There are some collaborations that just feel right. And while the image of a lycra-clad triathlete might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Breitling, I’d wager that the word Ironman wouldn’t sound too discordant to most ears. Last week saw the release of the Breitling Superocean Ironman Limited-Edition watch, and it is a handsome addition to a collection that’s been receiving quite a bit of attention lately.
The partnership between Breitling and the Ironman (a Wanda Sports Group company) was celebrated at a special event held at the Breitling boutique in New York City, hosted by Thierry Prissert, President of Breitling USA, and President and CEO of the Ironman Group, Andrew Messick. An extensive guest list included Paula Newby-Fraser, an Ironman legend known as the “Queen of Kona” after winning the Ironman World Championship a staggering eight times.
Georges Kern, the ever-active CEO of Breitling, praised Breitling’s triathlon squad for their performances in Ironman events, name-checking Jan Frodeno, Chris “Macca” McCormack, and Daniela Ryf (the reigning Ironman World Champion).
The Ironman Triathlon Series pushes athletes to delve deep and find their limits. With a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle, and a 26.2-mile run (that’s a marathon, in case anyone was wondering), the competition is one of Planet Earth’s most grueling single-day endurance races. The Breitling Superocean Ironman Limited Edition watch has been created to accompany competitors on this hellish journey and is suitably equipped to withstand an elemental battering.
A 44mm stainless steel case on a red Diver Pro III rubber strap gives off a seriously technical vibe that is more than backed up by an impressive 1,000-meter water-resistance. A unidirectional timing bezel and a black dial featuring high-contrast Super-LumiNova markers make this watch usable at any feasible depth. At 14mm-thick, I would be a little concerned about the weight of this piece, considering it is intended to be strapped to the wrist of an endurance athlete, but I suppose I should assume they are much stronger than me. However, if there was ever an opportunity to use Breitlight, this is it.
To ensure the wearer can get an accurate time reading, regardless of the battery the watch is subjected to, Breitling has fitted this limited-edition Superocean with the self-winding Breitling caliber 17, which has an operating frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 38 hours. The Breitling Superocean Ironman Limited-Edition watch is limited to 300 pieces and will be exclusively available on Breitling’s e-commerce channel, in selected Breitling boutiques, and on-site at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Nice and the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona. The Breitling Superocean Ironman Limited-Edition watch will be priced at $3,950. To learn more about the brand and the partnership, check out breitling.com.
