Kelly Slater Is Back With Another Summer-Ready Breitling Collab
There are a lot of diver’s watches on the market these days, and any brand looking to stand out from the crowd (even a top-shelf brand like Breitling) needs to hit a bullseye on style, quality, and size. It also doesn’t hurt to have a design assist from one of the world’s most respected surfers. Fortunately for anyone on the hunt for a vintage-style diver with an impeccable Swiss pedigree (and maybe a pair of sunglasses to go along with it), everything seems to have come together nicely for the launch of the new SuperOcean Heritage collection.
Breitling is most known for aviation watches like the Navitimer and Chronomat these days, but it’s been in the dive watch game since the genre first appeared in the 1950s. The modern SuperOcean Heritage draws its vintage looks from the 1957 Ref. 1004, a watch that Breitling is quick to note wasn’t “just about exploring the underwater world — [it was] about looking good doing it.”
With that in mind, the latest update to the SuperOcean Heritage retains both its signature spear-and-arrow hands and its fun-loving vibe. Now as then, it isn’t the watch you’ll wear to do your PADI training, but it’s perfect for casual days in town or by the shore. “The Superocean Heritage is our most elegant sea watch, and this update is all about refinement,” sums up Breitling CEO Georges Kern. “Every detail has been perfected but the spirit stays the same. It’s about style at sea.”
The other thing to note about the new collection is that, with more than 30 models in four sizes and five colours to choose from, including a chronograph, it has something for pretty much everyone. At the top of the line is the 42 mm chronograph (a nod to Breitling’s 1950s ref. 807, the world’s first dedicated dive chronograph) which hardcore watchmaking nerds will appreciate is powered by Breitling’s in-house Manufacture Caliber 01. The other models are offered in a spread of 44 mm, 42 mm, 40 mm, and 36 mm, the latter available with a pale green dial and strap combo.
The halo model is undoubtedly the 500-piece limited-edition Superocean Heritage B31 Automatic 40 Kelly Slater, featuring a dial with a foliage pattern inspired by the surfing champ’s adopted home in Hawaii. “Breitling has been with me for years,” says Slater, whose first SuperOcean collab dropped in 2019. “This watch reflects everything I love — the ocean, nature, and the easygoing style I’ve always connected with.” Unlike some of Slater’s previous collabs with the Swiss watchmaker, this one doesn’t come with a textile strap made by his apparel brand, Outerknown, and is instead offered with a choice of a textured blue rubber strap or Breitling’s Ocean Classic stainless-steel mesh bracelet.
Breitling SuperOcean Heritage with Kelly Slater
Breitling SuperOcean Heritage with Kelly Slater
Breitling SuperOcean Heritage with Kelly Slater
Breitling SuperOcean Heritage with Kelly Slater
Breitling SuperOcean Heritage with Kelly Slater
Breitling is also using the launch of the new SuperOcean to introduce a new partnership with British eyewear brand Cutler & Gross. The accompanying eyewear collection, which includes details like luminous lacquer-filled temple tips and Breitling’s signature “Script B” on the hinge, will be available in Canada in August at Cutler & Gross’s Toronto flagship store. Whether or not you spring for the matching shades, thanks to its many refinements and an unprecedented variety of sizes and colours, the new SuperOcean Heritage has more than enough style to see you through the summer on its own.
Learn more about the Breitling SuperOcean Heritage Collection.
