Let’s think about cars for a moment. At one time, “Grand Touring” cars were understood as different from sports cars – a car that would comfortably and reliably move people and luggage over long distances. Now, that category and the label “GT”, has shifted, since that definition pretty much applies to any modern car.

Now – what about Dive watches, Tool watches and luxury watches generally? As with the GT label, let’s admit something: These labels, once a necessary way for knowing a watch’s capability, having been consumed by the marketing cookie-monsters of major watch brands. These labels are useless, since most non-dive and non-tool watches do most of what dive and tool watches did 30 years ago. They go in water and sustain normal impacts. So what’s this have to do with the Breitling SuperOcean A13340 that is under review here?

Well, this bad boy has a 500M depth rating, a case that feels like its made from solid steel, able to survive a bomb blast and has taken the abuse I’ve put it through for more than a decade, without breaking it or losing accuracy. It’s also a chronograph, so it does more…things! It’s heavy though and you don’t forget you’re wearing it.

The Breitling SuperOcean A13340 has a humble ETA 7750 movement, customised by Breitling. It is the ideal movement for this watch being reliable, robust and easy to service. In fact, anyone who thinks their silicon-based movement would ever be considered a “tool” watch are off their rocker and will have a surprise in 15 years when looking for parts or service. Not very Tool-ish. The 7750 is the Chevy small block or Honda B series motor of the watch world.

The bracelet on the Breitling SuperOcean A13340 is more comfortable than any Oyster bracelet I’ve worn. It’s reminiscent of mesh in the way the links contour to your wrist. The fine brushing is almost worn clean on my well used watch, but the comfort remains.

The dial and markers are the equal of anything I’ve seen of late from Omega, Rolex or Tudor. And the bezel clicks with the authority of a general ordering his troops around.

So is the Breitling SuperOcean A13340 really a dive watch or a tool watch? I don’t think anyone is strapping one on their wrist to snorkel or dive, and certainly its thickness and weight means its not a field watch for an explorer. It nonetheless insanely robust, comfortable, and goes as deep as all but the most absurd dive watches (in theory?). It’s design has also aged very well, with Tudor, Rolex (yacht master) and Omega all recently issuing similar designs.

When looking at the pathetic 200M rating of a Tudor BB chrono, the 300M rating of a seamaster or Submariner, or some other vaulted “tool” or “dive watch”, ask yourself – does the spec matter? The answer is: No!