Watch Paparazzi

Television presenter Julien Courbet spotted wearing Breitling

French television presenter Julien Courbet was recently photographed wearing what appears to be a Breitling Superocean II 44 on a black rubber strap — a tool watch choice that sits comfortably outside the flashier end of celebrity horology. The sighting shows a large-cased diver with a deep black dial, bold white Arabic numerals, and a unidirectional rotating bezel, all hallmarks of Breitling's professional dive line.

The Superocean II 44 was introduced as a direct evolution of the original Superocean, which debuted in 1957 and helped establish Breitling's credentials in the dive-watch segment. The reference most consistent with the visual evidence is A17392D2/BD57, featuring a 44mm stainless steel case, black dial, black rubber Ocean Racer strap, and a water resistance rating of 500 metres — well beyond recreational diving requirements. Power comes from Calibre 17, a COSC-certified automatic movement based on the ETA 2824-2 architecture, offering a 38-hour power reserve and reliable accuracy within -4/+6 seconds per day.

The Superocean II occupies a pragmatic position in Breitling's catalogue. Unlike the more aviation-focused Navitimer or the dressy Premier, it addresses a collector audience that values demonstrable technical specification over heritage storytelling. The 44mm case size — later complemented by 36mm and 42mm variants — struck a balance between wrist presence and genuine wearability, and the series accumulated a loyal following among divers and watch enthusiasts who prioritise depth rating and readability.

Julien Courbet is known to French audiences primarily through long-running consumer affairs and legal advisory programmes, a professional identity built around credibility and directness. The choice of a functional Breitling diver rather than a status-signalling luxury complication reads as entirely consistent with that public image. The rubber strap configuration reinforces a sporty, active sensibility over boardroom dressing.

On the secondary market, the Superocean II 44 in black dial steel configuration trades at modest premiums or slight discounts to its original retail price, reflecting healthy supply and steady rather than speculative demand. It remains a sound entry point into Swiss professional diving watches for collectors seeking genuine specification at a rational price point.