Most car-and-watch tie-ins put a logo on a dial and call it a collaboration. Breitling put a steering wheel on one instead.
The new Top Time B01 Tribute to Aston Martin DB5 comes in three versions, and the design detail that actually matters isn't the caseback, it's a ring of wood inside the bezel finished to match the DB5's dashboard.
The images in this article were generated with AI for illustration. They show recognizable watch models but are not photographs of specific watches for sale.
The Short Answer
- Three limited editions: steel (1,022 pieces, $11,400), steel with a platinum bezel (315 pieces, $18,600), and solid red gold (250 pieces, $41,500).
- All three share a wooden inner bezel ring finished to match the grain of a 1960s Aston Martin DB5 steering wheel, with the tachymeter scale reading "Aston Martin DB5" across the first ten seconds.
- The movement is Breitling's in-house Caliber 01, a self-winding chronometer-certified chronograph.
- The reference point is Sean Connery's original Breitling Top Time ref. 2002, worn in Thunderball (1965) alongside the same DB5.
- A laser-etched Aston Martin logo sits on the rotor, visible through the sapphire caseback.
Three References, One Design Language
Breitling built this collection around materials, not just colorways. Each tier changes the case metal and the dial character while keeping the same wooden bezel signature.
The steel reference, AB0178121G1X1. Silver sunburst dial, black snailed subdials, 1,022 pieces at $11,400.
The Steel Reference: AB0178121G1X1
The entry point runs 41mm across and 13.3mm thick in stainless steel, with a silver sunburst dial and black bicompax subdials. It carries the largest run of the three, 1,022 pieces, at $11,400.
The Platinum-Bezel Reference: PB0178121B1X1
Steel case, platinum bezel ring, and a black lacquered dial with sunburst brushing swap the silver-dial version's daytime read for something closer to the DB5's black interior trim. Limited to 315 pieces at $18,600.
The platinum-bezel reference, PB0178121B1X1. Black lacquered dial, 315 pieces at $18,600.
The Red Gold Reference: RB0178131B1X1
The top tier moves to solid 18k red gold with a black onyx dial cut from natural stone. It is the smallest run at 250 pieces and the most expensive at $41,500.
The red gold reference, RB0178131B1X1. A stone dial and a solid gold case for the smallest of the three runs.
Reference Comparison
| Reference | Case | Dial | Edition Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB0178121G1X1 | Stainless steel | Silver sunburst | 1,022 pieces | $11,400 |
| PB0178121B1X1 | Steel, platinum bezel | Black lacquered | 315 pieces | $18,600 |
| RB0178131B1X1 | 18k red gold | Black onyx | 250 pieces | $41,500 |
The Wooden Bezel Is the Actual Story
Most brand collaborations chase a badge. This one chases a material.
Finished to Match a 1960s Steering Wheel
The DB5's cabin, like most British sports cars of its era, used real wood on the dashboard and the wheel itself. Breitling's designers matched that grain and finish for the inner bezel ring on all three references, then printed the tachymeter scale to read "Aston Martin DB5" across the first ten-second mark instead of a standard numeral.
The reference point sits inside the car, not on its badge. A wood-trimmed dashboard from the DB5's era.
A Rotor You Only See Through the Caseback
The Aston Martin tie-in continues out of sight. A custom rotor carries a laser-etched Aston Martin logo, visible only through the sapphire display caseback, a detail built for the owner rather than anyone looking at the wrist from across a room.
The Sean Connery Connection
Breitling is leaning on real film history here, not invented nostalgia. The original Top Time ref. 2002 appeared on Sean Connery's wrist in Thunderball (1965), the same film that put the DB5 on screen as Bond's car. The modern Top Time name is a direct callback to that reference, not a generic vintage-chronograph revival.
On the wrist, the wooden bezel reads as a warm accent ring rather than a novelty. The reference matters more up close.
What Powers It
All three references share the same movement architecture underneath the material differences.
- Caliber: Breitling 01, an in-house self-winding chronograph movement, chronometer-certified.
- Case size: 41mm diameter, 13.3mm thick across all three references.
- Water resistance: 100m (10 bar).
- Strap: Brown calfskin leather with a hand-colored gradient effect, matched to the case metal on the buckle.
Where This Sits for a Buyer
A three-tier limited edition built around a real film pairing tends to hold collector interest longer than a straightforward colorway release, largely because the story does not depend on hype alone. The steel reference, at 1,022 pieces, is the version most likely to show up on the pre-owned market first and in the largest numbers. The platinum-bezel and red gold references, at 315 and 250 pieces respectively, are meaningfully scarcer from day one.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many Breitling Top Time x Aston Martin DB5 watches were made?
Three limited editions: 1,022 pieces in steel, 315 pieces in steel with a platinum bezel, and 250 pieces in solid red gold.
What does the wooden bezel on the Breitling Top Time DB5 represent?
It is finished to match the wood grain and tone of a 1960s Aston Martin DB5's dashboard and steering wheel, with the tachymeter scale reading "Aston Martin DB5" instead of a standard numeral across the first ten seconds.
What movement is inside the Breitling Top Time x Aston Martin DB5?
All three references use Breitling's in-house Caliber 01, a self-winding, chronometer-certified chronograph movement.
How much does the Breitling Top Time x Aston Martin DB5 cost?
$11,400 for the steel reference, $18,600 for the steel with platinum bezel, and $41,500 for the solid red gold reference, all before sales tax.
Is the Breitling Top Time x Aston Martin DB5 connected to James Bond?
Indirectly, through film history rather than direct branding. The original Top Time ref. 2002 was worn by Sean Connery in Thunderball (1965), the same film that featured the Aston Martin DB5 as Bond's car.