The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I'm giving some serious consideration to acquiring a B-50 Night Mission as my next purchase. I've read all the posts on the B-50 on this and many other forums, but many of those posts are several years old. The size is perfect for me as my other two daily wears are also 46mm (Navitimer World & Transocean Unitime Chronograph). I went to a shop a few days ago and tried it on and I really like the look and feel of the watch.

Until recently, I never considered buying a luxury quartz watch. However, I have times when a quartz instrument is more appropriate, so I wear a disposable digital watch for many of those activities. I really like the Ani-Digital aspect of the B-50 and I think this would be a better fit than my current cheap digital watch. I'm sure the B50 would become my go-to flying watch if I had it, as the planes I fly don't have airconditioning and I've had occasions where I've sweated through the stitching in my leather band and I was worried that the leather would get discolored as a result. A rubber dive band would solve that problem, but that's not something I'd really want on my current watches.

I know the B-50 had some early problems, but it looks like those have been solved now. Is that an accurate assessment?

I'm also concerned that one day Breitling will stop supporting the B-50 movement. Unlike mechanical watches, one day it will be impractical to make replacement parts for a quartz watch, won't it? My Navi can have a new hairspring made for it 100 years from now, but I doubt the same can be said for the B50. What should I consider as the "supported lifespan" of a Breitling quartz movement?

If the B50 was offered at a much lower cost, say <$3K, I wouldn't be so concerned about buying a watch that might have a lifespan shorter than my own, but that's not where this instrument is priced. Even the current prices for preowned B50s is above what I'd want to pay for a disposable watch.