Rainbow Redux: Breitling Issues Second Superocean Heritage '57 Limited Edition for COVID-19 Charities

Breitling unveiled a new "capsule collection" of its vintage-inspired dive watch, the Superocean Heritage '57, during its Summit Webcast back in April. One particular model in that collection caught on like wildfire — a limited edition with a multi-colored "rainbow" dial. This week, Breitling announced a second edition of that popular timepiece, with partial proceeds from its sales going to charities supporting the workers on the frontlines of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Superocean Heritage Automatic 42 '57 Limited Edition II follows up the original's black dial and bezel with a dial and a bidirectional, rotating bezel in maritime blue ceramic. Remaining from the popular predecessor are the rainbow-inspired design elements — color highlights at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock hour markers and graduated, multicolored Super-LumiNova coating on the hour and minute hands in shades of green, blue, indigo, violet, red, and orange. The

Inside the 42-mm stainless steel case, which is water-resistant to 100 meters, ticks the self-winding Breitling Caliber 10, based on the ETA 2892-A2 and amassing a power reserve of 42 hours when fully wound. The solid caseback is engraved with 'ONE OF 1,000" (Breitling is making 1,000 total pieces), and the watch is offered on either a golden-brown vintage-look leather strap with a pin or folding buckle or an integrated "Ocean Classic" steel mesh bracelet with a butterfly clasp. Buyers can also choose to match the watch with an eco-friendly strap made of Econyl yarn from Outerknown, sold separately. For more on Outerknown and its environmental initiatives with Breitling, click here.

Proceeds from sales of the watch, Breitling says, will be directed to charitable organizations in the nations hit hardest by the coronavirus, specifically those that provide aid and comfort to healthcare workers and the most vulnerable victims of the pandemic. France's Fondation de France, Italy's Humanitas hospital group, Japan's National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM), Spain's Ministry of Health, and the U.S.A.'s Direct Relief are among the organizations listed. Breitling is also donating 1,000 Swiss francs to each of the charities for each of the first 100 watches sold, for a total of 500,000 Swiss francs.

Breitling says that the original model's rainbow-inspired design details became "symbols of hope and optimism" during the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, paving the way for this second edition. “We were amazed by the popularity of the Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition, which told us that we could do something for the incredible healthcare workers," says Breitling CEO Georges Kern. "They have sacrificed so much and we wanted to make it clear how much we care with this new version of our own rainbow.” Prices are $4,250 on a leather strap with pin buckle, $4,770 on leather with a folding clasp, and $5,025 on a steel bracelet.

For an in-depth review of the original Breitling Superocean Heritage '57 model, click here.