The Low-Down

Breitling has just rolled out another squad-based capsule collection, and it’s a role that no one is going to slow. The Breitling Top Time Classic Cars Squad is a trio of chronographs inspired by three equally iconic automobiles: the Chevrolet Corvette, the Ford Mustang and the Shelby Cobra. For car fans, these bright Top Times are a no-brainer, but even if you don’t know your straight-six from your big block, there’s something to like. Or, as Breitling CEO Georges Kern puts it, “It’s about the journey, not the tempo.”

IMHO

The journey of these three watches is very much worth it. The Top Time has always been a lighter, less-professionally feared part of Breitling’s offering, with the bright dials and bold designs to match. The latest iteration fits very much into this vein, a round case with squared-off registers, and retro-inspired hands, and dial details (take, for example, that multicoloured tachy scale). Pair that with printed auto logos — the Cobra, the mustang and the crossed flags — and you have a watch that fits into the well-worn niche of nostalgia car tie-in very well indeed.

The Chevy and the Mustang clock in at 42mm across, while the Shelby is a little smaller at 40mm across and has twin registers, entirely appropriate for the small, light Cobra.

Breitling is a brand largely built in the glorious golden age of 60s watch design, and it has proved fertile ground for them in recent times. It wasn’t just watch design that excelled in this time; it was automotive design too — with the elegant lines of cars like the Mustang, the Sting Ray and the Cobra staying relevant over the decades, a timeless testament to the spirit of speed.

Tech Specs

Movement: Breitling Caliber 25, automatic chronograph, 42 hours power reserve
Case and dial: Steel, 42mm x 13.65mm, water-resistant to 10bar, red dial with black tachymeter
Strap: Black racing-themed calfskin leather strap with folding clasp

Movement: Breitling Caliber 25, automatic chronograph, 42 hours power reserve
Case and dial: Steel, 42mm x 13.65mm, water-resistant to 10bar, green dial with black tachymeter
Strap: Brown racing-themed calfskin leather strap with folding clasp

Movement: Breitling Caliber 41, automatic chronograph, 42 hours power reserve
Case and dial: Steel, 40mm x 13.30mm, water-resistant to 10bar, blue dial with white tachymeter
Strap: Brown racing-themed calfskin leather strap with folding clasp