Written by Menswear Style in New Collections on the 19th May 2020

In April this year, Breitling introduced a watch that attracted enormous attention. The Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition was launched during the brand’s first-ever Summit Webcast which, because of the pandemic and lockdowns, was streamed globally. The Summit audience saw its rainbow-inspired design elements as symbols of hope and optimism, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback led Breitling to launch a second edition, this time with a blue dial, limited to 1000 pieces. Part of the proceeds from the watch are being donated to charities supporting the frontline healthcare workers in some of the most affected countries, with Breitling donating an initial sum of £420,000. Breitling and their retailers in the UK will then make an additional donation of £1,000 per watch sold to the UK based NHS Charities Together.

Breitling CEO Georges Kern says: “We were amazed by the popularity of the Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition, which told us that we could do something for the incredible healthcare workers. They have sacrificed so much and we wanted to make it clear how much we care with this new version of our own rainbow.” 

Breitling has also announced that one of the Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition II watches will be auctioned by Charitybuzz, an organisation known for its auctions of unique gifts and experiences in support of worthy causes, in June. The winning bidder will be given the unique opportunity to have a digital live chat with Kelly Slater, who is a member of the Breitling Surfers Squad and arguably the greatest surfer of all time. The proceeds from the Charitybuzz auction will benefit Direct Relief, a US-based charity.

The Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition II is all about colour. Its rainbow-inspired highlights are a clear link to the symbol that has come to represent support for frontline healthcare workers around the world. This model has a 42-millimeter stainless-steel case and bidirectional rotating bezel with an ultrahard blue ceramic bezel ring and a blue dial. Among its most striking features are the colour highlights marking the hours at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock on the dial. The hour markers and the hour and minute hands are coated with Super-LumiNova in a rainbow graduation of yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, red, and orange. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself inviting strangers to come and enjoy the little festival of colour on your wrist!

The watch available with either a gold-brown vintage-inspired leather strap with pin or folding buckle, or an integrated Ocean Classic stainless-steel bracelet with a butterfly clasp. For anyone who wants to add even more colour, this Limited Edition can be matched to a vibrant Outerknown ECONYL yarn NATO strap, available separately in one of six colour combinations. The caseback is engraved with the words 'ONE OF 1000'. What a perfect, colourful way to own an incredible watch and to say thank you to the frontline heroes tackling the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the UK, the donations will support NHS Charities Together, whose charities support NHS staff and COVID-19 patients. NHS Charities Together has so far raised a mind-boggling amount of over £100 million to combat the coronavirus. 

Available from £3,790 at breitling.com

We take a first look at the Breitling Limited Edition Frontline Heroes Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition II Watch which will raise money for NHS Charities Together.