Expert Contribution

Watches & Wine

A Breitling Bar in Napa is the Perfect Way to Experience the Brand’s Newest Releases Over a Glass of Fine Wine!

The Padis Jewelry Breitling Bar and Tasting Room in downtown Napa is quickly becoming the ideal destination for a weekend trip. By pairing the experience of Swiss timepieces, fine jewelry and wine tasting, there is a little something for everyone! 

The partnership of the Breitling Bar and Padis Tasting Lounge provides a relaxing environment to experience some of the newest re-launched Breitling collections, the Navitimer and the SuperOcean. You can also browse the extensive collection of brand new Breitling time pieces and learn about Breitling history all within the space. 

Over the last few years, Breitling has invested a tremendous amount of resources into establishing its connection with aviation and re-launching some of its most iconic watches. The Navitimer is one of Breitling’s most celebrated designs. Willy Breitling dreamed up the watch in the early ‘50s to directly aid pilots in the cockpit. He called it the Navigation Timer, or “Navitimer.” The watch featured a rotating slide rule on the bezel that worked in conjunction with the chronograph to make cockpit calculations easier. The Breitling Navitimer became commonplace with the aviation set. It was considered a worthy tool.

With this new Navitimer collection, Breitling is throwing the doors open to anyone. Since the slide rule in the cockpit is part of aviation days of the past, this Navitimer is attractive to folks who have never handled an airplane’s stick and rudder before. It’s less serious and more focused on fun in 2022. 

In the mid-1950’s, Breitling started producing dive watches alongside their aviation line, called the SuperOcean. Production has steadily continued since then, with the SuperOcean becoming a big part of Breitling’s identity. The design of the SuperOcean line has evolved  over time, with designs that are completely contemporary, as well as modern designs that intentionally call to mind the models of yore.

Today, Breitling is releasing new SuperOcean models that are inspired by the company’s designs from the ‘60s, particularly the SuperOcean Slow Motion. This original model used a modified Venus 188 movement that propelled a chronograph hand around the dial once an hour. This hand could be read against a 60-minute indicator to track elapsed time. It was hard to tell if the chronograph was running at a glance, so an indicator was placed at six o’clock that let the wearer know if it was running or not. 

The new SuperOcean doesn’t feature the chronograph complication from the original – but they do borrow the thick minute track and boxy minute hand from the SuperOcean Slow Motion. They also stay true to the original by not including a date window. These design decisions create a diver that’s balanced and simple, while also boasting a distinct visual character that isn’t derivative in the least. Inside is the Breitling Caliber 17 in a no-frills time-only configuration. While Breitling doesn’t usually focus on their dive watch heritage, the new SuperOcean proves that when they do, they do it right.

When it comes to the new SuperOcean, Breitling tapped their ambassador Kelly Slater. In the collection there’s a 1,000-piece limited edition “Kelly Slater” model in 42mm. Slater explains that this collection is extra sentimental for him as “it’s inspired by my late father, who had a watch with an orange face that he used to wear surfing for as long as I can remember.”

You can experience these brand new Breitling collections at the Padis Napa location nestled among First Street’s fantastic restaurants, luxury shopping and tasting rooms, and just down the street from Oxbow Public Market located within the Hotel Andaz. The Napa Padis location at 1400 First Street features an enormous selection of sought-after brand names like Tacori and Breitling, as well as one of California’s largest collections of Verragio and Forevermark diamonds, which are ethically-sourced and traced from mine to finger.

Our teams at Padis Jewelry Walnut Creek, San Francisco or Napa are happy to assist you in any way and deliver your selections via our concierge service. Don’t hesitate to visit us at one of our commission-free shopping environments, or contact at 415-861-5388 or concierge@padisjewelry.com if we can be of assistance! 


By Steve Padis, Padis Jewelry and the Forevermark Boutique at Broadway Plaza


About The Author

Jeweler
Steve Padis
Steve Padis Jewelry
415-626-8288

Steve and Judy Padis own and operate Padis Jewelry, which has four locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. They founded the company in 1974 and are proud to have earned a reputation as one of the finest jewelers in San Francisco, serving generations of clients for their most precious moments in life, from engagement to anniversary to milestone gifts. Padis Jewelry maintains top-tier relationships with the most sought-after designers including Tacori, Forevermark, Verragio, Breitling, Tag Heuer, and Roberto Coin. As members of the American Gem Society, Padis is among the top 5% of jewelers across the country.

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