Hands-on – The 2019 Breitling Superocean Automatic 44
While the star of the show for Breitling at Baselworld 2019 was the Navitimer 1959 Re-Edition (for obvious reasons explained in our review here), there was more than just this limited edition to be presented. In fact, Breitling also looked at its core collection, in particular at modern dive watches. The brand indeed presented a revised version of its robust entry-level, non-vintage-inspired Superocean. And here is our take on it, with a closer look at the 2019 Breitling Superocean Automatic 44.
If you weren’t paying close attention you could easily miss the new Rolex Yacht-Master 42 in white gold. And I mean that in the best way. It’s a handsome timepiece, with a quiet presence that (despite its newness) feels reassuringly familiar in some hard-to-define way. Despite being 2mm bigger than its Everose Gold brother (and a 42mm Oyster case wears quite big), it’s the opposite of in your face. In fact, thanks to the monochrome colour scheme of the dial, bezel and case, and the matt black Oysterflex strap, it may be the most discreet model in Rolex’s entire line-up. I’m not suggesting that it can’t be a love-at-first-sight piece – but the more closely you look, the greater the rewards. The absence of colour draws your eye to the details, and emphasises the play of shiny and matt surfaces: the fine band of polished notches around the outer edge of the bezel contrasts with the matt Cerachrom insert, which in turn plays against the shine of the black lacquer dial. The polished surfaces of the raised numerals on the bezel (they are an integral part of the bezel, moulded with the ceramic, rather than applied) cast barely-there shadows on…
