Breitling Transocean Chronograph Unitime


Breitling Transocean Chrono Unitime on strapBreitling introduced its first Unitimer model — a self-winding world-time watch, now a sought-after collectors’ item — in the 1950s. At the 2012 Baselworld watch fair, the brand unveiled the updated version, the Transocean Chronograph Unitime, a timepiece that expresses the brand’s classical, aviation-inspired theme with technical innovations and a striking, modern design.

The watch features Caliber B05, based on Breitling’s first in-house movement, automatic chronograph Caliber B01, introduced in 2009. In addition to its chronograph functions, this movement (which has also subsequently been used in a Breitling for Bentley watch) is outfitted with a patented mechanism that allows the wearer, when changing time zones, to adjust all the indications simply by turning the crown. (Click on the photos below for larger images.)

Breitling Transocean Chrono Unitime on strap

The system uses two moving disks, one indicating 24 hours and the other bearing the names of 24 world cities representing the 24 major time zones. The time shown by the central hands corresponds with the timezone displayed at 12 o’clock. The city disk (which is available in several different languages) also has indications for daylight savings times. To change the time zone, the wearer simply pulls out the crown and turns it forward or backward in one-hour increments, which simultaneously corrects the central hour hand, the 24-hour disk, and even the date, which is indicated in a window at 4:30, in either direction. A traveler can then see at a glance what time it is in any other time zone in the world, including his home zone. The central minutes hand and seconds hand will continue to run during this operation without interruption; if the chronograph is switched on, it, too, continues running undisturbed.

The watch is offered in both a rose-gold and stainless-steel case, on either a leather strap or a steel Milanese bracelet. The dial options are black or “polar” white, each with an elegantly rendered globe design in the center, surrounded by sundials for the chronograph counters (at 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock) and small seconds (at 9 o’clock). Like its brethren in the Breitling line, the Transocean Chronograph Unitime is officially certified as a chronometer by the Swiss testing agency COSC. The U.S. retail price is $11,200.

Breitling Transocean Chrono Unitime on bracelet

Technical Characteristics:
Movement: Breitling manufacture Caliber 05, automatic, COSC-certified chronometer; 28,000 vph;
56 jewels; over 70-hour power reserve.

Functions: 1/4th-second chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hour counters; world-time indication;
calendar

Case: Stainless steel or 18k rose gold; diameter = 46 mm; convex sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides; water-resistant to 100 meters; on Barenia leather, crocodile leather strap; steel version also on steel mesh “Milanese” bracelet

Breitling Transocean Chrono Unitime white dial/bracelet

Breitling Transocean Chrono Unitime black dial/strap

This article was originally published on April 10, 2012, and has been updated.

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  1. Leonard Greogry

    absolutely gorgeous, it’s fits perfect as it looks so classy, the colour is perfect and the features on the face is fab, would highly recommend

    Reply
  2. Breitling Transocean Chronograph Unitime The original design of this watch I’ve seen and it ‘s quality

    Reply
  3. Milt Pressley

    I have the 18K Transocean – rose gold, silver dial, tan leather band. It’s my favorite watch. I prefer the leather band – both for looks and comfort. The Transocean is basically the same watch with a different dial and the first in-house movement, the BO1. Keeps great time, looks incredible. If one needs the functions of this model of the Transocean, it appears to me that the black dial is cleaner and would be easier to work with. I personally don’t care for the “busyness” of this model — like the cleaner less busy look of the regular Transocean. But when I traveled so much years ago, this would have appealed to me. Also, I suspect the BO5 is a cooler movement than the BO1, but the BO1 is the favorite of all in my collection.

    Reply
    • Milt Pressley

      Hi,
      Moderate away! Whatever you say, I say OK. Hey! Merry Christmas.

      Milt

      Reply
  4. Richard Kalina

    Great looking, still really Swiss chronograph. The bracelet is the same that I.W.C. is using and the one that Jean Marcel Pure Swiss launched 12 years ago and named “Milanaise Mesh”. It’s still a featured and most sought after bracelet in the “Limited Edition” collections and available on most genuine Jean Marcel models. Follow the leader

    Reply
  5. jose checchini

    Dear Sirwhats the price on the breitling transocean unitime gold w/black leather strp. Is it new?
    Thank you

    Reply
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