In 1957, the world seemed boundless. Jack Kerouac published On The Road. The Boeing 707 took its first flight. Russia launched Sputnik 1 into orbit. And Breitling—a company known then and now for its functional aviation watches—conquered the aquatic frontier with the Superocean divers' model. Built for guys in scuba suits, the ticker also became a choice accessory for men who didn't want to worry about shedding a wristwatch before jumping into a pool or their morning shower.

Fifty years later, the Swiss watchmaker is reissuing the timepiece as the Superocean Héritage—in black, blue, or bronze, on a band of woven steel or black rubber—and it's still drawing a mix of serious sport divers and casual toe-dippers. "Do people buy them because they're going diving?" says Andrew Block of Tourneau. "Maybe a small percentage. Do people like the way they look? Absolutely. It's the antithesis of a dress watch." Like its sea-loving predecessor, the sturdy Héritage is water-resistant up to a respectable 200 meters. And the luminous hand and hour markers are useful whether you're exploring the depths of the Belize Barrier Reef or just deciding if it's time to leave your favorite dimly lit watering hole.

A history packed with aerial distinctions—including making watches for the British Royal Air Force in the thirties—has given Breitling its reputation as a true proponent of adventure. The company, after all, sponsored three quixotic attempts at round-the-world manned balloon flights. The first two missions faltered, but the third was finally the charm for the Breitling Orbiter 3, which completed the 19-day trip in 1999, with Swiss doctor Bertrand Piccard and British pilot Brian Jones at the helm. (Daredevil billionaire Richard Branson was a failed contender for the honor, though he is a Breitling fan and celebrated with the victors.)

The world might seem more hemmed in now than it did in 1957, but Breitling still thinks there are plenty of new frontiers left to conquer.

digg this | add to del.icio.us | add to reddit | add to newsvine

[To discuss this article—or to comment on anything in the magazine or on mensvogue.com—visit the Men's Vogue Forum.]