the iconic Navitimer. However, Breitling is an equally superior producer of dive watches.

The period following WWII was an important time for the dive watch. In the 1950s, diving as a sport was growing in popularity and people were becoming increasingly fascinated with sea exploration. In response, a surge of dive watches entered the market throughout this decade, and one of them was the Breitling SuperOcean.

The SuperOcean was Breitling’s first venture into the world of dive watches. The model made its initial debut in 1957. The original SuperOcean boasted water resistance up to 200 meters, which was more than many of its competitors. It also showcased a distinctive braided stainless steel bracelet and a specially styled dial. This unique dial layout and color scheme is likely the first reverse panda dial chronograph. This means it featured a black dial with white subdials as opposed to a white dial with black subdials. Today, the first two SuperOcean references are highly coveted in the pre-owned market. For instance, one rare Ref. 807 boasting the iconic panda dial fetched over $65,000 at auction in 2016. This was more than twice its high estimate.

Upon its initial release, the SuperOcean commanded a strong presence among its counterparts and quickly became a success. To this day, it continues to be Breitling’s top dive watch model. Since its debut, the aesthetic of the SuperOcean has remained largely unchanged aside from additional color and size options. However, the model has undergone a number of technical updates. More recent iterations feature increased water resistance, ranging from an impressive 1500 to 2000 meters. They also come equipped with a helium escape valve (HEV). This allows divers to release gases that build up in the watch at greater depths for prolonged periods of time.

2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the SuperOcean. To celebrate, the brand unveiled an all-new line called the SuperOcean Heritage collection. Still, the classic SuperOcean remains in production and continues to be a favorite dive watch among collectors and divers alike.