Dive Into Breitling’s New Superocean Automatic 46
There’s always something to be said for building a product that goes above and beyond the standard requirements of its category. This was once the norm in the dive watch category some 20 years ago, where brands would set new benchmarks of capability that no ordinary human could ever reach with a timepiece on their wrists, and Breitling has once again revisited this ethos with the launch of the Superocean Super Diver.
It starts from the bones of the core collection Superocean — an already well-engineered dive watch with 300 m of water resistance. Breitling introduced a trio of key changes to build this latest halo of its diver offering. That water resistance has more than tripled, bumping up to 1,000 m. Even 300 m is beyond the level of actual scuba diving standards, with only six divers ever reaching past the 300-m threshold. There are still a handful of brands out there that like to brag about depth ratings beyond the 1,000-m mark and those pieces are often oversized and bordering on entirely unwearable. Instead, Breitling has stuck with this 1,000-m standard, which has appeared consistently in its catalogues as far back as 1983.
Both its dial and its case material help differentiate the Super Diver from its siblings. A new camouflage-patterned dial has been fitted (offered in both black/grey and green configurations), with matching ceramic bezel inserts to complete the aesthetic. Meanwhile, its case and optional bracelet have been crafted of titanium, which has a slightly warmer hue than its steel siblings.
Colours aside, the use of titanium for a large dive watch is a smart move. As rigidity increases, mass plummets, making for a drop of 69.5 grams between the standard Superocean and the new Super Diver when fitted with their respective metal bracelets. The new model is by no means an ultralight, but its drop in mass will no doubt improve wearing comfort for those planning to wear the diver day after day. Opting for a rubber strap — offered in matching anthracite or green depending on the reference — takes the weight down even further.
At 46 mm in diameter, the Super Diver offers a reasonable amount of visual heft, though it’s worth noting that its overall size barely differs from that of its 300 m counterpart. The only exterior dimension to see a change is its case thickness, which increases to 14.5 mm from 13.2, and surprisingly this change has nothing to do with water. Instead, it’s the installation of a soft-iron inner case that requires this additional tolerance. This addition to its construction aims to protect its inner workings from the effects of magnetic fields, further bolstering the overall reliability of timekeeping.
Though not always talked about, there remain several industries where exposure to magnetic fields can impact the timekeeping of your watch, ranging from medical imaging, to industrial machining, to power generation, and beyond. That’s not even considering the number of magnets found on countless things in your home that your watch may brush up against when you’re not paying attention. It’s the most common cause of a watch running too fast or slow, thus making magnetic resistance a worthwhile upgrade for any good tool watch.
This latest rendition of the Superocean further cements the collection as a go-to in the luxe dive watch category. With subtle nods to a historical reference from the ’60s, Breitling has leaned into what it calls Modern Retro perfectly. The collection tips its hat to heritage, all while building watches that feel properly contemporary. For those looking for seriously rugged timekeeping, the Super Diver makes as strong an argument as you could hope for.