Released in 1964 as an attempt to break into the youthful professional market, the Breitling Top Time has since become one of the brand’s most iconic models. Linked with the aviation and racing industry like most of the iconic chronographs of the 1960s, the Top Time helped Breitling consolidate their position as a market leader in these markets. Breitling penetrated these incredibly competitive markets by pricing the Top Time as an entry-level chronograph and marketing it as an “instrument panel for the wrist”. This tactic got the watch onto the wrists of people that would later swear by it, and the brand as a whole. The design of the Top Time was equally as youthful as its marketing tactics and price. With Breitling targeting men under the age of 25, they made sure the watch was befitting of an active lifestyle with up-to-date technology and a modern, for the time, aesthetic. This design language was achieved through the Top-Time’s clean sweeping lines, a splash of colour and a thin bezel that emphasised the legible dial. Manufactured until 1978, the Top-Time saw a slew of different variants enter the market over its 14 year production run with a whole host of different dial designs, case shapes and movements being used. Of which, the timepiece we have here is the Breitling Top-Time ref. 2003 powered by the manual Valjoux cal. 7730 movement and measuring 35mm in diameter in keeping with most chronographs of the time. With its gold-plated case, square pushers, and black and white dial, the ref. 2003 was a stylish Top-Time that was as fashionable as it was functional and thus allowed Breitling to capture the essence of what their clientele wanted at the time.

Watch is in very good condition. Case has developed an attractive patina throughout its gold-plating. Gold-plating has worn off on the corners of the lugs and pushers. The case shows scratches commensurate with wear throughout and a deeper cluster of scratches at the 7 o'clock position on the midcase. The dial has lost most of its lume plots. Original caseback's hallmarks are still clearly defined. The leather strap and accompanying pin-buckle are aftermarket.

An incredibly important watch for Breitling at the time, the Top-Time enabled the Swiss watchmaker to go toe-to-toe with brands like Heuer in the competitive chronograph market and develop a passionate fanbase that they still have to this day.