Why This Watch Matters

Breitling probably invented the reverse panda dial for chronographs, and undoubtedly mastered this configuration throughout the 1960s.

The Full Story

Much like the Carrera for Heuer, the Top Time became the flagship product for Breitling in the early 1960s. The naming was targeted at a younger audience, to make chronographs more fashionable than just being a standard tool watch. This deliberate marketing angle was clear in the manufacturer's advertising of the time, which also communicated the many available options, both in terms of case materials and dial configurations. And clearly the contrast between the reverse panda dials and the (plated) yellow-gold case works extremely well, especially with the more discreet square pushers. The watch benefits from a dressy vibe while still offering the chronograph complication and a peripheral tachymeter.

The Fine Print

Maker: Breitling
Model: Top Time
Reference: 2003
Year: 1966
Case No: 1120574
Material: Gold plated
Dimensions: 35mm diameter; 12mm thickness
Crystal: Plexiglass
Lume: Tritium
Caliber: Manual-winding caliber Valjoux 7730
Bracelet/Strap: HODINKEE Aged Moss Green Leather Strap
Lug Width: 18mm
Box/Papers: No

What we Love and What You Should Know

The reverse panda dial does not exhibit any aging signs, and this is how we love it. The lume plots have varying degrees of patina but no plot is missing. The tachymeter ring is also extremely well preserved, and easily legible. The yellow-gold-plated case shows some oxidation but no plating loss. The signed crown is a shade lighter than the case but it is barely noticeable, while the square pushers present the same patina as the case.