Breitling unveils Top Time tribute to Aston Martin DB5
By Shivani Dubey | 23 July 2026 | Cars & Yachts, Design, Style
Breitling has unveiled a limited edition Top Time B01 Chronograph 41 watch in tribute to James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5
Breitling, specifically its Top Time collection, and Aston Martin have a lot of history together. In the 1960s, the Top Time ref. 2002 appeared on Sean Connery’s wrist in Thunderball (1965), right alongside the Aston Martin DB5, which was introduced in 1963, leading to a defining moment in design history. Today, that same legacy has given way to the Top Time B01 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Aston Martin DB5, which comes in three different limited editions.
“The Aston Martin DB5 is one of those rare designs that never fades. It still feels as relevant today as it did in the 1960s,” says Georges Kern, CEO of House of Brands. “With this Top Time, we capture that sense of timeless style.”
The new Top Time B01 Chronograph is designed to ‘capture the feel of being behind the wheel of Aston Martin’s classic grand tourer’. With wood-inlaid details, hand-coloured gradient leather straps, and refined dial executions, the watch echoes the interiors of the Aston Martin DB5.
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The cushion-shaped case, grooved corners, and mushroom pushers all call back to the distinctive profile of the 1960s chronograph, while the “squircle” subdials capture the look of classic car dashboard gauges. A wooden inner ring draws on the DB5’s steering wheel, and the hand-coloured gradient leather strap reflects the depth and tone of fine automotive upholstery.
“This chronograph blends form with true function,” says Breitling’s head of product design Pablo Widmer. “As with the Aston Martin DB5, its beauty lies in its lines, materials, and finishings.”
The engine of the watch is the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, with its column-wheel architecture and vertical clutch ensuring smooth, accurate operation, while a 70-hour power reserve supports extended wear. Visible through the open sapphire-crystal caseback, the movement is finished with a dedicated Aston Martin-engraved rotor – rhodium-plated or 18k red gold, depending on the version.
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The Top Time B01 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Aston Martin DB5 by Breitling is available in three different editions: stainless steel with a silver dial limited to 1022 pieces, steel and platinum with a black lacquered dial, which is limited to 315 pieces and the18k red gold with onyx dial, limited to 250 individually numbered pieces and is the most elevated expression of the watch.
“These editions represent something truly distinct from anything we’ve created before…allowing us to exchange ideas in a way that felt both natural and ambitious. Inspired by the enduring elegance of the Aston Martin DB5 and our shared heritage of iconic design, the watch captures a balance of beauty, precision, and performance,” says Marek Reichman, executive vice president and chief creative officer at Aston Martin.
“Every detail has been carefully considered to reflect the character and authenticity synonymous with both brands. The result is a watch that feels contemporary today, yet timeless for generations to come,” he adds.
