Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 review: worth it or skip?

Buy8.2/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want a fun, bold diver. Why: colourful retro diver. The catch: less prestige.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated November 6, 2026 1 min read

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Our verdict on the Breitling Superocean Automatic 42

Buy it if: you want a fun, bold diver.
Skip it if: you want classic.

Best for: Retro fun
Key feature: Colourful retro diver
Typical price: $4,800–$5,400

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Key specifications

Case	42 mm steel
Movement	Breitling 17 (ETA based)
Water resistance	300 m
Power reserve	38 hours

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

you want a fun, bold diver
value fun colours
can spend around $4,800–$5,400

Skip it if you

you want classic
mind this: less prestige

Pros and cons

Pros

Fun colours
Good value

Cons

Less prestige

The verdict in one breath

The Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 is a luxury dive watch we would point many buyers to. What earns it the buy: colourful retro diver. In our list it is the pick for: retro fun.

Reasons to buy

Fun colours
Good value

Reasons to skip

Less prestige

The details that matter

Case: 42 mm steel
Movement: Breitling 17 (ETA based)
Water resistance: 300 m
Power reserve: 38 hours

Worth knowing

Often discounted.

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want a fun, bold diver. Skip it if you want classic; the Tudor Pelagos 39 is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best luxury dive watches.

Alternatives worth considering

Tudor · Luxury dive watches

Tudor Pelagos 39

Buy it if you want a light, modern tool diver.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Titanium tool
Typical price: $4,800–$5,200

Pros

Light titanium
Chronometer

Cons

Sporty

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Bremont · Luxury dive watches

Bremont Supermarine S302

Buy it if you want British.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: British diver
Typical price: $4,500–$5,200

Pros

Tough

Cons

Less resale

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Breitling Superocean Automatic 42?

Buy it, if you want a fun, bold diver. Why: colourful retro diver. The catch: less prestige.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want classic. The Tudor Pelagos 39 is the better buy then.

What does the Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 cost?

Usually $4,800–$5,400 in the US. Luxury houses raise prices often, so check the current price before you buy.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Breitling Superocean Automatic 42: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 worth the money? Short answer: buy it, if you want a fun, bold diver. This review explains what this Breitling piece gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs and which luxury dive watch to buy instead if it is not right for you.

What the Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 does well

The headline: colourful retro diver. The details: Case: 42 mm steel; Movement: Breitling 17 (ETA based); Water resistance: 300 m; Power reserve: 38 hours. In our list it is the pick for: retro fun. It usually sells for $4,800–$5,400 in the US.

Often discounted.

The trade-offs

Good: fun colours, good value. Not so good: less prestige. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want classic.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Tudor Pelagos 39 ($4,800–$5,200): titanium diver with ceramic bezel. Better if you want a light, modern tool diver.

Instead, consider the Bremont Supermarine S302 ($4,500–$5,200): GMT diver. Better if you want British.

Instead, consider the Tudor Pelagos FXD ($4,300–$4,900): fixed-strap titanium diver. Better if you want a light tool diver.

Before you buy

Size: 39 to 42 mm wears well on most wrists; check lug-to-lug length, which matters more than diameter. Movement: in-house and chronometer-certified movements (COSC, METAS) are more accurate and often have longer service intervals. Bracelet: a quick micro-adjust clasp makes a huge difference in summer; check it before you buy.

Buyer tip

Buy luxury watches from authorized dealers or the brand for the full warranty; grey-market and pre-owned sellers can save 10–30% but check their warranty.

Buying in Europe: authorized-dealer prices for Swiss watches are set per country and include VAT; a watch bought in Switzerland or the EU carries the same international warranty as one bought in the US. Grey-market and pre-owned prices are often quoted in euros or Swiss francs.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.