The Breitling Superocean 44 Special replica ceramic bezel made its debut for relatively little fanfare just over a year ago, which is a bit of a shame as it remains one of the brand's more cohesive, pure dive watches to go in a few release cycles to come around. But while it mostly looked like it was a footnote in Breitling's 2016 releases, the 44 Special did well enough to warrant two more editions. Previously available exclusively in Breitling's unobtrusive Blacksteel PVD finish, these new models feature a matte stainless steel case with black or blue dial options.

Slightly dive (ok, five times) deeper than Breitling 8217; s entry-level automatic Colt sports watches, the 1000m-rated Superocean II watches offer the full range of modern features that many luxury watch fans crave (insane depth ratings, a notched unidirectional bezel, blinding clarity, and even a helium relief valve). At the same time, the ultra-macho, military-inspired aesthetics are reversed that defines the Avenger range of aviation watches.


While Breitling still insists on calling the Superocean II an 'ocean pilot,' the self-winding movement Swiss replica Breitling Superocean 44 Special is anything but. In addition to ticking off the aforementioned required features for a diver of this type, the Special differs from the standard Superocean II by opting for a matte steel case finish, a more minimalist dial with square indexes instead of the crowded Arabic numerals, and a reliable ceramic bezel characterized by its particularly smooth surface and extremely sharp, grippy serrations.

This ceramic bezel is not a new technology for Breitling, as we've already seen the black variant on the first Blacksteel 44 Special replica watch with luminous indexes online, and a similar version of the deep matte blue on this Boutique-Edition Chronoliner. Overall, the single color of the ring looks great here. Still, it remains to be seen whether a ceramic ring (usually the first erroneous point of contact for a dive watch against a boat case, dive ladder, or door frame) will last until the frequent effects that characterize the life of a worn-out tool watch.

Traditional dive watch bezels remove these bumps and dents using a sturdy metal ring with a replaceable insert glued with numbered delineations. So while this may be an aesthetic design choice rather than a functional one, we'll be the first to admit both ceramic color options fit perfectly with the steely aesthetic of the new 44 Special, and one we'd love to see on the wrist.

Compared to the standard Superocean II, the new replica Breitling Superocean 44 Special is much soberer in design, competing with the 2014 Tudor Pelagos or the Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000, both of which are equally clinical in their application of contrast and texture. The added difference of the new stainless steel case finish is welcome as the previous Blacksteel edition overwhelmed the wrist as most all-black watches do. As mentioned earlier, the result is one of the more cohesive purpose-built divers in the Breitling catalog. Still, one that's thoroughly modern and masculine without looking like it takes a lot of effort to remind you.
The guts of the excellent replica Breitling Superocean 44 Special remain unchanged - inside, it still beats Breitling's Caliber 17, a 25-gauge chronometer-grade ETA 2824-based automatic movement with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. Prices for the Breitling Superocean 44 Special at $ 4,350 for the bracelet's stainless steel finish and $ 3,850 for rubber is slightly less than the existing Blacksteel variant at $ 4,980 on the rubber strap.