James Bond’s iconic Breitling Top Time watch has been revived into an eye-catching masterpiece that stays true to its heritage while embracing innovative technology.
The Swiss watchmakers have brought the 1965 Thunderball classic back to life with its limited-edition Top Time complete with a blockchain-based digital passport.
The Breitling Top Time Limited Edition is the company’s first timepiece offered with the state-of-the-art technology, which confirms its authenticity and ownership in a single click.
In true Bond style, owners of the new creation can access the digital passport and transfer ownership with one blockchain transaction provided by Arianee. Although, it’s hard to imagine anyone would ever want to part with the Top Time.
Capsulated by the 41mm stainless-steel case is a Breitling Caliber 23 chronograph movement boasting a power reserve of 48 hours, as well as a heightened accuracy status thanks to its COSC certification.
The collectors’ favourite may be an unconventional design, but its bold style statement and playful face don’t detract from its superb chronograph performance.
With red hour and minute hands coated in Super-LumiNova, which ensures legibility in all lighting, the modern retro watch is limited to just 2,000 pieces.
“The Top Time is an important but often overlooked part of our heritage.” – George Kern
“Breitling aficionados have always loved the Top Time’s dial,” says Breitling CEO George Kern. “When it was released more than 50 years ago, it was a watch that appealed to a younger audience committed to enjoying the freedom and the spirit of the 1960s, and amazingly, after all this time, it continues to stand out.
“The Top Time is an important but often overlooked part of our heritage, and we know it’s going to resonate with men and women who love this blend of history, design and great performance.”
While the modern watch features technology a 1960s Bond could have only dreamed of, its original mission still rings true. At the launch of the first Top Time, Willy Breitling described his timepieces as being aptly suited to the “needs of the young and active professionals”.
Unlike the Top Time handed to Bond in Thunderball, which he used to avert a nuclear catastrophe by locating stolen missiles hidden underwater, the new timepiece doesn’t feature a Geiger counter. It does, however, have sophisticated features more suited for everyday life in 2020 and beyond.
As the digital world seeps into everything we do in our daily lives, keeping pace with technology is what inspired the newest Breitling addition as well as others for the future.
“At Breitling, customer engagement is at the heart of everything we do,” says Breitling Global CDTO Antonio Carriero. “With Arianee and its blockchain technology, we have the unique opportunity to strengthen the link with our customers providing the highest level of clientelling, and in the same time ensuring their entire privacy.
“This is only the beginning, but we are already working on innovative ideas on how to further leverage Arianee to bring additional services to our customers.”
Suitably launched through the Swiss brand’s ecommerce stores, the Top Time will be available upon request from its global retail networker later in the year.
