Today’s #TBT takes a look at a chronograph that I’ve been hunting for a long time, a Mark 1 Breitling Top Time 810. It’s a watch – and a watch line that existed for some time – that’s been grossly underrated in vintage watch collector circles for some time, but is finally getting some deserved notice. Proof of this will come shortly after reading this article should you go look for one because -poof- they’ve all but disappeared.
The Heuer Carrera receives the lion’s share of credit for ushering in modern and clean chronograph design in 1964. We’ve covered the early 2447 and there’s no doubt about it that it’s one of watch history’s most important pieces. Along with said design traits, Heuer quickly linked itself to famous racers in an effort to further legitimize the replica Breitling watches for sale as useful instruments for the track. However, in the same year, the Breitling 810 Top Time was also introduced.
For whatever reason, the mainstream vintage watch world has largely ignored the Breitling 810 Top Time and the fact that it also brought “simple sporty” design to the market. I could posit theories as to why, but I’ll offer one primary theory; Breitling had been making modernly styled chronographs for decades prior to the release of the Top Time. Therefore, perhaps the Heuer received more press because it was truly transforming from stopwatch maker to wristwatch constructor. But – as you’ve likely guessed – I’m here to convince you that the 810 is every bit as credible as other more famous chronographs of the era. Let’s see why…
Let’s start with size because I think it’s one of the most endearing aspects of the Breitling 810 Top Time. The early Mark 1 810’s were produced with a case diameter of just below 38mm. Versus the petite Carrera of 36mm, the Top Times are comparatively massive. Another proportional difference is expressed in lug width. Whereas the Carrera sported slender 18mm lugs, the Breitling weighs in with a huge 21mm gap.
It’s an enormous difference that adds some real visual weight to the Top Time – too much depending on the choice of strap in my opinion – and it helps further erase a major complaint that large-wristed potential vintage high quality replica Breitling watches buyers often have. Make no mistake, based on dimensions alone, the 810 is a thoroughly modern watch despite an age of over 50 years!
On the wrist, the top replica Breitling watches show the size well. It’s definitely not as large as a Speedmaster and it’s also not as flat. A large domed acrylic crystal actually contributes to the illusion of mass as well. I’ve set the 810 on a medium brown strap for now – I’ve tried a black racing style strap too – and it’s what I like best so far. I say “so far” as I may need to go custom with something that tapers even more dramatically towards the buckle. Why? Well, I mentioned the wide lugs above and I can’t help but think that 20mm or even 19mm might have served the case slightly better. Perhaps tapering more will fool my eye into thinking that the lugs are narrower – let’s see.
But, if size were the only thing that counted, we’d all be retrofitting pocket perfect clone Breitling watches for our wrists. No, the detail that makes the Breitling 810 Top Time, and the Mark 1 case in particular, is its case design. Simply stated, this is one of my favorite cases of all. To help exemplify my rationale, I’ve lined up a Mark 1 cased example next to a Mark 2 (1967 and later example) and you can see the elegance, and dare I say grace, found on the early piece due to its lug design. They flow organically out of the case instead of looking a bit like an add-on on the Mark 2. Both examples are worthy of praise, but it’s the early specimen’s lugs that really strike a chord with me. On the early base, the lugs feature barely noticeable chamfers on their tips – far less pronounced than on similar vintage Navitimers or Co-Pilots – and this gives them a soft appearance. Perhaps it’s a nod to older design, but it hardly seems outdated.
The Breitling Top Time 810 is one of those watches that has been hunted down by purists and is often mentioned on forums as a beautifully pure classic chronograph. However, similar to most Breitlings, it hasn’t become a real “darling” on the auction block. Like most older chronographs, values have risen and no matter the execution, decent stainless best fake Breitling watches now seem to safely command between $4,000 – 5,000. On the one hand, this is in stark contrast to prices only 2-3 years ago (when I bought my Mark 2) that hovered in the $1,500 – 2,000 range, but Top Time values still pale in comparison to Carreras of the same era. To me, that signals a bargain and one that won’t likely last.
If you’re hunting for a decent stainless Breitling Top Time 810, there are many things to consider. Mark 1 cases haven’t truly separated themselves value-wise from Mark 2’s, but I personally think this is due to lack of auction activity, as the early pieces seem much more rare. Dial damage is typical (both of mine show some missing white printing) and incorrect hands are also common. So, do ensure that you do your homework and like most things, the cosmetic pieces have become increasingly difficult to find.