Breitling’s status as the creator of ‘instruments for professionals’ has always led them to explore ever more demanding facets of performance within the arena of luxury watchmaking, and according to their latest news the depths of the ocean has become the latest hostile environment to attract their focus. Of course, Breitling have already designed many hardwearing timepieces that are ideally optimised for use in a seafaring or diving capacity, most notably within the Breitling Superocean family, but this latest model – a special edition of the Superocean Chronograph Steelfish – is a true king even among these illustrious instruments of aquatic horology.
Breitling Superocean watches have stood as the flagship range of this Swiss watch manufacturer with regards to water resistance for quite some time, and they have been engineered to excel just as comprehensively as those Breitling watches whose focuses lie upon the skies. The fact that they were originally developed for use within the military suggests that their standards of performance are second to none, and the new Steelfish looks set to uphold this mantle with aplomb, whilst also introducing an attractively sporty and more ‘technical’ aesthetic into the range as well.
The Steelfish instantly makes its mark using a distinctive unidirectional ratcheted bezel with an exceptionally broad span, and this sizeable timepiece retains stunning readability through the use of black rubber encrusted numerals and markings, as well as two magnified windows displaying both the day and the date. The 44 mm steel case of the Steelfish utilises the mixture of satin and polished finishing that has proved to be so popular upon many modern day watches, and, as you might expect from any newcomer to the Superocean family, its capabilities when submerged within water are commendable to say the least.
The crown of the Superocean is securely screwed down to prevent accidental water entry, and to a similar end the reinforced chronographic push-pieces cannot be operated without being first ‘unlocked’; an augmentation which is vital in allowing the watch to remain waterproof in depths of up to 500 metres. Luminescence coats the oversized Arabic numerals, and these twin considerations may not seem like much, but are actually the ideal combination for ensuring premium visibility even within very murky or clouded waters.
Of course, another problem experienced by divers can be the glare from reflective sunlight, and so the cambered sapphire crystal of the Steelfish has been glare-proofed on both the inside and the outside, resulting in it being wholly functional within almost any conceivable environment. The fact that the automatic movement is certified to chronometer standard also means that this functionality is of the highest possible horological calibre, and nothing could be more fitting for a collection of watches that was originally intended to exclusively serve the armed forces.
The Steelfish is being introduced by Breitling in variant dial colours of black, silver or blue, and can be procured with either a steel or a rubber bracelet – although given its aquatic excellence a rubber strap (with its anti-slip properties) would possibly complete the proficiency of this already superb timepiece even further. Here at Banks Lyon, we’ll bring you all of the latest news regarding the Breitling Steelfish as and when it arises, but we already have a huge assemblage of current Breitling Superocean watches in stock for you to peruse as well.
Many of our other Breitling watches possess formidable aptitude with regards to water resistance, so if you’re looking for a rugged timepiece to withstand even the most professional of diving requirements then we certainly have an abundance of options for you to examine, and all are available using an array of o% finance payment options as is our custom. If you’d like to find out more, please call our experienced and friendly team on 01524 38 48 58 or send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help with your enquiry.
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