Breitling Revives Iconic Top Time Chronograph From ‘Thunderball’

Bond-worthy watch vibes.

Breitling is perhaps taking a page from some other watchmakers’ recent playbooks and bringing back an old-school favorite, the Top Time Chronograph—a model featured on Sean Connery’s wrist when he played James Bond in Thunderball. 

Bond’s Top Time, of course, was a little more tricked out, with a Geiger counter in addition to the subdials, among other things.

The revamped Breitling Top Time is 41mm and runs off the watchmaker’s Caliber 23 movement. It can hold up to 48 hours of power in reserve. More than that, it’s got a distinctively sharp-looking black and white dial, the black slices offsetting the small second and 30-minute counters.

In a statement, Breitling CEO Georges Kern said in part that the “Top Time is an important but often-overlooked part of our heritage, and we know it’s going to resonate with men and women who love this blend of history, design, and great performance.”

The Top Time is a limited edition, only 2000 pieces will be sold. The luxury watchmaker has also paired it with a blockchain digital passport to aid in certifying its authenticity.

The new Top Time will be released to Breitling retailers within the next month or so. It is $4,990 USD and at this time available for purchase via breitling.com.