Breitling SuperOcean Heritage 57 Outerknown Limited Edition review - Classy like a 57 Chevy!

Folks. I got the call from the AD to say this had arrived. After much soul-searching, I decided I wanted an elegant looking skin diver to follow up on my Longines Sprit 37 GADA which I have worn a lot in the last 2 months.

I have the version with the stainless steel bezel. I love the 50's themed design cues - the round quarter indices remind of an old chrome disc wheel cover, the lacquered aluminium bezel insert is concave, meeting the boxed sapphire crystal. The Breitling B logo is applied and in gold. The bezel is non indexed and bidirectional, like an old Tudor Oyster Prince, except it feels buttery smooth - like a fluid damped tripod head if you have ever used one before.

Here's an image of it at the AD with the original Outerknown Econyl strap on. It is slim and light.

I am not going for the 'surf dude' aesthetic so have swapped it for a leather strap at the moment, but the the strap has too strong a red tone and will be swapped out after a bit more research (any suggestions most welcome).

Here is it's party trick - the side profile. So svelte and so much going on in terms of upward curves and downward curves! On the strap, it is even thinner than on the NATO - just 9.99mm for the watch head (which weights only 54g). 42mm across the bezel, 20mm lugs (not drilled but that's okay).

The lugs have a gorgeous twisted profile, like the lyre lugs on my Speedmaster sapphire sandwich. They are short and curve down nicely, so that the watch wears more like a 41mm. So far in the daylight the lume looks good, and you get a great 'owl eye' effect at the quadrant numerals. I'll take some lume shots soon.

Finally, and I absolutely LOVE this about Breitling, is the packaging (or lack thereof). In 2020 I had the good fortune to hear George Kern speak at DLD Munich about brand values, and this was high on his list.

The entire box is made from recycled tide plastic. It is just as big as it needs to be, unlike the trunk that came with my Speedy. You don't get half a tree trunk's worth of redundant paper manuals - read them online. The strap of course is made of Econyl tide plastic. Every little helps, and Breitling are trying to do their bit.

Negatives - well it is a dress diver. No screw down crown, only 100m water resistance (enough to go surfing). I don't like the Econyl strap design aesthetic - to me it jars with the rest of the watch, and finally the bezel insert picks up fingerprints easily.

BUT it is so unique in its proportion, so light on the wrist, and just so interesting compared to your standard Rolex fare!