Racing legends reignited: Breitling debuts limited-edition Top Time chronographs

Breitling’s limited-edition Top Time chronographs revive 1960s racing glory

By Triston Brewer Published April 1, 2025

3 Breitling Top Time chronographs on wood floor — Breitling

Breitling continues its rich motorsport heritage of excellent automatic watches with the debut of three exclusive Top Time chronographs, brilliantly combining the racing aesthetics of the 1960s with unparalleled Swiss precision. The collection includes two rally-inspired models and a Martini Racing edition, with each release limited to 750 pieces and powered by Breitling’s COSC-certified Manufacture Caliber 01 with a 70-hour power reserve.

Retro design coupled with modern performance

Breitling Top Time chronograph on black background — Breitling

The 38mm cushion-shaped steel cases are a nod to the vintage racing chronographs and feature the singular subdials and bold tachymeter scales. Two dial options are offered with the Breitling rally editions: choose between a black-and-white model with a beige leather strap or the green-and-white model, which comes with perforated racing leather. The centerpiece of the show — the Top Time Martini Racing — is equipped with the brand’s blue, light blue, and red stripes featured on the dial, complemented with a perforated dark blue strap.

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Built for speed

Three Breitling Top Time chronograph on dark background — Breitling

According to Breitling CEO Georges Kern, their chronographs encapsulate the tenets of racing — precision, adrenaline, and style. Quick timing is assured thanks to the mushroom pushers, and the dashboard-inspired dial is classic car instrumentation. Each watch comes engraved with ‘one of 750’ on the caseback, stressing the exclusivity of the release. With starting prices at $6,500 retail, analysts expect the collection to sell out quickly as it appeals to both watch collectors and motorsports enthusiasts.

Triston Brewer is a journalist, creative director, fashionisto, and jetsetting digital bon vivant. Brace yourself!

Topics

Watches

Fashion & Style

Chrono24 reveals top luxury watches by age group

From datejust to calatrava: how watch preferences evolve with age

Chrono 24 Gen Z Millenial Boomer Watch

Chrono24, a luxury watch marketplace with headquarters in Karlsruhe, has made public some new information. This data shows clear preferences among different generations of watch buyers. Rolex is the most popular brand overall, but certain models appeal more to different age groups.
The company in Karlsruhe examined transaction information to determine which watches are bought more frequently by each age group. The results showed both expected patterns and some surprising exceptions.
Rolex models are in first place in four out of five age categories, but the specific choices change quite a bit. The Datejust is the top pick among buyers under 30. The Submariner leads with people aged 30-39. The Daytona is most popular with those who are 40-49, while the Sea-Dweller comes out on top with buyers aged 50-59. Only the group over 60 goes against this trend, showing a stronger preference for the Patek Philippe Calatrava.
Loyalty to Rolex seems highest among younger buyers. Three of the top five models for people under 30 and those aged 30-39 are Rolex. This drops to two Rolex models in the top five for buyers aged 40-59. For buyers over 60, only one Rolex-the Sky-Dweller-makes it into the top five.
The 40-49 age group shows the most variety in taste. Their top ten purchases include nine different manufacturers, such as Breitling, Vacheron Constantin, and IWC. By comparison, buyers over 60 are drawn to more expensive options, with three Patek Philippe models in their top ten.
Interest in Omega is especially strong among Gen Z watch enthusiasts (mainly the under-30 group). Three Omega models appear in their top ten, along with four Rolex watches, two from Cartier, and, somewhat surprisingly, a Grand Seiko Heritage Collection model. This Grand Seiko is the only one to appear in any age group’s top choices.
The data confirms the wide appeal of luxury watches across generations. Chrono24 reported that more than a third of Gen Z already own a high-quality watch or plan to buy one soon. With about 540,000 watches from around 3,000 dealers and 45,000 private sellers across more than 120 countries, Chrono24 offers a unique view of global watch market trends.

Fashion & Style

Alpina debuts first all-titanium watch with extreme automatic

Half the weight, all the strength: alpina embraces titanium for extreme collection

Titanium alpina model

Alpina presented its initial timepiece made completely of titanium. This represents a notable change in the company's material choices. The 39×40.5mm extreme automatic has a titanium case along with a titanium bracelet. The Swiss watchmaker says this gives wearers "a whole new horological experience".

For many years, stainless steel was the main metal for its sports watches. Alpina now thinks its time to showcase titanium. As justification for this change, the manufacturer lists the material's benefits. It is half the weight of steel, resists corrosion better and has hypoallergenic properties.

Fashion & Style

Bonhams displays racing chronographs for Miami Grand Prix auction

Vintage daytona and speedmaster lead bonhams’ formula 1 weekend auction

1959 Omega Speedmaster Professional

Bonhams is embarking on its first Miami online auction. Happening at the same time as the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, the auction presents old chronographs. These features show the history and development of race car timing.

The online sale occurs from April 27 to May 6. Formula 1 transforms into a top display for deluxe product lines, especially expensive timepieces. Netflix recently increased the sport's popularity. This created a valuable way to promote respected product lines to rich viewers.