When it comes to collecting vintage chronographs, Breitling can be a polarizing brand. Generally known for their serious aviator's computers (such as the Navitimer and Cosmonaute), many find their dial designs hectic and difficult to read for daily wear. While those pieces are indisputably cool, they are indeed a lot to take in, and as a result Breitling as a brand doesn't always get the same appreciation as some of their contemporary counterparts. We'd like to change that. Allow us to present Exhibit A. The Breitling Top-Time line was created in the 1950s as a simpler line of chronographs for more basic tasks then timing an orbital burn (you know, like driving a car in circles or making dinner). They were manufactured in a number of case and dial styles and were in fact popular with professional racing drivers, just like their counterparts from Heuer. Our favorite is the reference 2002 you see here. With a super cool monocoque case, absolutely perfect proportions and a clean dial layout, the Top Time 2002 is an exercise in understated luxury timekeeping, and an excellent alternative to those "other" vintage chronographs we all know and love. Bond fans might remember a special 2002 used in the film Thunderball, which sold last year for over $160K. While we can't offer you Bond's one-of-a-kind Top Time with Q-Branch installed Geiger counter, we can get you its more plebian cousin, at a fraction of the cost. You can read more about the Breitling Top Time HERE at Hodinkee.
