The Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling first presented chronographs from the Top Time series in 1964, and continued the model series until the mid-1970s. The collection was designed as a more affordable alternative to the brand’s other chronographs, and was primarily aimed at young, active men. Vintage models in a striking racing design or with the so-called “Zorro” dial (ref. 2002 “Sprint”) in the unique “panda” look are very popular with collectors today. The latter variant owes its name to the two subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock, which are framed on a triangular black background. The design is reminiscent of the eye mask worn by the fictional hero Zorro from early 20th century California. Zorro is Spanish and means “fox.” Breitling has been presenting modernized versions of the legendary Top Time since 2020, continuing the tradition of the 1960s. It all started with the Top Time Ref. A23310, which is limited to 2,000 pieces, reinterpreting the striking Zorro dial. With this new edition, Breitling combines its classic heritage with contemporary watchmaking artistry, appealing to both lovers of nostalgic models and collectors of modern timepieces.
Design and Function of the Breitling Top Time “Zorro”
As a tribute to the legendary Top Time ref. 2002 “Sprint,” reference A23310 is characterized by a white dial with white subdials that are framed in black triangles. While the subdial at 3 o’clock has a 30-minute scale, there is a small seconds subdial at the 9 o’clock position. Breitling sets accents with bright red hands for the hours, minutes, and stop seconds, while the subdial hands are kept in plain black. Applied line indices with Super-LumiNova luminous dots at their upper ends serve as hour markers. A decimal scale runs along the outer edge of the dial. This is used to display time measurements in decimal increments, which can be particularly useful in scientific or industrial applications. Below the 12 o’clock position is the Breitling logo in the form of the classic Breitling B, together with the lettering “Breitling 1884.” Above the 6, you can see that it’s a “Top Time Chronometer.”
The Breitling Top Time “Zorro” In Detail
As expected, the modern new edition differs from the original in some details. The fully polished stainless steel case has a diameter of 41 mm. This makes the watch a full 5 mm larger than the 36-mm historical model. Unlike the latter, the Top Time A23310 is also equipped with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, whereas the Top Time 2002 still had to make do with acrylic glass. With a height of around 14 mm, the Top Time “Zorro” is not particularly thin, but is within the average range for automatic chronographs. The strap lug width of just 20 mm is pleasantly slim and offers the option of various strap combinations. Breitling uses a brown leather strap with white decorative stitching as standard, which suits the watch perfectly. Then as now, the water resistance is only 30 m (3 bar, 98 feet), which is unfortunately quite poor for a modern chronograph. Inside ticks the Breitling caliber B23, a refined version of the proven and reliable ETA 7753. Thanks to the chronometer certification from the Swiss Chronometer Inspection Service (COSC), the movement runs very precisely, with an average daily deviation rate of -4 to +6 seconds. The balance wheel of the B23 oscillates at 28,800 vibrations per hour (A/h), while the power reserve is around 48 hours when fully wound.
Breitling Top Time A23310 aka “Zorro”
Pricing & Value Retention
The average price for the Breitling Top Time A23310 on Chrono24 shortly after its market launch in June 2020 was around $3,900. The watch reached its peak price of around $5,500 in April 2022. As many readers will know, the market for luxury watches has been extremely weak ever since. In the case of the Top Time Zorro, however, the price fluctuation is quite moderate. This is reflected in the average price of a new model, which was around $5,200 in January 2025. Over the period as a whole, the A23310 thus increased in value by almost 35 %.
Summary
In 2020, Breitling presented the Top Time A23310, a respectable new edition of the 2002 “Zorro” reference. Thanks to the striking dial design, the model has a unique look that stands out from the crowd when it comes to chronographs. It’s certain to turn heads. As is typical for Breitling, the Zorro has a very robust design and is equipped with a proven and reliable caliber that runs precisely thanks to its COSC certification. Due to modern materials and current technology, however, a water resistance of more than 30 meters (3 bar, 98 feet) would be preferable, as the market offers sporty chronographs that can withstand water pressure of up to 200 meters (20 bar, 656 feet) for half the price. A limited edition of 2,000 pieces, the A23310 is also of interest to collectors looking for a reliable everyday companion with a vintage look. Value retention and appreciation are a given with this model, whose price trend has so far been very realistic without any noticeable market speculation.
