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. 810 powered by the manual Venus cal. 178 movement and measuring 38mm in diameter in keeping with most chronographs of the time. With its gold-plated case, round pump pushers, and silver and black dial, the ref. 810 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 overall very good condition. The gold-plated case shows surface scratches along with more noticeable nicks and dings throughout. The steel case back retains well-defined engravings. The panda dial shows some damage in several places around the edge, with the most noticeable area near the 33-minute marker. The hands show some light marks. It is fitted with a black strap and a gold-toned Breitling pin buckle.

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.