Breitling’s Latest Chronograph Confirms Watchmaking’s Unexpected New Trend

A month ago, Tudor dropped a surprising update to its Black Bay Chronograph with the release of the “Bumblebee.”

The watch shrank the model’s beefy case dimensions to a more wearable 39mm across and 13.1mm thick, a move which drew unanimous praise. More divisive, however, was the choice of color for the beloved new size, as Tudor decided to launch the 39mm Black Bay Chrono exclusively with a bright yellow dial.

Not everyone is a fan of the saturated yellow look on a sports chronograph, but it seems like it may be something we’ll all have to get used to, as Breitling’s latest chronograph points to bold yellow dials as a burgeoning trend.

Breitling

Bee’s knees

Breitling’s latest is a special edition of the Top Time B01 Chronograph made in collaboration with arguably the greatest road cyclist of all time, Eddy Merckx.

While Breitling doesn’t explicitly say it, I’m pretty sure the bold yellow dial was chosen as a reference to Merckx’s success at the Tour de France. Merckx won the event five times, and he holds the record for the most days wearing the iconic yellow jersey — reserved for the leader of the race — at 96 days. At 81 years old, Merckx’s yellow jersey-wearing days are over, so why not wear a yellow watch instead?

Breitling

The eye-catching yellow dial is complemented by a high-vis blue central chronograph seconds hand and white for the tachymeter scale and “squircle” subdials. This gives the watch a softer edge than the Tudor Bumblebee, which pairs its yellow dial with black subdials and bezel for a much bolder look.

A few overt references to Merckx are found throughout the watch, but nothing too ostentatious. The cyclist’s signature appears on the dial above 6:00, and his name is printed in red above 1:00 on the tachymeter scale.

The words “Eddy Merckx Tribute” are engraved on the caseback around the sapphire display window, along with the limited number out of 525. 525 was chosen because it’s the number of wins Merckx racked up in his career, which is also a record.

Breitling

For strap options, there are two available. A black leather strap with white top stitching and a yellow lining looks the best, but there’s also a fitted stainless steel Milanese bracelet if you want something more rugged. Both are secured with steel folding clasps.

Outside of the trendy new colorway and references to Merckx, the rest of the watch is unchanged from a standard Top Time B01 Chronograph. Its stainless steel case measures 41mm across and 13.3mm thick, it has a robust 100m water-resistance rating and its manufacture Calibre B01 automatic movement has a column wheel-operated chronograph and a 70-hour power reserve.

Breitling

Availability and pricing

I don’t think Breitling is copying Tudor with the release of this yellow Top Time. Its release is so close to the Bumblebee’s that it was obviously developed independently, and its road cycling inspiration does a solid job of explaining its choice of dial color.

Still, I think the watch’s release signifies that yellow is becoming more of an accepted colorway for luxury sports watches, specifically chronographs. Might we see a yellow Daytona or Speedmaster next? Only time will tell.

For now, you can pick up the Top Time B01 Chronograph 41 Eddy Merckx now from Breitling for $8,050 on the black leather strap or $8,450 on the mesh bracelet. The watch is limited to 525 examples.

Breitling

Breitling Top Time B01 Chronograph 41 Eddy Merckx

Specs

Case Size	41mm
Movement	Breitling Cal. B01 automatic chronograph
Water Resistance	100m

• $8,050 at Breitling

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