2026 Brietling and Aston Martin Top Time Tribute to Iconic DB5

In the 1960s, the Top Time was Breitling’s unconventional chronograph, created for a new, youthful, speed-driven audience. When a Top Time ref. 2002 appeared on Sean Connery’s wrist in Thunderball (1965), worn alongside the Aston Martin DB5, two icons of the era shared a defining moment in design history. It marked the first Q-modified watch in the James Bond series, and a chapter where speed and style found a common language.

That moment is reinterpreted here through material and form. Wood-inlayed details, hand-colored gradient leather straps, and refined dial executions echo the interiors of the Aston Martin DB5. The result is a watch that captures the feel of being behind the wheel of Aston Martin’s classic grand tourer.

Inspired by the timeless elegance of the Aston Martin DB5, every detail of the Top Time Tribute to Aston Martin DB5 brings together two design legacies: the tactile richness of Aston Martin interiors and the modern-retro codes of the Top Time. The cushion-shaped case, grooved corners, and mushroom pushers recall the distinctive profile of the 1960s chronograph, while the “squircle” subdials capture the look of classic car dashboard gauges.

FACTS ABOUT THE WATCH

The collection is offered in three editions

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“The Aston Martin DB5 is one of those rare designs that never fades. It still feels as relevant today as it did in the 1960s,” says Georges Kern, CEO of House of Brands (Universal Genève, Breitling, and Gallet). “With this Top Time, we capture that sense of timeless style.

”Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer at Aston Martin adds: “These editions represent something truly distinct from anything we’ve created before. The collaboration with Breitling brought together two brands with a shared appreciation for timeless design, craftsmanship, and innovation, allowing us to exchange ideas in a way that felt both natural and ambitious. Inspired by the enduring elegance of the Aston Martin DB5 and our shared heritage of iconic design, the watch captures a balance of beauty, precision, and performance. Every detail has been carefully considered to reflect the character and authenticity synonymous with both brands. The result is a watch that feels contemporar y today, yet timeless for generations to come.”

A wooden inner ring draws on the DB5’s steering wheel, and the hand-colored gradient leather strap reflects the depth and tone of fine automotive upholstery. Together, these elements create a watch shaped with the same attention to detail.

“This chronograph blends form with true function,” says Breitling’s Head of Product Design Pablo Widmer. “As with the Aston Martin DB5, its beauty lies in its lines, materials, and finishings.”

Introduced in 1963, one of the world’s most iconic on-screen cars, the Aston Martin DB5, became synonymous with British culture, design, and innovation, firmly establishing Aston Martin as one of Britain’s most desirable luxury brands. Today, Breitling and Aston Martin proudly bring that shared legacy to the wrist with the Top Time B01 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Aston Martin DB5, presented in three distinct limited editions.

Stainless steel with a silver dial, limited to 1,022 pieces, offers a balanced take that’s closest in spirit to the original Top Time ref. 2002.

Steel and platinum with a black lacquered dial, limited to 315 pieces, introduces contrast and depth, with the platinum bezel adding weight and presence against the high-gloss black surface.

18k red gold with onyx dial, limited to 250 individually numbered pieces, brings an even more elevated expression. The dial is cut from natural onyx, the first use of the stone by Breitling, revealing a unique depth and luster.

MANUFACTURE PERFORMANCE

The engine of the watch is the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, a COSC-certified chronograph movement designed for precision and reliability. Its column-wheel architecture and vertical clutch ensure smooth, accurate operation, while a 70-hour power reserve supports extended wear.

Visible through the open sapphire-crystal caseback, the movement is finished with a dedicated Aston Martin engraved rotor – rhodium-plated or 18k red gold, depending on the version. Each edition pairs this performance with a design language rooted in one of the most recognizable cars ever made.

The Top Time Tribute to Aston Martin DB5 revisits a moment when two distinct approaches to design aligned. One shaped in performance and proportion, the other in precision and form. Together, they continue to be markers of style, that stand the test of time.

TOP TIME B01 CHRONOGRAPH 41 TRIBUTE TO ASTON MARTIN DB5

Reference

AB0178121G1X1

Reference

PB0178121B1X1

Reference

RB0178131B1X1

WATCH MOVEMENT

Caliber

Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01

Diameter

30 millimeters

Depth

7.2 millimeters

Winder

Self-winding mechanical, bidirectional with ball bearing

Power reserve

Approximately 70 hours

Caliber

Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01

Diameter

30 millimeters

Depth

7.2 millimeters

Winder

self-winding mechanical, bidirectional with ball bearing

Power reserve

Approximately 70 hours

Caliber

Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01

Diameter

30 millimeters

Depth

7.2 millimeters

Winder

self-winding mechanical, bidirectional with ball bearing

Power reserve

Approximately 70 hours

Number of components

284

Balance frequency

28,800 a/h or 4 hertz

Chronograph

column wheel, vertical clutch, 1/4th second, 30-minute counters

Display

Hour, minute, second

Certification

COSC-certified

Number of components

284

Balance frequency

28,800 a/h or 4 hertz

Chronograph

column wheel, vertical clutch, 1/4th second, 30-minute counters

Display

Hour, minute, second

Certification

COSC-certified

Number of components

284

Balance frequency

28,800 a/h or 4 hertz

Chronograph

column wheel, vertical clutch, 1/4th second, 30-minute counters

Display

Hour, minute, second

Certification

COSC-certified

CASE

Material

Stainless steel

Rotor

Standard rhodium plated

Diameter

41 millimeters

Thickness

13.80 millimeters

Height (upper lug tip to lower lug tip)

47.90 millimeters

Material

stainless steel, platinum bezel

Rotor

18ct full gold

Diameter

41 millimeters

Thickness

13.80 millimeters

Height (upper lug tip to lower lug tip)

47.90 millimeters

Material

18ct 5N gold

Rotor

18ct full gold

Diameter

41 millimeters

Thickness

13.80 millimeters

Height (upper lug tip to lower lug tip)

47.90 millimeters

Water resistance

Up to 10 bar (100m)

Glass

Cambered sapphire, glare-proofed on both sides

Caseback

Screwed in, sapphire crystal

Crown

non-screw locked, two gaskets

Bezel

Fixed

Water resistance

Up to 10 bar (100m)

Glass

cambered sapphire, glare-proofed on both sides

Caseback

Screwed in, sapphire crystal

Crown

non-screw locked, two gaskets

Bezel

Fixed

Water resistance

Up to 10 bar (100m)

Glass

cambered sapphire, glare-proofed on both sides

Caseback

Screwed in, sapphire crystal

Crown

non-screw locked, two gaskets

Bezel

Fixed

DIAL/HANDS

Sunray brushed silver dial, Black subdials with concentric textured finishing with thin polished rhodium-coated rings

Wooden rehaut ring

Super-LumiNova® luminescent hands and external minute track

Sunray brushed black lacquered dial, Black subdials with concentric textured finishing with thin polished rhodium-coated rings

Wooden rehaut ring

Super-LumiNova® luminescent hands and external minute track

Onyx dial, black onyx subdials with golden rings

Wooden rehaut ring

Super-LumiNova® luminescent hands and external minute track

STRAP

Brown calfskin leather strap, beige lining, folding clasp

BREITLING AND ASTON MARTIN PRESENT TOP TIME TRIBUTE TO ICONIC DB5

TIME AND SPEED, REUNITED