Reviewing the Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang Watch

The new Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang watch from the Swiss brand’s motorsport-inspired Classic Cars Capsule Collection is clad in a rich green dial, evoking the colour of the first-generation Ford Mustang car from the 1960s and 70s. Belonging to the beloved Breitling Top Time collection. the watch has been developed for motor-focussed sportsters and classic chronograph watch collectors alike.

Blending cars with watches is not as easy as you may think. We already have plenty of 60s based chronograph watches, and there’s already a sophisticated fan base for classic cars from the same era. But how does one combine a chronograph complication and the styling of a car as popular as the iconic Ford Mustang to create a timeless wristwatch? Well, just as Breitling. The Swiss watchmaker’s Classic Cars Squad presents three unique-looking chronographs, fabricated from the same trusty Breitling chronograph recipe and carrying the DNA of the Top Time line. For those who may not already be aware, the Breitling Top Time watch was first released in the 1960s and became a symbol of self-expression – a statement on the wrist. Its dynamic design boasted a reverse panda chronograph layout that has since been revisited with the release of the Breitling Top Time Limited Edition model (but with a “bow-tie” dial styling), and the Breitling Top Time Deus Limited Edition watch.

The three new Breitling Top Time watches from the Classic Cars Capsule Collection comprise the red and black dialled Chevrolet Corvette model, the blue Shelby Cobra watch and the Breitling Ford Mustang watch, which we’re going to look at in a little more detail here. The unconventional styling of the three new Breitling Top Time watches has a distinct motoring twist, with beautifully polished piston push-pieces at 2 and 4 o’clock to enhance a certain air of classic elegance.

It was unfortunate for many when the Breitling Top Time watch fizzled out some time during the 1970s. Before that point, the brand had developed some superb three-register renditions that were a stab at a more sporty-inspired chronograph (as opposed to a classic dress watch aesthetic), so it seems only fitting that the Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang and Shelby Cobra watches are all spun from the Top Time thread. The 50-year old formula, however, is certainly not lost in the design of these classic motor-inspired wristwatches, despite their modern, vividly-coloured dials.

The Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang watch

Without a doubt, the Ford Mustang is one of the most popular American cars in Europe. For many, it was the ultimate bedroom wall poster. It epitomized the American automotive dream, creating a new motoring breed. Thanks to its cockpit that was pushed far back into the chassis, the Ford Mustang had a longer bonnet and a shortened rear deck. The running horse on the grill, amongst many other finer details, gave the classic car a desirable edge. It’s this first generation of Ford Mustang, however, that ran between the years 1964 and 1974, that has inspired the design of the new Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang watch.

The new model measures a 42mm diameter like the red and black Top Time Chevrolet Corvette watch. Crafted from stainless steel, the bezel of the watch surrounds a dial that is close in shade to the “Bullitt” Mustang that Steve McQueen drove in the famous movie. Similar to the car’s deep green paint, the dial of the watch can appear almost black in some lighting, whilst hints of orange and white across the display keep the watch legible and fresh-looking. Some of the first-generation Ford Mustang watches were tailored to the needs of those with families, others were suited to a racing lifestyle on the track. In that same vein, the new Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang watch blurs the lines between a watch for race-focused sportsters and classic chronograph watch collectors alike. It is, for many, the best of both worlds.

How the new Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang watch drives

The stainless steel case of the new Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang watch is integrated with 100-meter water resistance and features those eye-catching piston-style push-pieces that many Breitling fans love about the brand’s vintage-inspired chronographs. The push-pieces are polished and are in-keeping with the rest of the case – the polished slim bezel and tapering lugs, for example. The new green dialled chronograph watch features a snapped caseback engraved with an image of the horse motif that symbolises the provenance, authenticity and craftsmanship of the Mustang brand. The free-roaming horse found in the North American West is depicted in a running stance, representing the speed and quality of every Mustang car. The front of the case is topped with a cambered anti-reflective pane of sapphire crystal glass, which protects the dial from damage, whilst granting a glare-free view into the display at all times of the day or night. The case also features a non screw-locked crown with two gaskets to uphold the case’s water-resistant capability.

The new Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang watch from the Classic Cars Capsule Collection features Super-LumiNova-coated stick markers and hands. The orange-coated central chronograph hand, together with three black-filled counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock offer 1/8th of a second, 30-second, 15-minute, and 6-hour functions. A tachymeter scale around the edge of the dial is represented in black but features vivid orange and yellow detailing for measuring distance based on time. Underneath the Breitling lettering at 12 o’clock is the Ford Mustang horse motif, whilst the 15-minute and 6-hour totaliser at 9 and 6 o’clock respectively boast orange and yellow hands.

Inside the heart of the new Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang watch is the Breitling Calibre 25. The self-winding mechanical movement delivers approximately 42 hours of power reserve once fully wound and beats at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The movement also comprises 38 jewels and is COSC-certified, having passed intense precision tests over 15 days and obtaining a rating certificate from the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute. The watch is completed on a brown racing-themed calfskin leather strap with a robust, polished stainless steel folding clasp engraved with the famous Breitling logo.

To order the new Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang watch, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453 or you can check the rest of the Classic Cars Capsule Collection out here.

Technical Specifications of the Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang watch

• Case: 42mm - stainless steel – 100-meter water-resistant – snapped caseback engraved with an image of the Mustang horse logo – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – non screw-locked crown with two gaskets
• Dial: Green – black filled chronograph counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock – Super-LumiNova-coated stick hour markers and hands –orange and yellow accents - black tachymeter scale 
• Movement: Breitling Calibre 25 – self-winding – COSC-certified – 28,800 v. P. H – 42-hour power reserve – 1/8th of a second – 30 seconds – 15 minutes – 6 hours functions
• Strap: Brown racing-themed perforated leather strap – stainless steel folding clasp – engraved with the Breitling logo
• Reference: A253101A1L1X1
• Price: £4,360