Dear wrist friends, welcome back to our magazine. As we well know, the world of watchmaking has always been inextricably linked to the world of motors. An industry, which thanks to the spirit and courage of the drivers, has been an inspiration for many watchmakers.
Among these we certainly cannot fail to mention Breitling, that is, the historic Swiss watchmaking company that began its first steps by producing chronometers since the late 1800s. In 1915, we witness the creation of its first single-pusher wrist chronograph, which, thanks to its rapid spread, was immediately adopted by the RAF (Royal Air Force).
Over time, the name Breitling forges a deep connection with the world of chronographs, that is, the type of watches that, with the advent of motor racing, became an essential tool for timing laps around the circuit.
Among the chronographs inspired by the world of motor racing and produced by the Swiss company, special mention should be made of the Breitling Top Time B01 , i.e., a watch that in 2020 was dedicated to a number of brands that have been a part of American motorsports including the historic Shelby.
The Shelby Automobiles
It was the 1960s, the time when men raced fender-to-fender on circuits on both coasts of America. Most famous at the time was the Daytona Beach track that hosted the 24-hour endurance race.
A then-famous Carroll Shelby, an incomparable driver and veteran of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, returned to the U.S. with a bad update on his health; he would no longer be able to take part in endurance car racing due to the aggravation of a congenital heart condition.
Demoralized by this news, he decided to devote himself to his garage where he prepared sports cars for motoring enthusiasts, Hollywood stars and famous drivers. Thanks to his technical and mechanical expertise, he brought to life an automobile that would grab headlines.
Here then was born the Shelby Cobra, a car with an incredible 350 horsepower unleashed by the overbearingness, more than power, of its Ford V8 engine and an English-derived chassis. Because of its performance and incredible handling, this car kindled the envy of Enzo Ferrari, whose prancing horse cars had already conquered the sports car market.
This “supercar” challenge was dragged onto the tarmac of international circuits, so much so that it gave rise to heated competition. Ford and Shelby worked together to crumble the overwhelming power achieved by Ferrari’s cars, and in the mid-1960s they brought home the victory they achieved on the Le Mans circuit.
The Breitling Top Time
“We are entering the world of young people and will speak their language.”
Thus Willy Breitling announces to the world that something is about to change within his Swiss maison.
In 1964, Breitling launched the new Top Time on the market, following the introduction of the first models in 1962. This was the right opportunity to seize the “verve” of motor racing and launch a chronograph with a racing flavor.
It was an affordable watch, unlike its direct competitors. It promised to win the hearts and wrists of young boys who, to the sound of Beatles in their cars, were savoring their first doses of freedom.
The first version of the Top Time featured a very clean symmetrical dial with two horizontal subdials (bicompax), while from the second version onward three subdials were adopted. The most popular versions were those in contrasting coloring, called “panda” and “reverse panda.”
The tachymeter scale, integrated into the dial, gave the watch a perfect mix of elegance and sportiness, while the case made of stainless steel, was only 36mm in diameter.
The caliber adopted for this watch was either a Valjoux 7730, known for its efficiency and precision, or a Venus 188, both hand-wound.
In 1965, the British spy also wore it on his wrist in the film “Thunderball,” making it a highly popular model. This watch had been purchased for the film at a flea market for £25 and sold at auction in 2013 for £104,000, making it one of the Swiss watchmaker’s most expensive vintage watches ever.
Around the end of the 1960s, a different model of Top Time was introduced from the previous versions, with ref. 2008. The new version had a square case and much shorter lugs, making the watch more dynamic, elegant and suitable this time even for the “fairer sex.”
The last version of the Top Time was launched in the early 1970s with a revamped design: 43mm case diameter, rotating bezel to record a specific time, and larger sub-counters. We are talking about ref. 7656, which marked a change of direction and an adaptation to new customer needs.
The Breitling Top Time B01
In 2020, Breitling chooses to bring back the Swiss manufacturer’s iconic sports model, but this time dedicating it to some of America’s history-making motorsport brands and evoking that spirit of freedom and passion for motors in vogue in the 1960s.
The case diameter is reduced to 41mm, the tachymeter scale remains inside the dial, and the subdials have a more modern design with more three-dimensionality.
The “Shelby Cobra” version has an electric blue dial highlighting the two subdials and red chronometer ball. A clear reference to the historic American car.
This time, the Top Time encases a self-winding chronograph caliber with column-wheel chronograph sorting and vertical engagement. C.O.S.C. certified, it has a power reserve of 70 hours and 28,800 vibrations per hour.
Final Thoughts
Of the entire series of Top Time B01s dedicated to Triumph, Corvette, Mustang, Deus and Shelby Cobra, the last one is the one that most fully embodies the spirit of roaring overseas engines.
Those who happen upon the Breitling catalog will almost certainly be captivated by the sporty appeal of this timepiece having an automotive heritage that few chronographs can boast.
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