In the mid-50s’, Breitling was internationally renowned for designing watches for aviators and was supplying 25 of the world’s leading airlines companies of the time. So when, in 1957, the brand launched its first divers’ watches with the two SuperOcean references 1004 and 807, they proudly stated in the advertising campaign that they were, from then on, offering the same vital precision under the sea! Two divers’ watches were launched at the same time in order to offer a choice between a manual wind chronograph, the reference 807 like the present model and an automatic time only version. Both watches featured a very distinctive concave bezel , which was larger than the case. Not only this feature eases the manipulation of the watch with diving gloves but it also protects the large domed crystal. The dial design of the two versions was also very much alike with elongated radium markers and applied stainless steel triangle indexes going through a round luminous marker. Both models were waterproof to 200 meters which placed them in direct competition with the three other major brands offering divers’ watch at the time: Rolex, Blancpain and Omega.