Top Time

To complement the ever-successful Navitimer—worn by the likes of musician Miles Davis and F1 driver Graham Hill—Willy Breitling developed a sportier, more contemporary collection. Breaking with traditional design codes, he tailored these new models to the dynamic lifestyle of a younger generation.

In fact, he had a very clear understanding of what this new clientele desired: “Young people won’t buy the kind of watch dad wears. They will be interested in a competition watch with special dials and push buttons. A watch that will ‘impress the boys’—a watch that is both impressive and really elegant.”

In 1964, Breitling introduced the new Top Time as an affordable chronograph with simple yet elegant lines and exceptional quality and precision—the perfect watch for fashion-conscious young men and women living active lives. The name of this new collection—Top Time—was deliberately kept short, catchy, and English to underline the modern design of the collection and the energy of the time.

The first version of the Top Time ref. 810 had a very elegant case with smooth lugs and a clean dial design with white contrasting subdials. Later, in 1967, the case evolved into a bulkier design, emphasizing the sporty nature of the watch. Different dial versions were offered, including a rare 24-hour dial made for travelers. With its 12-hour totalizer, the Top Time ref. 810 was suited to timing events of longer durations, with later models being nicknamed “long playing.”

Breitling introduced the “Sprint” alongside the Top Time in 1967—a model that entailed a rotating bezel to keep track of specific times such as departure times. This watch featured a modern design and bold, exotic dials that had previously made the Top Time a success. One of the most popular Sprint dial designs was the “Surfboard,” which had a large, colorful horizontal surfboard shape across the dial.