Released in 2017 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Breitling’s first Superocean dive watch, the Breitling Superocean Héritage II has become, according to new CEO Georges Kern, one of the top-selling stars in the company’s largely aviation-inspired lineup. Thus it should come as no surprise that among Breitling’s Baselworld 2018 offerings were a host of new Superocean Héritage II models in new 44-mm cases. Here we take a closer look at the new three-hand automatic and two new automatic chronograph series debuting this year.
Breitling Superocean Héritage II B01 Chronograph 44 with blue dial and Ocean Classic bracelet (Ref. AB0162161C1A1)
First up, the model that Breitling calls the “flagship” of the Superocean Héritage II collection, the Superocean Héritage II B01 Chronograph 44, which is powered by the Breitling in-house Caliber B01, a COSC chronometer-certified chronograph movement with a 70-hour power reserve. Three versions are available, all in stainless steel cases, one with a black dial and a black “Aero Classic” rubber strap (which calls to mind a Milanese-style bracelet); another with a blue dial and an Ocean Classic steel bracelet (which is essentially a type of Milanese bracelet); and a “Panda” dial, silver with black subdials, also on a rubber Aero Classic strap. As per Kern’s new design edict for Breitling chronographs, the dial has a tricompax arrangement with subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o’c...