Breitling Transocean

The Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Breitling has been producing the Transocean line since 1958. While its look has changed over time, it's always maintained a certain retro charm. The Transocean was initially a three-hand watch, though chronograph models would eventually be added to the series. Breitling chronographs have made their mark in the history of spaceflight. Scott Carpenter became the second American in orbit on May 24th, 1962. A Navitimer Cosmonaute accompanied Carpenter during his flight, making a Breitling the first wristwatch chronograph in space. This was seven years before Buzz Aldrin wore his Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch when he stepped onto the lunar surface on July 21, 1969.

The design of the Breitling Transocean Chronograph is reminiscent of chronographs from the 1950s and 1960s. The three-hand models also draw inspiration from this era. The dials have relatively tame designs compared to other Breitling models. A black, white, or blue color scheme, baton indices, and polished bezels give these timepieces their elegant touch. There is also a wide variety of bands to choose from: from leather straps in various colors to rubber and textile straps all the way to stainless steel bracelets. What's more, Breitling has had the calibers powering these watches certified by COSC (the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute). This guarantees the precision and quality of both the mechanical and quartz movements.

The entry-level models in the Transocean line feature quartz movements. Plan to spend around 1,400 USD for one of these Breitling Transocean Chronographs in very good condition. Most of these pieces were made in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This is apparent in their designs: The relatively wide bezel with a minute scale, bezel rider tabs, and inner compass scale give these chronographs an especially retro feel. You can choose from Arabic numerals or indices for the hour markers. The subdials are located at 2, 6, and 11 o'clock, and the date display sits between 4 and 5 o'clock.

Breitling Transocean Chronographs from the 1970s also reflect their heritage: Dark blue and orange elements on the dial lend these timepieces their sporty look. The tachymeter scale helps fans of motorsport calculate speeds. The manual Valjoux caliber 7740 ticks away inside these luxury watches and comes with a chronograph function and date display. You can purchase an example in good condition for about 3,100 USD.

Three-hand vintage models with a date display are simpler and much more elegant. You can purchase a 35-mm Breitling Transocean in stainless steel from the 60s in very good condition for as little as 2,000 USD. A similar model with a yellow gold case costs around 3,500 USD. If you're looking for a model with an additional day display, take a look at the Transocean Day-Date in stainless steel on a braided stainless steel bracelet. As a part of the newer generation, this timepiece goes for 3,400 USD in very good condition.

With its 38-mm diameter, the Breitling Transocean 38 is well suited to almost every wrist; it looks great on both men and women. A highlight of this three-hand watch is its large twin-aperture calendar beneath 12 o'clock. A small seconds dial is located at 6 o'clock.

A chamfered bezel and curved lugs characterize this wristwatch. Its stainless steel case is water resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft), and some models come with diamond-studded bezels. The domed sapphire glass has an anti-reflective coating on both dials, which improves readability. Breitling offers dials in black or silver as well as versions made of mother-of-pearl. The latter features diamond indices. Plan to spend about 4,400 USD for a classic and simple model without diamonds with a white dial and brown crocodile leather strap.

In keeping with Breitling tradition, the Transocean 38 is also available as a chronograph. It is powered by the caliber B41 with a 42-hour power reserve. The Transocean Chronograph 38 has a date display at 6 o'clock and subdials at 3 and 9 o'clock. Models with diamonds on the bezel and a white dial demand around 6,100 USD. Combined with a braided stainless steel bracelet, these chronographs feel particularly elegant.

Wristwatches in the Breitling Transocean collection pay homage to the legendary timepieces from the manufacturer based in Grenchen, Switzerland. Breitling connects the models in this series with the success of their own company history. Take the Transocean Chronograph 1915, for example. In 1915, the watch manufacturer developed the first independent chronograph push-piece at 2 o'clock. Back then, it was common for the stopwatch controls—start, stop, and reset—to be integrated into the crown. The next step in separating the stopwatch functions and the crown came in 1934: Breitling, chronograph specialists, added a second push-piece at 4 o'clock. This innovation allowed you to stop timing and start again later. You can purchase the duo-pusher Transocean 1915 chronograph with the manually wound caliber B14 for about 7,100 USD.