Just Landed: Breitling Top Time Deus Limited Edition

Ahead of Switzerland’s Watches & Wonders 2023 event, Breitling unveils a special limited edition Top Time Deus watch, co-designed with Australian custom motorcycle and surf outfitter, Deus Ex Machina. The watch is reminiscent of Breitling’s original 1960s Top Time watch but this time comes in a stunning blue and white colourway with a specially engraved caseback featuring a racing motorcyclist.

Breitling has collaborated with an Australian lifestyle brand to create a new version of its popular vintage Top Time watch. The new Breitling Top Time Dues watch nods to the brand’s original 1960s racing-inspired timepieces from the Top Time line and features references to the Australian custom motorcycle and surf outfitter brand. It follows on nicely from last year’s Top Time Deus Limited Edition collaboration with Deus Ex Machina, which the watchmaker released to mark its role as the official timekeeper for the Deus Swank Rally event. This time, the new Breitling Top Time Deus watch delivers retro colours of light blue, white and brown to evoke a truly vintage feel on the wrist.

All you need to know about the Breitling Top Time

Breitling Top Time watches are highly desirable collectors’ items thanks to their unmissable panda chronograph dials and their retro styling. The first models were released by the world-famous Swiss watchmaker back in 1964, serving as an affordable entry point into the world of Breitling watches. The watch was geared towards young sporty men ranging from their mid to late twenties and remained in the company’s catalogue until the mid-1970s. Originally, Breitling Top Time watches were known and loved for their two sub-dial designs, but eventually, the company released the model in a three-sub-dial version.

The most highly sought-after models were and still are the panda (dark blue sub-dials) and reverse panda versions (light sub-dials against a dark main dial). Breitling also released what was known as the “Zorro dial” watches. These racing watches took inspiration from the dashboards of racing cars with light sub-dials set against a black triangular or “bowtie” dial design. Adding another layer of functionality to their designs, Breitling Top Time watches also feature outer measuring scales on the edge of their dials including telemeters, tachymeters and decimal scales. Depending on the year of production, Breitling Top Time watches were either round-shaped or cushion-shaped and came in a variety of different case materials including stainless steel, yellow gold or gold-plated steel. The first re-edition of the Top Time watch was released by Breitling in 2020, featuring a chronometer-certified movement and a “Zorro” dial, sparking an appetite for this special chronograph once again.

Quick take on the new Breitling Top Time Deus Limited Edition watch

Before we get into the details of the new Breitling Top Time Deus watch for 2023, let’s outline the key features of the timepiece with this overview of its best assets;

• The new Breitling Top Time Deus watch boasts a very vintage pale blue, brown and white colour scheme
• It is the brand’s second collaboration with Deua Ex Machina, continuing its role as official timekeeping partner for the Deus Swank Rally
• The watch is limited to 2000 pieces
• It features the brand’s “In Benzin Veritas” lettering translating to “In Petrol we Trust”
• A lightening bolt-inspired chronograph second hand in deep orange
• Boasting Breitling’s former logo for an added vintage flair
• Traditional mushroom push-pieces on the case
• A racing-inspired brown perforated leather band to complete its vintage look
• The details of the new Breitling Top Time Deus Limited Edition watch

The new Breitling Top Time Deus watch for 2023 adds a bold and retro splash of colour to the wrist with its white lacquered dial, light blue accents and vivid red and orange speedometer-inspired dial elements. The model has been crafted from stainless steel and measures a diameter of 41mm with vintage-inspired mushroom push-pieces at 2 and 4 o’clock for effortless control over the chronograph features. The polished steel case of this new Top Time watch for men is integrated with a 30-meter water-resistant rating and features a specially engraved caseback. The top of the case is crafted from scratch-resistant and anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass, whilst the caseback is snapped and boasts an image designed by Deus Ex Machina’s creative director, Carby Tuckwell. It depicts a motorcyclist in a racing stance with his head down and hands tightly gripping the handlebars.

The new Breitling Top Time Deus Limited Edition watch, as mentioned, is exclusive to just 2000 pieces worldwide. It features a white lacquered dial with light blue-filled squircle-shaped chronograph sub-counters adorned with bold red and orange hands. The sub-dial at 3 o’clock provides a 30-minute timer, whilst the 9 o’clock counter features the small seconds. The central chronograph hand of the watch is deep orange in colour and shaped into a lightning bolt. At the top of the dial, the original Breitling logo stands proud under the 12 o’clock marker, whilst the bottom of the display features a bold black “Deus” logo. The rectangular hour markers around the hour track of the dial have been treated with luminous material, as have the central hour and minute hands, whilst the outer section of the dial features a tachymeter scale. This measuring scale has been stamped with Deus Ex Machina’s motto: “In Benzin Veritas”, which translates to “In Petrol we Trust”.

Inside the case of the new Breitling Top Time Deus Limited Edition watch is the Breitling 23 Calibre. The automatic movement provides a 42-hour power reserve and is chronometer certified. It also performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and features 27 jewels. A retro-looking brown racing-inspired calfskin leather strap completes the look of the new Breitling Top Time watch on a stainless steel-folding clasp.

If you’d like to purchase one of the 2000 Breitling Top Time Deus watches today, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453.