When it comes to vintage chronographs, Breitling can be somewhat polarizing. While best known for their Navitimer line of aviation computer watches, some collectors find their dials too busy and difficult to read for daily wear. As a result, these chronographs don’t always get the same appreciation as some of their contemporary counterparts.

We'd like to change that, and this watch, the Top Time, is the best way we know how.

In the 1960s, a few years after the Navitimer Reference 806 ‘Cosmonaute’ orbited the planet on the wrist of Scott Carpenter, Breitling launched a line of simpler, more subdued chronographs called ‘Top Time.’ Unlike the Navitimer, the Top Time was meant for more basic tasks than timing an orbital burn. Therefore, its design was less complex than that of the Navitimer, but no less appealing.

Its clean lines and splashes of color (and lower price tag) were meant to attract the eye of its intended audience: the youth. As Willy Breitling said upon the Top Time’s release in 1964, “Our special models [like the Top Time] are particularly suited to the needs of young and active professionals…”

Unlike most twin-register Top Time References, which featured a 36mm case, this Reference 810 comes in at a slightly larger and more versatile 38mm. It features a sought after stainless steel case, rather than the more commonly seen chrome-plated variation, housing a sunburst silver Tritium dial with a 'Panda' triple-register chronograph layout, a matching handset, and a signed crown.

Breitling meant for the Top Time to break the brand into a new era, and high sales ensured its popularity. In aesthetics, it’s a visual snapshot of the 1960s, but remains fresh and clean. With sharp looks and an appealing style, the Top Time has become a classic, and it's not hard to see why.