Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown
After its recent success at the GPHG awards, Breitling has just unveiled the Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown. Available in two versions, this latest creation is yet another example of the watch industry playing its part in saving the planet.
In recent times, Swiss firm Breitling has created various ‘squads’, comprised of leading names in the domains of aviation, cinema, exploration and sport. One of the firm’s target audiences is the California beach dwellers who have a love of the sea and its frothing waters. In fact, many wet-suit clad active types will identify with ‘Breitling’s Surfers Squad’. This group of sun-kissed surfers include Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons, each with a honed physique and notable good looks. When purchasing a Breitling Superocean, buyers may feel vicariously connected to this wholesome world and why not?
Kelly Slater, the most successful surfer of all time, co-founded the sustainable apparel manufacturer, Outerknown. In 2018, Breitling created the Superocean Heritage Outerknown in collaboration with the apparel brand. Last year, the watch company released the Superocean Outerknown and now the two companies have collaborated again, releasing the Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown.
A couple of weeks ago, Breitling scooped the ‘Petite Aiguille’ prize at the GPHG with the Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition II. The latest Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown shares a strong likeness with the prize-winning limited watch, but with some notable differences.
This new model is endowed with an ECONYL® yarn NATO strap made from ‘repurposed nylon waste’. Two variants are available, both presented in a 42mm steel case. One features a steel bezel with a black ceramic ring, while the second has an 18-carat red gold bezel, again paired with a black ceramic ring.
The arrow-shaped hands, concave bezel and generously proportioned indexes reference the styling of the original 1957 SuperOcean. Lastly, both models are COSC-certified chronometers.
Prices start at £3400 for the steel bezel version (RRP as at 20.11.2020)
The brand’s press release
The Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown and the Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown Limited Edition watches celebrate Breitling’s partnership with Outerknown, the sustainable apparel brand co-found- ed by Surfers Squad member Kelly Slater. Following the Superocean Heritage Outerknown in 2018 and the Superocean Outerknown in 2019, this is the third collaboration between the two brands, and there is now a model from each of Breitling’s sea-related collections.
Both brands share a commitment to clean oceans and beaches. Their goal of helping to maintain and protect a healthy, safe environment is reflected in the creation of the Outerknown NATO straps. These straps are made from ECONYL® yarn, a material sourced from repurposed nylon waste. At the same time, the watches’ modern-retro design recalls the era-defining fun-in- the-sun culture associated with Southern California and Hawaii in the 1950s and 1960s. These landmark decades are remembered fondly for great music, hot cars, and an almost spiritual connection to the freedom found on endless sandy beaches and in the search for the perfect wave.
Breitling CEO Georges Kern says, “We’re thrilled to be able to build on our strong partnership with Kelly and everyone at Outerknown. The projects we work on with them go beyond watchmaking. They underscore Breitling’s commitment to sustainability. Of course, we also love the link to the cool surfing lifestyle, and working with the greatest surfer of all time makes that even more special!”
Kelly Slater: “Georges and his team at Breitling have shown that they have the same passion for clean oceans and beaches that we do. And creating watches with the ECONYL® yarn straps we designed with Breitling is a nice message and our symbol towards a cleaner environment while developing products.”
The Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown
The Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown is available in two versions: one in stainless steel and the other – an edition limited to 500 watches – with an 18 k red gold bezel. With their arrow-shaped hands, over-sized indices, and concave bezel, the watches clearly draw inspiration from the original 1957 SuperOcean. The caseback features an engraved Outerknown logo. Both versions are powered by the Breitling Caliber 10, which offers a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. Like all Breitling watches, they are COSC- certified chronometers, an independent confirmation of their precision and performance.
The stainless-steel version features a bronze-coloured dial that gives it a unique modern-retro touch. Its dial is complemented by a brown Outerknown ECONYL® yarn NATO strap. The concave bidirectional rotating bezel in stainless steel has an ultrahard scratch- and shock-resistant black ceramic bezel ring with a luminescent central dot at the 12 o’clock position, an ideal feature for a dive watch.
The Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown Limited Edition also has a bronze dial and a brown Outerknown ECONYL® yarn NATO strap, but its concave bidirectional rotating bezel is made of 18 k red gold, which is beautifully offset by its black ceramic bezel ring. This model is available in a limited edition of 500 watches.
Breitling, Outerknown, and ECONYL® Yarn – A Story of Sustainability
Breitling’s Outerknown ECONYL® yarn NATO strap collection was launched in 2019. Created in cooperation with Outerknown, the straps are fresh, vibrant, and colourful, and, while they were designed specifically for Breitlings Superocean collection, they can be paired with any Breitling watch. Not only do they contribute to the superb design codes of watches like the Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown, they also support Breitling’s unrelenting dedication to sustainability. ECONYL® yarn is created exclusively from recycled nylon waste, some of which is recovered from discarded or lost fishing nets. The straps are not only recycled but are also completely recyclable.
The Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown watches may pay a remarkable tribute to the memorable surfing culture and lifestyle of the 1950s and 1960s, but they are also focused on the very real challenges faced by our planet and on the people who are looking for ways to drive positive change.
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