What Is the Breitling Superocean Automatic 44?
The Superocean is Breitling's modern, genuinely dive-capable tool watch, separate from the more vintage-styled Superocean Heritage line. This reference is the 44mm black dial version on a stainless steel bracelet: 300 meters of water resistance, a unidirectional ceramic bezel, a screw-down crown, and a time-only dial with no date window.
It sits in the middle of Breitling's catalog. Not the brand's flagship, not its cheapest offering, but the reference most people point to as the "if you're getting into Breitling, start here" watch.
Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 Price: MSRP vs. Used Market
Original retail on this reference is $5,900. On the used and auction market, it tells a different story. Recent completed sales on this exact reference (A17376211B1A1):
| Sale Date | Sold Price |
|---|---|
| 5/31/26 | $2,900 |
| 5/17/26 | $2,950 |
| 5/10/26 | $2,800 |
| 5/15/25 | $2,750 |
| 11/20/24 | $3,350 |
| 8/14/24 | $2,800 |
| 10/14/23 | $2,800 |
That's a consistent band of $2,750–$3,350, with recent sales clustering around $2,800–$2,950 — roughly half of MSRP. It isn't a watch built to hold value the way a Rolex or Tudor sport model does, but the depreciation curve looks flat rather than still falling. It's found a floor.
Design & Quirks: What Makes This Reference Different
The bezel is the biggest surprise on this watch. It's a unidirectional, ceramic-insert bezel with a crisp, solid ratcheting click — genuinely more confident than some dive bezels on watches priced higher.
The dial is deliberately simple: black dial, white applied indices, a white inner-bezel ring for underwater legibility, no date window, no clutter. That simplicity isn't a budget decision. In 2019, under then-CEO Georges Kern, Breitling gave the entire Superocean line a top-to-bottom redesign, stripping out a previously busy dial (double 24-hour scale, painted numerals, multiple lines of text) in favor of the clean layout you see on this reference today.
The one debatable design choice: a red seconds hand against the black-and-white dial. It's not necessary, but it does make the seconds hand easier to track at a glance.
The Bracelet and What's in the Box
The bracelet uses Breitling's Ocean Racer clasp — a tool-less micro-adjustment built directly into the clasp, letting you resize on the fly without removing links or reaching for a tool. It's a genuinely useful feature that watches well above this price point still don't offer.
The packaging is made from upcycled recycled PET bottles, part of a sustainability push this specific reference line helped launch back in 2019 with a strap woven from ECONYL, yarn recycled from reclaimed ocean fishing nets. The materials story is real. The execution of the box itself — an oddly shaped pillow insert, a case that reads more like an upscale travel pouch than a $5,900-watch unboxing moment — is the one place Breitling clearly prioritized the watch over the presentation.
Wearing It Every Day
Winding feel is a straightforward medium: not buttery smooth, not gritty. Setting the time is easy — the crown pulls out light and easy. Screwing the crown back in is the genuine daily friction point on this reference: there's a learning curve in finding the right pressure and angle, without the reassuring "click into place" feel you get on some other dive watches. It's not a flaw specific to this one watch — it's consistent across Breitling divers in this family.
On the wrist, the 44mm case wears true to size rather than oversized, and works comfortably across a wide range of wrist sizes. It's also more versatile than a pure sport watch: dressy enough for the office or dinner, sporty enough for a weekend, without needing a strap change.
The 5D Watch Score: 56/100
We score every review across two categories, ten factors, each out of 10 points.
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Aesthetics & Heritage — 25/50 | |
| Styling | 6/10 |
| Movement & Craftsmanship | 6/10 |
| Cool Factor | 5/10 |
| Legacy | 4/10 |
| Value & Collectibility | 4/10 |
| Wearability & Utility — 31/50 | |
| Comfort | 8/10 |
| Usability & Tactility | 6/10 |
| Features & Complications | 4/10 |
| Build Quality | 6/10 |
| Versatility | 7/10 |
| Total | 56/100 |
A middling score on paper, but it's not the full story. This reference isn't competing for a spot on a collector's leaderboard. It's competing as an entry point — and against that bar, it earns its number honestly rather than inflating it.
Is the Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 Worth It?
At MSRP, this is a harder sell. At the roughly $2,800–$3,000 the used market has settled on, it's a different conversation: a solid dive watch with a real Swiss brand name, a bezel action that outperforms its price point, and a bracelet system that's more thoughtful than watches costing more. The trade-offs — a fussy crown, an unremarkable box, no date window — are honest limitations, not deal-breakers.
If you're looking for a first real Swiss automatic, or an easy daily piece to add to a growing collection, this reference is hard to argue with at where it's currently trading.
Buying used comes with its own risk — condition, authenticity, and whether the seller stands behind the sale after your money's gone. If you'd rather buy with a warranty and someone who answers the phone after the sale than gamble on a stranger's listing, reach out — I deal in exactly this kind of piece, and my reputation is on the line with every deal I do.
FAQ
Does the Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 have a date window?
No. This reference is a clean, time-only dial with no date complication.
What is the retail price of the Breitling Superocean Automatic 44?
MSRP is $5,900 for the stainless steel, black dial version (ref. A17376211B1A1).
How much is a used Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 worth?
Recent sales on this exact reference have ranged $2,750–$3,350, with most recent sales landing around $2,800–$2,950 — roughly half of retail.
Is the Breitling Superocean a good first luxury watch?
Yes. It's positioned as Breitling's accessible, tool-focused dive watch, with genuine 300m water resistance, a strong bezel, and a versatile design that works from the office to the weekend.
What is the Ocean Racer clasp?
Breitling's tool-less micro-adjustment clasp system, built into the bracelet, letting you fine-tune fit without removing links or using tools.