Breitling for Triumph
Fernando AldeaCome discover Top Time watches and the Speed Twin motorcycle as part of a spectacular new collaboration inspired by 1960s café racer culture.
By the mid-1960s, car racing was in full swing, and a whole subculture had sprung up around "café racers," sleek motorcycles whose riders literally rode them from one trendy coffee shop to another.
Willy Breitling set out to capture that era's speed-driven style with a completely new version of the timekeeper. The result? The Breitling Top Time , an unconventional chronograph designed for "young, active professionals," which quickly became the watch of choice for a sporty audience of men and women equally attracted by the watch's bold proportions.
Today, the free spirit of the 1960s café racers returns thanks to the spectacular new Top Time collaboration between Breitling and British motorcycle brand Triumph . Now in its 120th anniversary, Triumph combines historic craftsmanship with contemporary design to create classic motorcycles.
"Triumph's heritage and its retro-modern aesthetic are just two of the many things we have in common," says Georges Kern , CEO of Breitling. "Its blend of tradition and technology is perfectly in tune with what we do."
For its first collaboration, Breitling is manufacturing a Top Time Triumph watch, giving it a distinctive brushed finish on the bow tie motif, nicknamed the "fox dial" by model collectors. Triumph, for its part, will launch 270 co-branded bikes – the Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition – with buyers having the exclusive opportunity to purchase the Top Time Triumph in a special owner's version, featuring a sunburst dial and a caseback engraved with the bike's individual number (orders for the owner's version must be placed with Triumph by August 22, 2022).
The highlight of both watches is their ice blue dial. This extraordinary color features two main references: a blue 1951 Triumph Thunderbird 6T and a rare ice blue Breitling Top Time ref. 815 from the 1970s.
Features include a discreet racing-inspired calfskin strap that highlights the splendor of the dial; Breitling and Triumph logos subtly placed at 12 and 6 o'clock; oversized mushroom pushers that allow easy control of the chronograph's stop and reset functions; and a high-contrast tachymeter scale that offers clear legibility of speed readings. The watch is powered by a Breitling Caliber 23 , a COSC-certified chronometer with a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. And one more feature that collectors will love: the case backs are engraved with a detailed drawing of the Triumph parallel-twin engine.
In the words of Triumph CEO Nick Bloor , about this co-branded watch: "This collaboration is born from a shared philosophy of bold and original design. The Top Time Triumph unites that uncompromising style and masterful craftsmanship."
The 41 mm diameter of the Top Time Triumph is, like the original, attractive to both sexes. The watch is an absolute must-have for Triumph fans and future owners of the Breitling Speed Twin Limited Edition motorcycle.
Triumph Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition
Only 270 models of this motorcycle will be manufactured.
Polychromatic blue scheme
Complementing the dials of the Top Time chronographs, the color scheme is inspired by the Triumph immortalized in the legendary 1953 biker film The Wild One .
Premium Specification
Higher-specification, fully adjustable Öhlins piggyback rear suspension units combine with all of the model's latest performance, capability, and technology to achieve the best Speed Twin ride ever.
Exclusive engine details
The clutch and alternator trims, made from block-machined aluminum with a dark anodized finish, feature an exquisitely machined Breitling logo.
Premium leather seat
Perforated black leather with contrasting gray stitching complements the Top Time Triumph watch strap and features an elegantly embroidered Breitling "B."
Custom viewers
Co-designed by Breitling, the motorcycle's speed and RPM indicators adapt the dial design style of the Top Time Triumph.
Technical specifications
| TOP TIME TRIUMPH SPEED TWIN OWNERS' LIMITED EDITION |
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REFERENCE : A23311121C1X1 |
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MOVEMENT : Breitling Caliber 23 | 30 mm diameter | 7.9 mm case back | Self-winding mechanical movement, single-sided, ball-bearing mounted | Power reserve of approximately 48 hours | 28,800 semi-oscillations/hour, i.e. 4 Hertz | COSC certification |
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CASE : Stainless steel | 41 mm diameter | 14.27 mm height | Water resistance to 3 bar (30 meters) | Convex sapphire crystal, glareproof on both sides | Caseback, stainless steel, with engraved Triumph parallel-twin engine design | Non-screw-locked crown, single gasket |
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DIAL/HANDS : Ice Blue | Super-LumiNova® luminescent hour and minute hands and indexes |
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BRACELET : Black calfskin strap with racing aesthetics and butterfly clasp |
