Last August Breitling announced a long-term partnership with Triumph and anyone with a head on their shoulder immediately knew that it would only be a matter of time until we saw a cool matching watch + motorcycle collaboration. Well, the two brands have just announced exactly that, in the form of the new Top Time Triumph and Triumph Speed Twin Breitling.
Let’s kick things off with the watch, we are Oracle Time after all. It’s part of the Top Time collection which is Breitling’s sporty chronograph line and no stranger to a motorcycle themed special edition. Last year Breitling unveiled the Top Time Deus Limited Edition and before that was a long standing partnership with Norton.
Breitling Top Time Triumph Speed Twin Owners’ Limited Edition
The Triumph edition has a 41mm diameter stainless steel case with a solid steel caseback in keeping with its sporty aesthetic. Admittedly it only has 30m water resistance meaning it’s not as versatile as many sports watches, but it’s been designed to excel on the wrists of bikers so that’s not a major issue. Just look at those mushroom chronograph pushers and wide fluted crown, both providing plenty of surface area to grip while you’re wearing riding gloves.
Diving into the dial, it’s been designed to emulate the instruments on a motorcycle using a bicompax chronograph layout. The subdials use the Top Time’s signature squircle shape, which is an intermediary between a circle and a square. They’re very characterful and look great in tandem with the simple baton hour markers and dark, peripheral tachymeter. The dials are also emblazoned with the logos of both Breitling and Triumph.
Breitling Top Time Triumph Ref. A23311121C1X1
There are actually two version of the dial available on the Top Time Triumph. There’s a regular version and a limited edition “Owner’s Edition” for those who also buy one of the 270 Triumph Speed Twin Breitlings. The only difference between the two dials is the pattern and finishing. The Owner’s Edition sports sunray brushing while the regular has a “Zorro” pattern, which is a bowtie style design nicknamed by Top Time collectors. Both are in a lovely shade of light blue that, naturally, matches the bodywork of the bike.
Breitling Top Time Triumph Speed Twin Owners’ Limited Edition Caseback
Inside, hidden beneath the solid caseback, which bears an engraving of the bike’s engine and corresponding bike number for the Owner’s Edition, is the Breitling Calibre 23. It’s a COSC-certified automatic movement with hour, minute, second, 30-minute timer and 1/4th of a second chronograph functions and a power reserve of 48-hours.
Triumph Speed Twin Breitling Limited Edition motorbike
The second half of this Breitling x Triumph collaboration is the Triumph Speed Twin Breitling limited edition motorcycle. It’s a higher-spec version of the latest generation of the Speed Twin Café Racer with polychromatic blue bodywork inspired by the film The Wild One. Cafto transport its rider from trendy café to trendy café at the highest of speeds. They epitomise the iconic image of a Rocker style biker.
Triumph are one of the kings of Café Racers and the Speed Twin Breitling continues that heritage with the addition of a few Breitling themed flairs. The premium leather seat is embroidered with Breitling’s B logo and the instrument panels have been altered to match the dial of the Top Time Triumph.
The regular Top Time Triumph is joining the Top Time collection full time while the Owner’s Edition is limited to 270 to match the number of bikes that are being produced. The base version is priced at £4,500 and the limited edition and bike are TBC.
Price & Specs:
Model: Breitling Top Time Triumph & Top Time Triumph Speed Twin Owners’ Limited Edition
Reference: A23311121C1X1 (‘Top Time Triumph’, ice blue dial with special brushing in the bowtie motif nicknamed “the Zorro dial”)
A233111A1C1X1 (‘Top Time Triumph Owners Edition’, ice blue sunray dial)
Case/Dial: 41mm diameter x 14.27mm height, stainless steel case, ice blue dial
Water resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: Breitling Caliber 23, automatic, COSC-certified chronometer
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 48h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, 1/4th second and 30-minute counters
Strap: Black racing-themed leather with white stitching
Price/availability: £4,500 (Top Time Triumph) and TBC, limited to 207 pieces (Top Time Triumph Speed Twin Owners’ Limited Edition)
More details at Breitling.
