Replica Breitling Superocean Automatic 46 Black Steel, la recensione
Replica Breitling‘s heritage in diving watches is second to none. With Georges Kern at the helm, the Grenchen brand benefited from an image and product restructuring that involved almost all the collections, broadening the vision of a brand historically too focused on the production of watches for professional pilots. In Grenchen, professional diving watches have been made under the Superocean name since 1957 which, from a product point of view, have long offered COSC certified movements and a water resistance rating that more successful competing brands on paper are still unable to offer.
Completely redesigned and rethought in terms of positioning, the new Superocean collection launched in 2019 at Baselworld has among its weapons a perceived quality that is decidedly superior to the outgoing collection. What does a Breitling Superocean look like when seen very closely, under the magnifying glass of our photographer’s macro lens? We tell you about it in our “Macro by Horbiter®” column which allows you to fully appreciate where the designers’ work was concentrated and how the bezel and dial in particular were transformed. The style is consistent with the image of a watch not necessarily intended for the suit of a professional diver, but suitable for water sports in a broader sense and for very dynamic ones, as demonstrated by the partnership with surfing icons such as the legendary Kelly Slater.
The dial was first simplified; in the version you see, with a 46mm DLC-treated steel case, it has a very fine blue grain with elongated trapezoidal indexes and Arabic numerals, both applied. The macro photos allow you to appreciate the exceptional quality of the workmanship of the indices and the deposition of Super–Luminova® without any smudges on the indices and hands. Furthermore, the date window has perfect geometry, with a nice step in relation to the plane of the dial. The pairing with the applied Breitling logo was successful: it adds a vintage touch to a modern watch. The workmanship of the bezel is also excellent, even if it reveals some apparent imperfections, but it must be said that the photos you see were taken on one of the first prototypes. The profile of the toothing on the unidirectional rotating bezel is pleasant, thinner than the “heavy duty” one of a pure tool watch: it is almost a “skin diver” toothing in terms of fine machine workmanship.
Finally, the screwed caseback covers the caliber 17, reworked on an ETA basis (today it is probably a Sellita) to guarantee the precision required by the COSC tests, which Breitling refers to extensively in its normal production. The caseback closure is reminiscent of a Super–Compressor type, while the screw-down crown has a double gasket. Breitling has raised the level of perceived quality of its collection, there is no doubt, and the aesthetic has been simplified precisely to communicate a more premium positioning and attract a wider audience.
The Breitling Superocean 46 Black Steel is a tool watch in plain clothes, this is its strong point. Although I believe it is the least Breitling among the Breitlings, the brand must be recognized for having built an intelligent proposal for those who want to get closer to the brand without going through the excessively identifying style, and not appreciated by everyone, of a Navitimer or a Chronomat. Final note on the price: €4,550 is a bit high, considering that the Superocean 46 does not have an in-house caliber, which it deserves. Conversely, the overall workmanship and the reputation as one of the most reliable brands in the world in the long term work in favor of the Swiss brand.
