Breitling Superocean

Why water resistance needs regular checks

Gaskets dry out and compress over time whether a watch gets wet or not, and chlorine, salt water and sunscreen speed that up. A Superocean that spends summers in the ocean should have its water resistance checked far more often than its movement needs servicing.

Any good watchmaker can pressure-test a case quickly, and it's cheap insurance. If moisture ever shows under the crystal, stop wearing the watch and get it to a watchmaker straight away, because water inside a movement causes rust that gets worse every day.

Water resistance ratings are measured under lab conditions with new seals. Real life is harder on a watch: a jump into a pool, a hot shower or a sudden temperature change can all stress gaskets in ways the rating doesn't capture. That's why an older dive watch should be tested before you trust it underwater.

Ask your watchmaker for the test result in writing, and keep it with the watch's papers. It's useful evidence of care when you eventually sell.

Bezels, crowns and the parts divers use

The unidirectional bezel should click firmly one way and not move the other, and the crown should screw down cleanly. A crown that won't seat properly is a leak waiting to happen, and it's a common reason a dive watch fails its pressure test.

Rubber straps on dive models wear out and are easy to replace. Steel bracelets can stretch, and a refinishing specialist can tighten or rebuild them.

Get in the habit of checking the crown is screwed down before you go near water. It's the single most common reason a dive watch floods, and it costs nothing to check.

Buying a pre-owned Superocean

Ask when the watch was last pressure-tested, not just when it was serviced. Check that the crown screws down smoothly and the bezel action is crisp. A modern Superocean is a solid pre-owned buy when those basics check out.

Vintage Superoceans are less common and are a specialist purchase. Use a dealer who can confirm the dial and hands are original and who'll tell you plainly whether the watch should go near water at all.

Look at the caseback and lugs for heavy scratching, which tells you how hard the watch has been used. A dive watch that has clearly been in the water a lot deserves a fresh pressure test and gasket change before you trust it yourself.

Superocean Heritage and vintage-inspired models

The Superocean Heritage line borrows from Breitling's mid-century dive watches, with cleaner dials and a more classic look than the modern professional divers. Mechanically, the servicing priorities are the same as any Superocean: seals, crown and bezel first.

Bracelets on Heritage models, including mesh styles, are part of their appeal. Mesh is hard to adjust once stretched or damaged, so check its condition carefully on a pre-owned example.

Heritage models are often bought as everyday watches, so service history matters as much as looks. Ask when it was last opened and pressure-tested, and budget for a service if the seller can't say.

Lume, crystals and the daily wear of a dive watch

Dive watches take knocks. Crystals get scratched, bezels get dinged and lume can dull with age. Most of that is cosmetic and fixable: a watchmaker can replace a scratched crystal or bezel insert, though on a vintage example you'd usually keep original parts for value.

If you dive with a Superocean, rinse it in fresh water after salt water or a pool. It's a small habit that keeps grit out of the bezel and slows the wear on the seals.

What to check on a Breitling Superocean

• A pressure test as part of every service, plus between services if you dive or swim
• Crown and crown tube inspection, the most common leak point
• Bezel action checked and repaired if it slips or skips

Common questions