The newest timepiece from the Swiss watchmaker spotlights the first three-hand manufacture movement designed and developed by Breitling

Butler and Breitling collide for the Swiss brand Top Time collection’s latest campaign. Newly appointed brand ambassador, Austin Butler, introduces the Caliber B31, a time-only take on the traditional Top Time lineup, with a set of visuals unfettered in spirit and charmingly rugged in design. Armed with an irresistible charm (and an especially suave leather jacket) the Oscar-nominated actor fronts the brand’s upcoming campaign. 

Courtesy of Breitling

Designed by Willy Breitling in the early ‘60s, the Top Time B31 emerged as an unconventional kind of chronograph reflecting the period’s increasingly restless energy. One of the first timepieces to cater to both men and women, the B31’s break from traditional watch design bolstered its fluency in self-expression. Fittingly enough, James Bond wore a Q-modified Top Time in Thunderball (1965), as the watch excelled amongst motorsport enthusiasts, fashion icons, and even secret agents. 

Courtesy of Breitling

Now, the B31 splits from its chronograph roots (which traditionally also measure speed and distance) to introduce a time-only face. Available in a classic 38 mm size, the Caliber B31 stands as a return to the fundamentals of watchmaking, boasting a sleek and modern design with original proportions. Applied indexes on the dial and a magnified date aperture provide backdrop for the bright orange seconds hand, a distinctive element across all three colorways: white on blue, black on green, and sky blue on white.   

Courtesy of Breitling

Tapered lugs and a crystal with two curved tiers refine the watch’s profile for a more comfortable fit and streamlined look, and each piece pairs with either a perforated leather strap, or, for a sportier feel, a three-row stainless-steel bracelet with an asymmetrical center link.

Courtesy of Breitling

Only one of a handful of independent watchmakers still producing their own manufacture calibers, Breitling is a tried and true, time-telling go-to, and the Caliber B31 is a stunning feat of precision from a company that remains loyal to watchmaking fundamentals. With a permanent residency on Austin Butler’s wrist, who can say no to that?