Zach Brass
Watching has always been a hot topic, and these days enthusiasts often claim that the brand is a bit too enthusiastic. However, when a well-known brand drops something in the $5,000 to $6,000, the ears get energized, with designs dating back to the 1960s, Breitling’s Top Time is notable for its chronograph design, creating a 007 cameo, especially with the Thunderball of the 1965s. Sean Connery’s watch featured a Geiger counter, but the new Top Time B31 is a design that ultimately offers essentials. The rotating bezel and protruding puller are not only date and time, but also in configuration, under USD 6,000. Dive into what you get for your money.
case
The Top Time B31 is one of its six total variants, and is about the stylish, smart casual aesthetic of a compact steel case. Measured at a diameter of 38mm, thickness of 10.3mm and lug-to-lug 45.8mm, the top of the B31 flattens almost every wrist in the fit. Lead with mirror polishing of all elements on the front and satin brush introduced into the case band. It also has a push-pull crown, not a screw-down one, but is water resistant to 100 meters. Again, it’s a smart casual and professional tool, and it’s completely safe to swim together.
Dial
Brands usually rely on more basic shades of such watches, but top time is about contrast with colored centers and contrasting boundaries. There are three dial colors. Blue with a white chapter ring, green with a black chapter ring, white with a blank chapter ring. The sapphire crystal covering the dial is cambered, creating a slightly vintage feel and increasing the readability of the already extremely easy-to-read Minute Track.
All three colorways feature orange chip central hand to add contrast, filled with baton hands and applied indexes with Super Luminova.
Finally, at the very uncontroversial position, there is a zoomed-out date running on a black white disc, regardless of the color of the dial. The colours don’t match, but their position replaces the white fill time index and blends in quite seamlessly. My personal favorites are the white dial and sky blue. As the beach season approaches the Northern Hemisphere, there is a strong summer vibe.
strap
Breitling’s Top Time B31 can be purchased either as a racing leather strap with a dial or as a case matching bracelet. The blue and green dials pair with color matching straps, while the white and beige combination deviates from the formula. The green straps appear to match the dial closely, while blue is definitely darker in colour, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Another option is a stainless steel bracelet that runs with a mixed finish to match the case. Follow the familiar formula of a polished central link surrounded by brushed pieces. What you may not be familiar with is the twist on each link, which is what the Braitling signifies. Each link piece is shaped at an angle, giving the bracelet a more dynamic feel.
On the strap, the Top Time B31 costs USD 5,600, while the bracelet option costs only USD 300. Considering the 20mm lug width, it is compatible with an infinite number of aftermarket options, so try to jump to the bracelet and circle back for the leather strap.
Movement
At the recent SuperoCean Heritage Coverage, we talked about the March debut of the Breitling-Exclusive B31 Movement. Well, the top time for the B31 was a truly watch that was released in the beginning of 2025. The B31 decorated the automatic movement decorated with 78-hour power reserves and 78-hour power reserves and COSC certified, made for braiting by Sellita’s AMT department.
verdict
In summary, for under 6K US$6K, it’s temporary casual, casual and compact when present, and you get a COSC certified move that’s not ready-made drop-in. For $5,600 for straps and $5,900 for bracelets, the Breitling Top Time B31 is the range that allows you to safely offer one of the more attractive daily wearer offerings in the price segment, especially among other fellow big name brands.
Breitling Top Time B31 Price and Availability
The Breitling Top Time B31 collection is now available for purchase. Price: US$5,600 (strap), US$5,900 (bracelet)
Brand Breitling Model Top Time B31 Case Dimensions 38mm(d) x 10.3mm
