Jump to the Breitling Superocean Heritage Collection ➤
When you consider the well-roundedness of Breitling’s catalogue, there can be no doubting the importance of the Superocean Heritage line. It paints the Swiss watchmaker as a company that is sympathetic to its past but also mindful of moving with the times. The line has benefited from the brand’s advances in material technology over the years, not to mention expanded its menu of dial colours for those seeking a touch of “je ne sais quoi”. A quick glance through the brand’s original Superocean Heritage collection unravels a vast array of colour schemes from unassuming blues and greys to the softly spoken hues of mocha (as seen in the brand’s Superocean Heritage ’57 Highlands watch) and even a punchy yellow dial thrown in to sweeten the pot.
However, all that is about to change. Breitling has given the Superocean Heritage a complete facelift, which will see all previous iterations of the line replaced by a somewhat cleaner, sharper-looking, and more disciplined line-up. They rock more colour options to pair with Breitling’s signature mesh-style rubber band and newer movements bearing the “in-house” label. It’s the change that discerning Breitling enthusiasts have been long awaiting. Here at Banks Lyon, we’ll be stocking all the new colourways and their respective strap configurations, and they’re available to order now. Could one of these new Breitling Superocean Heritage watches be the rugged, elegant dive tool your collection is currently missing?
“…the Superocean line is a nod to the golden age of recreational diving”.
Before we unveil all that is new about this next-gen Breitling Superocean Heritage watch, let’s take a look at the La Choux-de-Fonds manufacturer’s roots in creating indispensable dive watches. The Superocean, after all, is a collection that can often get overlooked, which is no surprise given the resounding success of the Navitimer and Chronomat lines. Together, the Chronomat, complete with its iconic rider tabs and the Navitimer’s expertly engineered slide rule bezel, represent some of Breitling’s finest work in aviation timekeeping. Indeed, the brand’s top-tier pilot watches are complete pillars of success and have become examples of astounding craftsmanship. However, we can’t forget that the brand has also carved out a solid reputation for itself in manufacturing some of the most capable dive watches ever made.
The Superocean first appeared in 1957. Most of us can’t cast our minds back that far since the Superocean has amassed a huge following of many young fans over recent years. Those of us who were around in the 1950s, however, will appreciate that the Superocean line is a nod to the golden era of recreational diving. It commanded a huge audience of fun-seeking water-goers, as well as those more serious about diving, and it all started with the ref. 1004 Diver and the ref. 807 Chronograph. The growing popularity of the scuba-diving culture really drove these designs home. The 39mm ref 807 could quite possibly have been the first-ever panda dial to exist, while the ref 1004 was a three-handed, slightly more compact (38mm) model. Both versions featured a sword-and-arrow handset, triangular hour markers, and a 200M water-resistant case – a significant technical feat for its time.
The launch of the Superocean Heritage occurred in 2007, marking 50 years since the original Superocean. Modifications, such as the bulkier Arabic numerals that replaced the angular, wedge-like markers, along with simpler bezel markings and a 1950s-style mesh bracelet (available in either steel or rubber), marked a distinct evolution of the ubiquitous dive tool. Then, the year 2017 brought more case size options to the table, thanks to the creative vision of CEO Georges Kern, pushing the Heritage line firmly into neo-vintage territory.
The New Breitling Superocean Heritage Watches
Now we reach the part you came for. Hailing from the classic design, the new Breitling Superocean Heritage watches of 2025 are ripe for daily life and come in dial colours of blue, black and a deep moss green colour. Choosing between the 28 configurations will purely boil down to personal choice. Predominantly, it’s worth noting that all the models put new movements to good use. The 42mm chronographs are equipped with the steadfast Calibre B01 movement – an in-house engine that has been well-utilised throughout the company’s sports watches since 2009. The simpler three-handers lack nothing in the way of mechanical prowess, either. These ones are fitted with the brand’s latest B31 movement, (with the exception of the smaller 36mm model). More on that shortly.
Of the bunch, the six Superocean Heritage B01 Chronograph 42 watches stand out for their neat bi-compax layouts. The sub-dials take up residence at 3 o’clock (30-minute totaliser) and 9 o’clock (small seconds) and are balanced by a date window nestled into the 6 o’clock location. The two-register dial donates a sense of balance across the respective sunray blue, black and moss-green surfaces, each one equipped with the familiar spear-and-arrow handset. It’s worth noting here that the spearhead design on the minute hand is now more prominent, while the bullet-like shape of the hour markers and the arrow-tipped hour hand has received a generous splash of Super-LumiNova for aiding legibility at night. Lastly, the most luxurious iteration is the black dial model, which features the piston push-pieces, crenelated bezel, and dial elements rendered in sumptuous rose gold tones for an elevated look.
Breitling scores a home run with the new tone-on-tone bezel and dial colours of these Superocean watches. The three-handed time and date models do a grand job of perpetuating the level of skill involved in matching the unidirectional bezel’s ceramic inlay with the display. The 40mm models are the Goldilocks size, with dials offered in just green and black. This time, the black is an all-steel design, but it is also available in two-tone stainless steel and rose gold, alongside steel-only models in blue and green, for the 42 mm size. Each of these 200-meter water-resistant models comes with the option of a mesh steel bracelet or colour-matched mesh rubber band, securing with a Breitling-engraved folding clasp.
Suffice to say, the Breitling Superocean Heritage 44 is no shrinking violet. Its broad 44mm dimensions house the Calibre 31 inside a steel and rose gold iteration, complete with a blue dial and bezel, or in the more conventional steel option in green or black. All automatic models are available in the same strap options.
Lastly, for female fans of the Superocean (or indeed those with less-endowed wrists), the 36mm models remedy those in need of more manageable proportions, with the arrow-and-spear handset circumnavigating the dial across tones of deep blue and mint green. The green mesh rubber band for the latter model perhaps proves the most unusual strap colour that Breitling has dared to experiment with so far.
The In-House Movements
The real story here is the movement. Breitling fans will be doing cartwheels inside at the thought of the new B31 movement being put to use in this latest generation of dive watches. The 40, 42, and 44mm three-handed Superocean Heritage models are all powered by the aforementioned B31 movement, which Breitling recently introduced inside the Top Time in March. For those who don’t yet know, the B31 is Breitling’s first in-house time-only calibre. Under the hood of these shimmering blue, dark green, black, and mint green Superocean Heritage watches, it operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. It features a free-spring balance wheel for improved accuracy, along with 78 hours of power reserve, COSC chronometer certification, and a skeletonised rotor. Classic Côtes de Genève finishes and traditional perlage decoration can all be admired through a sapphire exhibition caseback, too..
Meanwhile, the B01 calibre, featured in the chronograph models, was the movement that ushered in a new era of watchmaking for Breitling, underscoring the point at which the brand took a step closer to vertical integration back in 2009. This 1/4th of a second stopwatch movement featured a classic column wheel mechanism and served as the base movement for descendants, such as the brand’s perpetual calendar (Calibre B19) and the B04 GMT complication.
Lastly, the 36mm models benefit from the Calibre 10, an ETA-based movement with a 42-hour power reserve. The movement, with 22 jewels, performs at a rate of 28 800 vibrations per hour behind a closed steel caseback.
Nostalgic Dive Watch Charm
The new Breitling Superocean Heritage watches evoke a time when luxury dive watches were not only worn but also used as professional timing tools. Breitling experts return to the basics with a nostalgic dive watch charm that will resonate with both experienced and young collectors alike. Any one of these timepieces could take you from beach to boardroom without even having to consider whether the strap, size, or dial colour will suit the setting. While the rubber strap options help inject a touch of colour to the wrist for casual weekend attire, you can certainly promote the metal band options to a dressier role of the evening.
Either way, all 28 options are available with our 0% finance option, allowing you to spread your payments over a more manageable timeframe. For more information on the new Breitling Superocean Heritage watches, call and speak to an expert from our Banks Lyon team at 01524 381020 or fill in a contact form here