Breitling Top Time B01 Shelby Cobra with a racing themed calfskin leather strap with folding buckle.

The 1960s was a decade of experimentation, fun, freedom and energy. Whether cruising on a motorcycle or revving up a sports car, living life at full speed was the order of the day. Willy Breitling felt this change of pace and set out to design an unconventional chronograph that would capture the verve of era. He called it the Top Time.

That spirited tradition continues today with Breitling partnering with some of the coolest names in wheels to create its Top Time designs. In the 1960s, Carrol Shelby, a renowned Le Mans winner, conceptualized a car that blended a lightweight British-style chassis with a sturdy, dependable American big-block engine. The resulting creation, the Cobra, made its debut in 1962 and became an instant hit among sports car enthusiasts and racing enthusiasts alike. Decades later, the Cobra continues to be revered by collectors and is recognized for its impressive speed and performance.

The Top Time B01 Shelby Cobra features the colours and emblem of its classic-car counterpart as well as a perforated leather racing strap, speed-measuring tachymeter scale and contrasting "squircle" (not quite square, not quite round] subdials that give the feel of vintage dashboard gauges. It also comes with a brag-worthy engine under the hood: the exceptional Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01.