Breitling has unveiled its redesigned, sporty dive watch collection, the "Superocean." The new collection honors the simple beauty of the "Superocean Slow Motion" models from the 1960s and 70s, while incorporating modern features and a vibrant color palette. It's a watch that shines not only underwater but also during surfing, swimming, and at beachside bars.

In the 1960s, inspired by the adventures of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, scuba diving emerged as a popular new sport. For divers, precise timing in minutes was crucial. Breitling not only provided task-specific tool watches but also emphasized style, continuously evolving the "Superocean" line.

Breitling's design team stripped away extraneous functions irrelevant to a diver's safety underwater, adopting a high-contrast dial ring for critical minute markings. Instead of subtle indices, they used bold, luminous baton markers to enhance legibility. Breitling's most daring decision was to omit the seconds hand. In its place, for the diver's needs, came the groundbreaking minute-based chronograph. This was called the "Slow Motion" because it took an hour to complete one rotation of the dial.

Now, Breitling has introduced the new "Superocean," returning to the "Slow Motion's" philosophy of a simple tool watch for divers. While updated for contemporary wearers with features like a seconds hand, a closer look reveals numerous nods to the original "Slow Motion" design.

Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling, stated, "Many dive watches share a certain commonality in their appearance, but the Slow Motion has always stood apart. I am delighted to introduce the reborn Superocean, a modern interpretation of this classic."

The collection is available in four case sizes: 46mm, 44mm, 42mm, and 36mm. Colorful dials are paired with cases in three metal options: steel, steel & gold, and bronze. The 44mm and 42mm bronze versions utilize a special corrosion-resistant alloy that develops a unique patina over time, lending the watch a distinctive character. Straps are offered in sporty rubber or a new three-link metal bracelet. Both feature a folding clasp for easy micro-adjustment (approximately 10mm-15mm), allowing for effortless wear over a rash guard or wetsuit.

The new "Superocean" achieves an astonishing level of technical performance alongside its aesthetic appeal. It boasts 300-meter (1000-foot) water resistance, with broad hands and indices coated in luminescent Super-LumiNova® for excellent legibility underwater. The scratch-resistant ceramic bezel is designed for wear without fear of abrasion or fading. For safety, the bezel is unidirectional with a stop-mechanism on most sizes, while the 46mm model features a patented lockable bidirectional rotating bezel, offering resistance to shock, sand, and saltwater. The self-winding Breitling Caliber 17 comes with a two-year warranty and approximately 38 hours of power reserve.

Design highlights include the return of the "Slow Motion's" distinctive square minute hand and the equally high-contrast minute track. Fans may also recall the round "dot" window at 6 o'clock, which displayed different colors depending on whether the minute chronograph function was running, paused, or off. In the new "Superocean," a circle near the tip of the seconds hand pays homage to that beloved feature.

The collection also includes a special edition, the "Superocean Automatic 42 Kelly Slater Limited Edition." Co-designed with surfing champion Kelly Slater, this watch features a striking orange dial and a military green rubber strap. This color combination was inspired by a watch Slater's father wore while surfing. It is offered in a limited edition of 1000 pieces. Slater commented on the collaboration: "I've been co-creating watches with Breitling for several years now, but this particular model holds a special place in my heart. The inspiration came from the orange watch my late father always wore while surfing. The green and orange combination is also the color scheme I used to airbrush my surfboards with as I grew up. This combination has always stayed with me."

The new Superocean strongly evokes the "Slow Motion," appealing to water sports enthusiasts with its technical performance and to style-conscious individuals with its versatility, suitable from the beach to the boardroom. This collection is a masterful blend of respect for tradition and fresh color.