Breitling SuperOcean Ref. 1004 - Gloss Black Patina Dial Unpolished

Breitling has a long and rich history in chronographs — with an emphasis on aviation chronographs. And like so many other brands who have a watch model, or family that has become synonymous with the brand name itself, the Navitimer is just that for Breitling.

As a result, the Navitimer casts a substantial shadow over all of its siblings.... even over firmly planted models like the SuperOcean and Top Time ranges.

The piece that we have here is the very first SuperOcean: the Ref. 1004. Conceived in the late 1950s as Breitling's answer to underwater timekeeping, these pieces never caught on quite like their contemporaries and remain incredible elusive. It is distinguished by its incredible attractive mid-century dial configuration with the bold 'broad arrow' handset, the wonderfully thin case, and the oversized concave bezel. The case itself measures 35mm in diameter but the bezel stretches another 4mm to 39mm in diameter, making for an excellent feel on the wrist. The glossy black dial with Radium is nicely preserved, showing minimal degradation and uniform patina compared other examples that have surfaced. The aforementioned 'Broad Arrow' handset shows some oxidation and matches nicely. The crown is signed and the engravings on the caseback remain clear and defined. The bezel shows normal wear and presents nicely. 

This piece comes fitted to period-correct stainless steel woven 'mesh' bracelet with a 'belt'-style buckle and is powered by Breitling's surprisingly thin, automatic-winding Cal. B125.

Produced for only a few years and in extremely limited numbers, its not everyday a Ref. 1004 surfaces on the open market — let alone in strong condition like this example. This is a completely unique design coveted by enthusiast, dealers, and collectors alike and we're thrilled to be able to be offering this example.