Breitling built a watch for the Aston Martin DB5, and it has a wooden steering wheel inside
A Bond film from 1965 is still paying dividends
Sixty-one years ago, a Breitling Top Time appeared on screen in Thunderball, worn alongside the most famous Aston Martin ever built. Breitling and Aston Martin have now revisited that moment with a new chronograph dedicated to the DB5, complete with a wooden ring inspired by the car's steering wheel.
The Thunderball connection
The link is not invented for marketing. In 1965, a Breitling Top Time ref. 2002 appeared in Thunderball, worn alongside the DB5, and it holds a particular distinction: it was the first Q-modified watch in the James Bond series. That shared screen moment is the starting point for the new Top Time B01 Chronograph 41 Tribute to Aston Martin DB5, which follows the partnership the two brands announced earlier in 2026.
Details borrowed from the car
This is where it gets genuinely charming. The dial carries a wooden inner ring inspired by the DB5's steering wheel, while the squircle-shaped subdials echo the car's dashboard gauges. The hand-coloured gradient leather straps are meant to recall automotive upholstery, and the rotor is engraved with the Aston Martin logo, rhodium-plated or in 18k red gold depending on the version. The cushion-shaped case with grooved corners and mushroom pushers comes straight from the 1960s Top Time.
Three editions, one first
The 41 mm chronograph is powered by Breitling's COSC-certified Manufacture Caliber 01, a column-wheel movement with a 70-hour power reserve. It comes in three limited editions: Classic in stainless steel with a silver dial, limited to 1,022 pieces; Contrast in steel and platinum with a black lacquered dial, limited to 315; and Luxury in 18k red gold with a natural onyx dial, limited to 250 individually numbered examples. That onyx dial is a first for Breitling.
What they say
Georges Kern, CEO of House of Brands, said the DB5 remains as relevant today as it was in the 1960s, with the watch capturing that timeless style. Aston Martin chief creative officer Marek Reichman described the collaboration as reflecting a shared appreciation for timeless design, craftsmanship and innovation, while Breitling's head of product design Pablo Widmer said the chronograph blends form with true function, much like the DB5's own design philosophy. The watches are available from July 2026, though pricing was not disclosed in the announcement.
AutoNext Take
Car and watch collaborations are often lazy badge-swaps, so it is refreshing to see one built on a real shared history rather than a marketing meeting. The Thunderball provenance is genuine, the 1960s case shape is the right starting point, and details like the wooden steering wheel ring and dashboard-style subdials show someone actually looked at the car.
It also lands at an interesting moment for Aston, which is fighting to keep its V12 alive and leaning hard on its heritage. Trading on the DB5 is the easiest win in the business, and if you cannot stretch to the car, this is a considerably more attainable piece of the same story. We would take the steel Classic, for what it is worth.
