While I am not the type of guy who is that interested in vintage style watches, there are a lot of excellent exceptions such as the newer Breitling Transocean. When Breitling shared this piece with me I immediately liked it. Sure it is a retro-type piece, but ti is not a watch that is overtly “retro.” I would rather suggest it is a traditionally styled watch – something that has a more timeless quality than looking as though it is stuck in a past era.

Last year Breitling introduced the chronograph version of the Transocean called that Transocean Chronograph. This piece does feel a bit more retro than the newer three-hand model. A lot of that has to do with the design of the pushers, style of tachymetre scale on the dial, as well as the chronograph subdials. Both the Transocean Chronograph and more simple Transocean are great looking watches and you don’t need to think of yourself as being at all retro when wearing them.

The watches come in 43mm wide steel or 18k red gold cases that are water resistant to 100 meters. Breitling’s typical high level of polish and case finishing are of course present. The high-quality manner in which Breitling presents their watches is really one of their major selling points. With aggressively sized lugs the watch wears large but still has a tasteful look on the wrist. Typical for Breitling, the Transocean models are offered with a number of dial colors. Each looks good in my regard be it light or dark in tone. The applied hour markers and long strips of white lume through the hands ensure that legibility is high – that and the AR coated sapphire crystal (that is domed like older acrylic crystals).

Lots of little things keep the watches looking classy. In addition to the high-level of fit and finish, the dials have nice applied date windows that those cool cross-hairs that always make dials look somehow better. Overall the Transocean is just a very well proportioned watch that is easy to read and easy on the eyes. Breitling also is able to have this watch pull of a mesh metal bracelet (which is hard to do). Though most people I imagine will opt for the padded leather strap.

Last year’s Transocean Chronograph came with Breitling’s in-house Calibre 01 automatic movement. The three-hand Transocean from this year has their Calibre 01 automatic movement which I believe is a base ETA 2892. Prices for the Transocean watches range from about $5,000 – $8,000 and make for a very satisfying wearing experience.