Original vintage 1960s Brietling advertisement for the SuperOcean and TransOcean chronograph and automatic watches.
Dimensions: 10.25 inches wide by 13.5 inches high
In the 1950s, the demand for divers’ watches increases due to their essential role in the conquest of the oceans, in professional deep-sea diving and in the scientific exploration of the seas. Aquatic sports and nautical leisure activities are also booming, and amateur enthusiasts need instruments that can safely be worn during their exciting excursions under the surface of the water.
In 1957, Breitling simultaneously launches two ground-breaking diving watches: a time-only diver (Ref. 1004) and a chronograph (Ref. 807). Both named SuperOcean, these two watches embody two different visions of nautical sports: the elegant time-only (Ref. 1004) is intended for those who care about style even while at the beach, while the sportier chronograph (Ref. 807) is definitively more for the seasoned diver who needs a watch for performance and reliability.
In the latter half of the 1950s, Breitling wanted to further expand their offerings. This period marked a time of increased global exploration by air and sea. Intercontinental travel was becoming more accessible and, in turn, more popular than ever. Naturally, Breitling wanted to get a piece of the pie, and they did just that in 1957. That year, the brand first broke into the world of dive watches with the debut of the Superocean. A year later, they decided to up the ante on their pilot watch collections. On the coattails of the brand’s popular Superocean came the Transocean in 1958.
The initial three-hand watch model has since evolved to include chronograph pieces and a relaunched suite in 2010. Unlike other pilot watches , the Breitling Transocean was actually designed for international travelers in the 1950s and 60s.
Breitling named the Transocean for the era, which marked the golden age of transcontinental flight. As mentioned, the brand had originally built the Navitimer with professional and amateur pilots in mind. On the other hand, they created the Transocean to appeal to the new wave of passengers looking to jet set around the globe.
The model features a more polished and elegant design, perfect for a frequently traveling executive. In this way, the Transocean is somewhat of a departure from Breitling’s typical sporty aesthetic.