Diving with the new Breitling Superocean Heritage II B20 Limited Edition watch

There is reason for Breitling aficionados to celebrate this week. The Swiss brand has announced the release of a new SuperOcean Heritage II watch, exclusive to just 500 pieces worldwide. It comes clothed in stainless steel and marine blue tones and is powered by a reliable automatic movement for guaranteed aquatic functionality.

How It All Began

The demand for dive watches peaked in the 1950s. They began playing an integral role in assisting professional divers deep into the water thanks to some very special features. At the heart of that was Breitling with two ground-breaking dive watches. They launched in 1957, assisting two different nautical roles. One model was a simple three-handed time-only iteration (ref 1004), and the other was a sportier chronograph reference 807. Both were named the Superocean, with the chronograph version proving a little more performance-led with its design geared for the seasoned diver. The watches proved popular with amateur enthusiasts, underwater scientists and those partaking in nautical leisure activities.

To create its first dive watches, Breitling drew from its experience in manufacturing legible onboard instruments for aviation. These dive watches boasted a 200-meter water resistance, a legible dial and an overall breathtaking design. To maximise the legibility of these models, Breitling experts created oversized circular and triangular hour markers that gave the design a unique and instantly recognisable look. Its rotating bezel also had an avant-garde concave design. Its design looked different from the flat black bezels that were beginning to emerge for diving. In the mid-1960s, Breitling decided to re-design this 39mm model, enhancing its aesthetic and functional features even more.

Willy Breitling advanced the technical side of the reference 807 with a new chronograph that enabled even better readability under deep depths of water. To navigate around a small minute counter, which would be too hard to reference in dark conditions, he outfitted the watch with a large central chronograph minute hand that would make a full rotation once every hour. The watch was nicknamed the “Slow Motion”. There was, however, one problem with the watch. It made it almost impossible to tell whether the chronograph function was engaged or not. To overcome this, he created a running indicator at 6 o’clock. When the chronograph was activated, the indicator turned yellow.

A newer, cleaner design of the Superocean was released in 1964. Its simple dial design went without the chronograph counters and was delivered in a 43mm case. It was fitted with a revolutionary calibre in 1969 - the Chrono-Matic calibre.

In 1983 Breitling pushed the technical boundaries once more and developed the Deep Sea model. With its 1000-meter water-resistant capabilities, the watch was certainly primed for well-trained divers. This impressive water resistance was made possible thanks to a helium escape valve. Today the Superocean and Superocean Heritage watches pay homage to a rich legacy in dive watch manufacture. Whereas the Superocean watches are designed for those who need the key features of a dive tool, Superocean Heritage watches are less technical looking.

The new Breitling Superocean Heritage II B20 watches

Not one but two stellar interpretations of the Superocean Heritage II have been released by Breitling. They come on different straps that make it incredibly hard to decide between. Both models are crafted from stainless steel and measure a 44mm diameter. They both prevent water seepage thanks to a strong piece of anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass and a screw-down crown at 3 o’clock. With a water resistance of 200 meters, the movement sitting within the case stays dry and protected at all times. A desaturated blue dial forms a canvas for a set of Super-LumiNova-coated baton markers and a set of central hands. In addition to an arrow-tipped hour hand and a detailed minute track around the edge, the dial of the new Superocean Heritage II B20 watch features a black date window at 6 o’clock.

The Breitling Calibre B20 is based on a TUDOR movement that was made in 2017. In addition to its power reserve of 70 hours, it also features a crown-based quickest function and a variable inertia balance with micro-adjustment by a screw. The new watch is fitted on either a stainless steel mesh-like bracelet with a folding clasp or a black rubber band designed to echo the same look. While the black rubber “mesh-like” band gives the Superocean Heritage II a sportier look, the mesh steel bracelet is a great option if you like the retro appeal of the Superocean Heritage range.

If you’d like more information on the new Breitling Superocean Heritage II B20 watch, you can call and speak to a member of our C W Sellors sales team on 01335 216 004 or check out the entire Superocean range here.