Breitling Top Time
Breitling TopTime
Breitling Top Time is the name given to the series of watches characterized by a bold and elegant design, which were also useful tools for professional pilots and racers. These watches were first introduced in 1964 and were primarily intended for young men. Breitling Top Time watches were positioned as entry-level chronographs, with much lower prices than the company’s flagships, the Navitimer and Chronomat. Today, the Breitling Top Time watches are considered to be classic of their era. The Top Time is linked to those in aviation and racing as well as James Bond and The Beatles.
Thanks to its popularity, Breitling continued to produce Top Time watches years after the introduction of automatic chronographs in the late 1960s. Breitling Top Time’s production run ended in the late 1970s, roughly two decades after its original release. Unfortunately, Breitling does not provide information on its production numbers so there is no way of knowing how many watches were made.
Movements
By the time the first Top Time was produced, Breitling had already transitioned from in-house to third-party movements, which allowed it to save costs while focusing on its core task of designing special dials. For the Top Time series in particular, the watch maker used five movements from Venus and Valjoux:
- Venus 178
- Venus 188
- Valjoux 7730
- Valjoux 7733
- Valjoux 7736.
These movements were all manual-wind chronographs that made used of 17 jewels at 18,000 bph. Most of them, with the exception of Venus 178, had sub second cam switches. The Venus 178, the earliest movement among the five, had a sub second pillar wheel.
The Venus movements were used in earlier models, while the Valjoux movements were used in later models. However, it’s important to note that Valjoux bought Venus when the later was facing some financial difficulties. When the deal was done, Valjoux selected Venus’ best movements, continued their production, and stamped the Valjoux brand on them. For instance, Valjoux 7730 is made from the Venus 188 movement, though it was given a new name. The Valjoux 7733 was also based on Venus 188, although Valjoux included some improvements such a new bridge form.
Venus and Valjoux movements are well regarded among watch enthusiasts and can also be seen in a number of watches designed popular brands like Heuer, Hamilton, and Omega. Venus 178, in particular, is a highly accurate movement and is considered to be iconic by many watch collectors. Meanwhile, the three Valjoux movements, all based on Venus 188, also gained much respect among the watch collecting community.
Dials
Breitling provided watch consumers with a number of options when it came to dial color. The company produced seven dial color variations.
Breitling Top Time used either a 60-second, 30/45-minute subregister or a 60-second, 30-minute, 12-hour subregister. On the dial’s face, Breitling placed its logo, “Breitling,” and “Geneve” at the 12 o’clock position, while “Top Time” can be seen at the six o’clock mark. The latter, however, was removed in Ref. 815 and 814. The tachymeter scale is present in all variations.
Breitling Top Time watches mostly featured index and obelisk hands, although a Ref. 2007-33 variant also used dauphine hands. The numbering consist mostly of batons, except for reference 824, 1765, and 7656. Top Time 824 used Roman numerals, while 1765 and 7656 both used stick markers. As for the lume, Breitling used tritium.
MAIN TWO SUBDIAL VERSIONS
REF. 2000
Breitling Top Time Ref. 2000-33 released in 1960s offered a reverse panda variation (left) and a panda variant
REF. 2000.4
The 1964 water-resistant Breitling Top Time Ref. 2000.4 offered three dial variations. One variant (left) came with a silver sunburst dial and silver sub dials. It also appeared in reverse panda (center) and panda (right) executions.
REF. 2001
REF. 2001.5
Although the 1968 Breitling Top Time Ref. 2001 was released in only one model, Ref. 2001.5, it offered three dial options: panda (left), reverse panda (center), and a variant with white main and sub dials (right). It was run by Valjoux 7733 movement which is housed in a non-water resistant 18-karat gold case.
REF. 2002
The James Bond Thunderball Reference.
Breitling Top Time Ref. 2002-33 houses a Valjoux 7733 movement within its round stainless steel water resistant case. It was available in two dial variations, panda and reverse panda
REF. 2002.3
Breitling Top Time Ref. 2002.3 also came in two dial variations. One (left) featured a silver sunburst main dial with silver sub dials, while the other (right) had a black main dial with silver sub dials. It is powered by a Valjoux 7730 movement protected by a round stainless steel, water-resistant case.
REF. 2003
REF. 2003.4
The 1964 Breitling Top Time Ref. 2003.4 used the earlier Venus 188 movement enclosed in a round, gold-plated, non-water-resistant case. It was offered in two dial variants. One came with a silver sunburst main dial and silver sub dialsand the other was a reverse panda.
REF. 2004
REF. 2004.5
The Breitling Top Time Ref. 2004.5 was released in 1976 and ran a Valjoux 7730 movement, which was protected by a water-resistant, 18-karat gold case. It was available in reverse panda, panda, and a third variantwith silver sunburst main dial and silver sub dials.
REF. 2006
REF. 2006.3
Breitling Top Time Ref. 2006.3 was run by a Valjoux 7730 movement housed in a stainless steel cushion case. The watch came with a black main dial and silver sub dials.
REF. 2006-33
Breitling Top Time Ref. 2006-33 runs the Valjoux 7730 movement and uses the same case as its sibling. However, it offered two dial options: panda and reverse panda.
REF. 2007
REF. 2007-33
Breitling Top Time Ref. 2007-33 features a textured white metal cushion case measuring 35 mm in diameter. Within this distinct case lies the Valjoux 7730 movement which runs the chronograph. It was available in two dial variants, panda (right) and one with a silver sunburst main dial and silver sub dials.
REF. 2007.1
Unlike its sibling, the Breitling Top Time Ref. 2007.1 was only produced in the reverse panda dial variation. However, it was powered by the same Valjoux 7730 movement housed in the same 35-mm textured white metal cushion case.
REF. 2008
REF. 2008.4
The earlier Breitling Top Time Ref. 2008.4 watches introduced in 1967 used the Venus 188 movement, although this was later on replaced by the Valjoux 7730 movement. It was available in three dial variations: panda, reverse panda, and one with a silver sunburst main dial and silver sub dials.
REF. 2008-33
The Breitling Top Time Ref. 2008-33 of 1969 featured a fancy scallop design on its gold-plated cushion case. This model came in two dial variations, reverse panda and with a silver sunburst main dial and silver sub dial.
REF. 2008.3
Introduced to the market in 1968, the Breitling Top Time Ref. 2008.3 was limited to the panda dial design.
REF. 2009
REF. 2009.4
Breitling Top Time Ref. 2009.4 offered the interesting “race look” dial. It also came in the usual panda, reverse panda, and the variation with a silver sunburst main dial and silver sub dials. All variations used a 36.6-mm gold-plated cushion case.
REF. 2009-33
Breitling Top Time Ref. 2009-33 used the same case as its sibling, Ref. 2009.4. It used the Valjoux 7730 movement and came in only one dial variant featuring a black main dial with silver sub dials.
MAIN THREE SUBDIAL REFERENCE MODELS
REF. 810
REF. 810.3
Breitling Top Time Ref. 810.3 used the Venus 178 which featured the sub second pillar wheel. The movement is housed in a 38-mm stainless steel round case, while the dial is protected by plexiglass crystal. Three dial variations were available for Ref. 810.3: panda, reverse panda, and an execution featuring a silver sunburst main dial with silver sub dials.
REF. 810.4
The Breitling Top Time Ref. 810.4 was released a year after its sibling in 1967. It used the same case as Ref. 810.3 but carried one less dial option. Ref. 810.4 was offered in panda and reverse panda.
REF. 814
Ref. 814 used the earliest Breitling Top Time movement, Venus caliber 178. It’s characterized by its stainless steel screw-back cushion case and the pop of orange hand or hands. Some consider this particular model as a transition piece from the comparatively dull monochromatic and dichromatic schemes of the 1960s to the more colorful and “progressive” 1970s. This watch was available in two dial variations. One featured a black main dial with white sub dials, while the other used a white sunburst main dial with black sub dials.
REF. 815
Breitling Top Time Ref. 815 appeared for the first time in the 1970 catalog. It features a stainless steel, snap-back round case, within which lies the Valjoux 7736 movement. It came with a silver sunburst main dial and three black sub dials. The Breitling 815 Long Plaing/Playing is a perennial favourite amongst watch collectors. With a large stainless steel 38mm case and a reverse panda dial with a beautiful silver sunburst finish, it is a very accessible watch especially for those first getting into vintage.
815 was the successor to the previous 810 Top Time. Released in the 70’s, this was a classic sport watch that was nicknamed ‘Long Playing’ by collectors due to its unusually long power reserve. The 52-hour power reserve was achieved by using a longer mainspring.
REF. 824
REF. 824-3
Breitling Top Time Ref. 824.3 used Venus 178 movement housed in stainless steel, water-resistant round case. The model was offered in a reverse panda dial.
REF. 824.4
Breitling Top Time Ref. 824.4 is also a water-resistant watch, although unlike its sibling, it used a gold-plated round case. It was also only available in a 24-hour black main dial with white sub dial option.
REF. 1765
The Breitling Top Time Ref. 1765 is also known as the Jean-Claude Killy, after the famous alpine ski racer who owned this particular model.
It used the Valjoux 7736 in a 42-mm stainless steel case, which was larger than most Top Time cases. It came with a black dial with three white sub-dials and a bezel.
REF. 2211
Breitling Top Time Ref. 1765 came with a slightly smaller 38-mm case than Ref. 1765, although still bigger than the typical case size of this series. It used the Venus 188 movement within its stainless steel case. One variation of Ref. 2211 is also known as the Breitling Top Time racing due to the checkered design featured on its dial. This model also used colorful hands.
REF. 7656
Breitling Top Time Ref. 7656’s distinct feature is its 12-hour rotating bezel. It’s one of only two models in this series that included the feature. The other Top Time that used a bezel is Ref. 1765. The watch has a black main dial with three white sub-dials.
Links
- Breitling
- James Bond Watches
- The Mudu and The Breitling and George Martin
- The Breitling TopTime and James Bond
Credits - https://thespringbar.com/blogs/guides/collectors-guide-to-breitling-top-time/
