October 22, 2019 - Authored By: Dale E. Malick
So, the Breitling Transocean...
The Transocean was first introduced in the year 1958 as it was the perfect accessory for the international traveler.
It was powered by the Breitling caliber B126 automatic movement. It sported a polished 34mm stainless steel case with twisted lugs. The dial was available in either black or silver sunburst with applied steel baton hour markers, dauphine hands and probably the most distinctive feature is the crosshair dial. My personal favorite.
At the time, the watch in itself was extremely unpopular among Breitling enthusiasts since it was not a chronograph. However, for collectors today, it is considered quite rare and extremely sought-after.
Today’s Transocean.
The Transocean has made a remarkable comeback. Today's Transocean, as many as its contemporaries, has a larger case size and is much more complex. Unlike the original Transocean, it is also available in a chronograph version.
The Transocean 38 Chronograph Reference A41310 has a 38mm stainless steel case with a screw down, solid case back and a signed crown. Lug to lug it is 49mm. Even though the watch is 49mm lug to lug, the watch wears much smaller since the lugs are curved down. The lugs hug the wrist, so the watch is very suitable for a wrist size anywhere from 6.25 inches to 7 inches.
The black dial is very prominent especially with the silver indices, hands and markers. Conspicuously hidden is the date window at the 6 position. There are two chronograph sub dials; at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions.
The small seconds sub dial is located at the 3 o’clock position and the 30 minute counter sub dial is located at 9 o’clock position. The dial is complemented by the inner chapter tachymeter scale. Personally, when looking at the dial, I find it very mesmerizing; like the vintage Breitling Navitimer. Covering the dial is a scratch resistant glare proof sapphire crystal.
It is powered by the Breitling caliber 41 automatic movement with vibrations per hour at 28,800. The 38 jewels automatic movement has a power reserve of 42 hours.
The stainless steel mesh bracelet is very nice. Although from my perspective, it looks completely different in person compared to the stock pictures. I find that the watch looks better on a black leather strap. However, a light brown, beige or tan strap would be perfectly acceptable. The lug width is 20mm, which is the perfect size. It gives the watch a very masculine yet refined look. Truth be told, when the watch was first introduced by Breitling, it was marketed as a woman's watch. However, in my opinion, it is much more suitable for a man.
So my final impressions are the following. First, I believe the watch is the perfect size for a smaller wristed individual, even though lug to lug width is 49mm. However, one of my biggest issues with the watch is the case thickness. It is 14.25mm. When looking at the watch from a side profile, it appears disproportionate to its 38mm case size.
Next, the dial legibility is subpar. At times it can be very difficult to read. The indices, hands and dial markers all blend together. There is no contrast, except for the gold “B” - Breitling iconic logo. The lum is second-rate as well.
Overall, I really like the watch, but if I had my druthers, I would definitely slim down the case thickness and improve the dial’s legibility.
In the end, our W2W/1-10 rating is a solid 7.
Article Written By: Dale E. Malick Founder & CEO of Watch2Wear
