Name: Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 A17375211B2S1
Brand: Breitling
SKU: A17375211B2S1

The Superocean Automatic 42 is Breitling's workhorse dive watch: 500 meters of water resistance, a unidirectional rotating bezel, and a dial that reads clearly in poor light. It sits at the accessible end of the Superocean line and makes no pretense about what it is. Collectors who want a serious diver with Breitling lineage and are comfortable with an ETA movement find good value here.

What it is

Breitling relaunched the Superocean family in 2017 and introduced the 42mm Automatic in the 2019 generation under reference A17375211B2S1. The case is 42mm steel with a rubber strap or bracelet and a screw-down crown. Power comes from the Breitling Caliber 17, which is an ETA 2824-2 with Breitling's decoration and COSC chronometer certification.

Dial variants include black, blue, and red, all sharing the same high-contrast layout with luminous indices. The line runs alongside the larger 44mm and 46mm Superoceans, targeting buyers who want a wearable, day-to-day diver rather than a statement piece.

Buying notes

Confirm the caseback seal and crown gasket integrity before buying used, especially on watches represented as having seen actual water use. The crown on the 42mm should screw down smoothly with no resistance or grinding; a damaged crown tube is a water ingress risk and a disproportionately expensive repair. Check the bezel insert for chips, which are common on ceramic-insert variants but are purely cosmetic.

COSC certification applies at manufacture, not across a service interval, so request service history if the seller claims the movement is within spec. The rubber strap degrades faster than the watch, and Breitling OEM straps are expensive to replace.

Market read

The A17375211B2S1 trades in the $2,500 to $3,200 range on the secondary market, depending on condition and whether the bracelet is present. Blue dials carry a modest premium over black, typically $150 to $250. Full-set examples with box and papers hold closer to retail; stripped examples with rubber only drop toward the floor.

Compared to a Seiko Prospex at a fraction of the price, the Breitling premium is brand and finish quality, not movement technology.

Service expectations

The Caliber 17 (ETA 2824-2) is one of the most serviced movements in the world, and any competent independent watchmaker can handle it. Breitling recommends a service interval of three to five years for a dive watch; budget $400 to $700 at an independent, or $900 to $1,400 at Breitling service centers. Gasket replacement and pressure testing should be included in any service on a watch rated for 500 meters.

Editorial copy is AI-drafted from primary sources and reviewed by Grail Atlas before publication. Where the text is uncertain about a fact, it says so. Email corrections@grailatlas.com if something reads wrong. Signals on this page (community, OSINT) are clearly separated from the editorial sections.

Mass-produced#1 in familyOfficial press photos

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Mid-tier supplier movement · caliber Breitling Cal. 17: ETA 2824-2 base, Breitling-finished, 28,800bph, 38h PR, 25j; COSC-certified; used in Superocean 42; reliable sport automatic · 38h power reserve

Medium-large: suits wrists 6.5 in+ (16.5 cm+)

42 mm case. Wears confidently on average to larger wrists. May overhang on slender builds.

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Authentication

Inspect the ceramic bezel insert for chips at the pip; ceramic cannot be repaired, only replaced.

Known issues in the market

The ceramic bezel insert is the most damage-prone component; chips at the pip or 12 o'clock lume pip are common and expensive to address.
Cal. 17 is ETA 2824-2-based; this is correct for the Superocean 42 tier.

Area	What to check	What is correct	Red flag
case	Ceramic bezel insert condition	Insert fully intact with no chips, cracks, or missing sections; pip lume bright and undamaged	Any chip at the pip or at the 12 o'clock position; ceramic cannot be repaired and full insert replacement is required
caseback	Cal. 17 movement identity	ETA 2824-2-based movement with Breitling finishing, signed for the Superocean line	Movement architecture inconsistent with ETA 2824-2; unsigned or non-Breitling finished rotor
crown	Screw-down crown function	Crown threads down fully and securely; 300m WR requires a fully functional screw-down crown	Crown that does not thread down completely or feels loose when screwed; water resistance is compromised

Common legitimate replacements

Rubber dive straps on used Superocean examples are commonly replaced; verify the lug width matches the replacement strap.
Cal. 17 service is widely available from independent watchmakers at reasonable cost.

Expert resources: Breitling Superocean documentation at breitling.com. WatchUSeek Breitling subforum for ceramic bezel insert replacement costs and Cal. 17 service notes.

Authentication guide

Last reviewed June 2026

The Superocean Automatic 42 (A17375) is Breitling's entry dive watch, running the Cal. 17 (ETA 2824-2 base) with COSC certification and a 500M water resistance rating. It is simpler to authenticate than the B01-equipped references: the ceramic bezel, the water resistance specification, and the COSC rate are the primary tells.

Known reproduction risks

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MEDIUM

Replicas with aluminum bezels, standard-movement calibers without COSC certification, and water resistance ratings that are stated but not achievable with the actual seals on the example.

Bezel insert that accepts scratches from a key -- ceramic does not
Bezel with bidirectional rotation
Crown that does not screw down
Water resistance text on dial claiming 500M but with a non-locking crown

The 500M water resistance requires a screw-down crown. Any Superocean 42 without a screw-down crown cannot deliver its stated water resistance regardless of what the dial says.

Dial variants by era

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Era	Description	Identifiers
Superocean 42 current production (2019 to present)	42mm steel case, unidirectional rotating ceramic bezel, date at 3, no chronograph, 500M water resistance.	"SUPEROCEAN" text on the dial in the correct Breitling typeface "AUTOMATIC" text on the dial indicating three-hand format with no chronograph complication No pushers at 2 and 4: the Superocean 42 is a time-and-date only watch Unidirectional rotating ceramic bezel with 60-minute scale Date window at 3 o'clock Breitling "B" logo at 12 on the dial Large applied luminous indices for dive legibility "500M" or "1650FT" water resistance text on the dial

Service part flags

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Ceramic bezel insert

Original: Zirconia ceramic insert with laser-engraved minute markings. The insert is matte black on standard variants. The ceramic resists scratching from keys and standard metal tools.

Replacement tells

Bezel insert that accepts scratches from a key -- ceramic does not; aluminum does
Bezel with bidirectional rotation: the Superocean 42 bezel is unidirectional only
Bezel insert with printed rather than engraved minute markings
Insert with visible gap or looseness relative to the bezel ring

Cal. 17 (ETA 2824-2 base)

Original: Cal. 17 is an ETA 2824-2-based movement finished and COSC-certified by Breitling. It beats at 28,800bph with a 38-hour power reserve. This is a well-documented movement with a specific bridge layout. The Breitling-signed rotor should be visible through the caseback if the watch has an exhibition back, though many Superocean examples have solid casebacks.

Replacement tells

Movement with power reserve substantially below 30 hours from a fully wound state indicating mainspring wear
Movement bridge geometry inconsistent with ETA 2824-2 family documentation
Rotor without Breitling branding on an exhibition-back variant

Water resistance seals

Original: The 500M water resistance rating requires the caseback, crown tube, and crown gaskets to be in correct condition. The crown should screw down with firm positive thread engagement. Any looseness in the crown or caseback is a water resistance concern.

Replacement tells

Crown that does not screw down: the Superocean 42 uses a screw-down crown as a primary seal
Caseback that can be moved by hand pressure rather than requiring a caseback wrench to open
Any visible damage or corrosion around the crown tube or caseback gasket channel

Case back markings

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2019 to present

Solid caseback with Breitling branding and Superocean designation
Reference A17375 (or full reference string) on the case band
"Swiss Made" and COSC chronometer text
Water resistance rating: 50 ATM / 500M -- engraved on the caseback
Serial number between the lugs

Movement tells

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Cal. 17 is COSC-certified at -4/+6 seconds per day. The ETA 2824-2 base is robust and well-documented; any watchmaker can service it.
The 38-hour power reserve is the shortest in the Breitling lineup at this tier. A fully wound Superocean 42 should run a minimum of 33 hours.
The date change should be instantaneous at midnight. A gradual or two-step advance indicates a worn quickset mechanism.
ETA 2824-2 amplitude should exceed 265 degrees in the dial-up position for a properly serviced movement. Below 250 degrees consistently indicates service is needed.
A dive watch with 500M rating should have current pressure test certification if used for water activities. Gaskets degrade over time regardless of apparent condition.

Sources: Breitling -- Superocean Automatic 42 specification and Cal. 17 documentation; WatchUSeek -- Breitling Superocean authentication forum; Monochrome Watches -- Breitling Superocean 42 review.