With the recent launch of the modern Transocean Collection including its three-hand, limited edition and chronograph models, Breitling has introduced their timepieces to a whole new market; one that may have in the past steered clear of the large, chunky offerings from the brand in favour of a smaller, classic looking watch. This 43mm range has definitely encapsulated the vintage feel of the original Breitling offerings and its retro-looking design makes it a perfect boardroom accompaniment.
The new Breitling Transocean Unitime, however, is a larger, more robust looking watch at 46mm wide; but having said that it is certainly not as large as some Breitling timepieces and still maintains the elegance and charm of the Transocean range.
Aesthetically this watch is very different from the classic and somewhat plain dial of the 
Transocean; it adds the world time ring and a globe in the centre of the dial. The pale blue globe with its grey land masses adds a little something to this watch – as if Breitling are enforcing that this really is a global traveller’s watch, and I must say it is a nice touch. However, I think this is probably going to be a “you either love it or you hate it†feature with potential buyers.
Available in both a black or white dial version, with either a watch case in stainless steel or rose gold, this watch is set to appeal to all. Moving away from the uncluttered, somewhat plain dial of the Transocean, this watch does give a subtle nod to the Breitling Navitimer.
The “Unitime†actually stands for “universal time†and, in a break from the norm of “world timer†or “GMT†Breitling are differentiating themselves and their watch somehow from other models of its calibre. Essentially these watches allow for the wearer to view the time both where they are in the world and back at home – helping the traveller to schedule ‘skyping’ their boss, family or contacts at a reasonable hour! The Breitling Transocean Unitime dial, made up of three disks – two which are moving, tells the time in each of the 24 main time zones in the world. The two disks – a 24 hour ring and a reference city ring – must be set in conjunction with each other to be able to tell the time and you must always set the local time on the city ring when travelling. Even more appealing is the fact that because this is built on the Breitling 01 movement you can adjust only the hour when changing your time zone.
Another exciting feature of this new movement is that the date changes when adjusting the 
watch forwards and backwards in time, therefore, when travelling the date will go forwards or backwards as necessary without having to then go back and re-set the date once the wearer has set the time.
Team this watch with Breitling’s newest ambassador, David Beckham, and you have the formula for a winning time-piece. (I must apologise for the pun but it was bound to happen at some point!)
The retro look and highly developed in-house movement is only set to add to the appeal of this new addition to the Swiss watch brands family; I am sure that this watch will only do good things for a brand that has shown it is capable of re-designing and re-developing for a new age.
Job well done Breitling!
Technical specs from Breitling:
•Manufacture Breitling Caliber 05 Movement
•Chronometer-certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC)
•Self-winding movement
•1/4th Second Chronograph
•30-minute and 12-hour totalizers
•Universal time.
•Calendar
•Glare proofed on both sides
•Diameter: 46 mm
•Water resistant to 100 meters
•High-frequency (28,000 vibrations per hour)
•56 Jewels
•Over 70-hour power reserve
•Convex sapphire crystal
•Case: Steel or 18k red gold
•Dials: Black or Polar White