Breitling SuperOcean Critique + Why The 'SlowMotion' Should Be Better (Diving Chronograph)

A Discussion and Review of the Breitling "Slow-Motion" Superocean. From the 1957 Reissue to the Heritage Superocean, the issue with the Superocean line in general is that they struggle to find a grounding point to define the watch. This newest incarnation takes inspiration from the Ref. 2005 "Slowtimer" Diving Chronograph but strips away the many defining features in favour of streamlining the design. The result is a watch that comes across as an "in-between" trying to please everyone but lacks any real emotion.

#breitling #breitlingwatches #breitlingsuperocean

Intro 0:00
On The Wrist 1:09
The Breitling Superocean Evolution 1:24
Reference. 2005 "Slow Motion" 2:58
The Diving Chronograph 4:40
The Modern Superocean 5:29
Redesign Ideas 7:03
Conclusion 8:23

All Images are Sourced from either Press Release Photos or Public Listings.
Below are a list of the common sources that are used in no particular order:

Bob’s Watches | Revolution Watch | HQ Milton | Hodinkee | Monochrome Watches | Jomashop | Analog Shift | Bulang and Sons | Robb Report | Watchfinder | WatchBox | Phillips Watches | Christies | Timekeepers Club | Fratello Watches | Bexsonn | Worn and Wound | A Collected Man | Oracle Time | Time + Tide Watches

[ID-Guy]

My "excellent value for money" line about an SW300 movement - I assumed these new Superoceans used the same Kenissi movements that Tudor does... should've read the spec sheet. The SuperOcean is deep with a great history. Do you feel that this new “SlowMotion” is an odd choice to introduce as Breitling’s flagship dive watch? Or do you like this new direction? Personally, I’d take the ’57 SuperOcean any day but that’s just me 😉

[whereRbearsTeeth]

Sorry, but $5k for a watch with an off the shelf sellita movement is by no means whatsoever “value for money.”

[wisamal-hakim]

Breitling have been on fire. The pistachio premier, the salmon version, the navitimer cosmonaut, the up time, and this is another handsome piece. Not for me, but breitling are currently doing it right. At least compared with many of the other big brands

[jeeperspeepers]

Sweet Lord Jesus! A Selitta movement? $5000? F--k me dead and bury me pregnant!

[davemcc]

I didn't like the new SuperOcean initially. Pictures of this watch didn't do anything for me.

Once I got it on my wrist, I love it. It's brilliant and could very well be my next watch.

[pauledbrown]

My local dealer had these in along with the older models. I must say after trying them on I couldn’t disagree with you more. It’s a great looking watch that doesn’t look like a copy of any other brand. I went with a seamaster but this was a close second. If they come out with a chrono version I think I’d get one

[JasonTheWatchGuy]

I actually love it in fairness. If I had space for another Breitling in my collection then it'd probably be this one!

[revandrem]

I received one for Christmas from my wife. This watch was not on my radar and I quickly worried that she paid too much for it. But I made the mistake of putting it on my wrist (42) and I’m in love. It’s the blue and white and it really pops.

[wkdsid]

This superocean type of release that is initially very controversial, and then years go by and most people start to love its uniqueness and willingness to be off trend. Smp300 was controversial at first too.

As for the power reserve, does it really matter for most buyers for whom this will be a daily ? Understood that Tudor omega include 55-70 hr in house movements at price points, but you could argue new superocean is a more complex (expensive) dial, and they put more $ into the bezel, clasp, and overall build. Fwiw the in house thing is a great marketing ploy by watch industry for buyers to spend MUCH more on proprietary servicing vs off shelf movements

[IrvingMagik]

When this was first released… i agreed 100% with you.. i was like meh.. but man has it grown on me, im about to order me one.

[RobOnRefresh]

I thought the same thing until I put one on my wrist. I'm holding out for the deep blue in the 42mm (they were out of stock). It's obviously quite popular and very striking in person. I understand your concerns but this one will sell amazingly well. I felt like it was quite unique compared to all the other boring styles available (not Breitling). Perhaps I'm just a Breitling fan boy - lol.

[bazeSC]

I don't know... Tudor Black Bay is almost the definition of derivative design whereas this look is quite interesting actually. However it's true that it's a very polarizing look. That slow-motion chronograph feature would really set the SuperOcean apart but Breitling is not going to develop a new movement just to be able to reproduce a feature that nobody needs today. It would only make sense if people still used watches for diving which they don't. This is an everyday sports watch and I think it was OK for Breitling to take some design liberties.

[siniestro]

I'm not a fan of the new super ocean. It looks like a cheap watch, with small hands like a flik flak or an ecodrive. With a smaller chapter ring and longer hands the watch will be gorgeous.

[ziko]

Breitling probably just sourced wrong size dial from China and went with it LOL.

[Nefville]

This watch is a mess. Its terrible value for money (I saw the pinned comment), its unattractive with that gigantic chapter ring and the because of that questionable design choice the dial and hands *have to be* tiny. That chapter ring makes sense on a chrono, where it measures the minutes elapsed but on a three hand date? Why? Why get this when you can get a Tudor with an inhouse movement for less or an inhouse Oris with 5 day power reserve for less? They royally messed up.

[authorjohnwquinn]

Love your reviews. You do a wonderful job.

[khronokraze]

I think the design could also use some work. I'm most bothered by the fat minute hand. I daylight and good lighting conditions, I was concerned it was so broad that getting a solid read on the minute would be hard. BUT, it does have an extended tip that reaches the minute markings on the outer chapter ring. HOWEVER, in the water where light is much lower and perhaps in some cases you may need to depend on the lume of the watch, I fear the fat square may be too casual about telling the exact time. In fact, you'll get a general idea of where the minute hand is pointing at. Idk? It may be good enough. But, where the broadness of the minute hand could float between 2-4 minutes of precision, having your life depending air supply on a vague time reading may not be such a great idea. It could certainly be enough to mean difference between life and death if you misjudge the general remaining minutea left by too far a margin.
That being said, how many of us will actually use it for real dive time purposes? Let alone in situations where we'd rely so heavily on the lume of the fat square minute hand? And, any modern diver would likely just use modern dive equipment and electronics to successfully guide them through their deep aquatic activities. Wearing a dive watch on a dive is more a romantic idea rather than a practical one. So, my gripes about the minute hand may be moot.

[melvinch]

Breitling designs were at its best in during the 2000s. The Chronomat series, Colt series and SuperOcean series in those days just scream masculinity. Now their designs just look bland, cheap and lacking in character.

[krasnaludek]

The new Breitling lineup is gorgeous; absolutely love the direction that they’re taking the Superocean, Navitimer, & Aviator. Even the EndurancePro is nice as a quartz option. The aqua blue Superocean is especially appealing … use of bold colors & accents. 👍🏻

[pth]

I prefer the previous super ocean collection. I do like the new colour options for the new collection.