How The Breitling Superocean Outerknown Ended Up On Kelly Slater’s Wrist

Georges Kern, the CEO of Breitling, is no longer just getting started. He is now fully immersed in his role, with unstoppable momentum driving each of his brand’s numerous personal projects. Many of these projects, such as the recent successful Summit launch concept, have moved beyond their early stages.

One noteworthy project involves the establishment of a friendship and brand collaboration with renowned surf star Kelly Slater. This collaboration has resulted in the creation of the second Breitling x Outerknown Superocean watch, which was designed with Slater’s input. For those keeping track, Slater has an unprecedented 11 world surf titles under his belt. In addition, he has started an apparel company called Outerknown, which aims to revolutionize the sustainable fashion industry, and has even partnered with a USC scientist specializing in geophysical fluid dynamics to construct a wave pool.

And it’s here, at the edge of this pool where I now stand, slack-jawed as Slater is towed out to its north end. There is a distant rumble from its far edge as a perfectly formed six-footer rises from the water’s glassy surface, conjured from the dusty earth using magic that Tolkien himself might struggle to articulate. The speed and smoothness at which it appears are startling, like special effects crossing the uncanny valley, leaving the viewer unable to discern fiction from reality. And just like that, Slater is already upright — he blasts onto the curled lip and snaps back, shooting an arc of spray into the sky. He does it again. And again. And again, for a full 45 seconds, his ride ends as he explodes from the wave’s immaculately shaped barrel, 20 yards from shore. It is, unquestionably, the singular ride that any surfer might spend a lifetime pursuing. But just as it ends, it repeats, running in the opposite direction of the pool once every few minutes, for the remainder of the day. It’s easy to see why it’s been dubbed “the smile machine” because everyone who emerges from the pool does so with a wide grin.

To clarify, this is not your typical wave pool. It started as a top-secret project disguised as a tilapia hatchery in the water-deprived farmland of Central California. Its ultimate goal was to create a flawlessly perfect barrel wave that could be ridden repeatedly. Before December 2015, it was seen as the surfing world’s equivalent of a moon landing, the last unexplored frontier in the sport. Remote breaks in every corner of the world had been explored, conquered, and documented on Surfline. But Kelly Slater wasn’t chasing another world title. He wanted to achieve something extraordinary. So, over a decade, he and his friends built a wave using cutting-edge science and engineering. The result was the longest, rideable open-barrel wave ever created by humans. When a video of him joyfully riding this wave surfaced four years ago, surfers from around the world collectively lost their minds. You can watch the video here.

For what it’s worth, I’m not a surfer. However, one doesn’t need to be a professional waterman to watch Slater’s wave and be mesmerized by its shape, speed, and stunning consistency. These elements defy the universally accepted reality that the ocean is anything but consistent. It is the unpredictability of the ocean that makes surfing such a uniquely challenging and fulfilling sport. Every ride is different because every wave is different, except for this one.

Driven by “the Vehicle,” a submerged plow-shaped wedge that runs along a track at the side of the pool, this wave is both powerful and perfectly shaped, seemingly unending. However, it is also predictable. This eerie predictability sets it apart from the chaos of a real-world break and makes it the dream-haunting endgame for many surfers worldwide.

The wave also symbolizes the extent of Slater’s ambition, which appears to be limitless. His creation of the laid-back clothing brand Outerknown reflects a similar level of ambition, aiming to establish a clothing line that celebrates surf culture while challenging the world of disposable “fast fashion.” Slater aims to prove that sustainability can be both high-quality and profitable. These principles align with Georges Kern’s vision for the future of Breitling, as he strives to make the brand carbon-neutral within the next three years. This goal will be achieved through various measures already in place, such as reducing unnecessary watch packaging (which Kern openly admits to despising) and incorporating more sustainable elements like the recycled nylon straps featured on Outerknown watches. This initiative contributes to the growing trend of “sustainable luxury” in the watch industry, with Outerknown investor Kering Group (a French luxury brand group that includes Gucci, Saint Laurent, Ulysse Nardin, Girard Perregaux, and others) having already made a public commitment to this cause.

Georges Kern understands that Breitling cannot singlehandedly change the world. However, he recognizes that Breitling, along with Outerknown, serves as a powerful platform that, when combined, can reach and educate entirely new audiences about pressing matters, such as the current plight of our oceans. This is where Kern and Slater’s ambitions align, leading to the creation of the second watch in the Breitling x Outerknown collaboration. This watch reinforces the message established by the first Superocean Heritage Chronograph released last year, shortly after Kern assumed his role. At the core of each Outerknown watch is a strap woven by Breitling using Econyl, which is made from recycled nylon threads derived from salvaged ghost nets. It is estimated that there are well over half a million tons of these discarded nets at the bottom of the ocean.

The straps are colorful, supple, and incredibly comfortable, comparable to NATO straps from both third-party and OEM manufacturers. During this year’s Summit, Breitling revealed its expansion into the strap market, offering a wide range of new colors and styles, each specifically designed to match existing dials in the Superocean and new Avenger collections. However, straps are just the beginning. Kern views each watch release as a stepping stone towards a higher level of sustainability for the brand and its suppliers on a global scale.

Kelly Slater is not only the world’s greatest surfer, but also a simple man. He explains that the idea for Outerknown came to him one day when he suddenly became obsessed with what he was putting on his body, after years of obsessing over what he was putting in his body. Fast forward four years with CEO Mark Walker leading the way, and Outerknown is already a leading brand in sustainable manufacturing. They have successfully collaborated with major global brands like Levi’s and Vejas, while also providing consultation and guidance to other brands in the Kering group to help them achieve similar sustainability goals.

For this particular Superocean watch, Slater’s design instructions were simple and unsurprising: make it smaller, lighter, and greener (using his favorite color, “kelly green,” which is known among his circle). The goal was to create a watch that would be less noticeable while paddling out, and it features a nylon strap for added security in the water.

Breitling fulfilled this directive by creating a three-hand Superocean watch in a unique shade called “Kelly’s Green.” Unlike the typical green associated with the Boston Celtics or St. Patrick’s Day, Slater’s green is a matte, olive-drab color with a matching ceramic bezel. This earthy and uncomplicated design still maintains the high level of refinement that we expect from Breitling cases and dials. It is a look that should appeal to both style-conscious and eco-conscious watch enthusiasts.

The new Outerknown x Breitling edition aligns with other Arabic-dialed Superocean watches that were updated around the same time last year. It features a modern 44mm stainless steel case that is water resistant up to 1000 meters and includes an automatic helium-release valve at 9 o’clock. Unlike previous Breitling divers from the Schneider era, this watch has a relatively compact size, with a modest lug-to-lug length and a relatively slim profile (although the additional thickness of the NATO strap should be taken into consideration).

My favorite aspect of the Breitling x Outerknown watches is not just the fact that they were specially designed by one of the greatest surfers of our time, or that they come with environmentally-focused straps. What I truly appreciate is the vision they embody: a small contribution to a larger effort to redefine what it means to be a luxury brand in the 21st century while prioritizing respect for the planet. Sustainability is no longer just a passing trend; it should be a mandatory principle across all industries. Brands that do not openly share their sustainability plans should be seen as part of the problem, not the solution.

Last year’s Outerknown watch was produced in a limited quantity of approximately 1500 pieces. While not officially confirmed, it is reasonable to assume a similar production volume for this year’s version, which is priced at $4,200. For more information about the collaboration between Breitling and Outerknown, visit breitling.com.