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The Hurricane is definitely a winner, I love the new case material and 50mm commands respect when on the wrist. I'm excited to see this one in the flesh!


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Hmmmm, well I take it back Breitling and I publicly apologise! Definitely NOT just another DLC-fest this year after all!

I'll be very interested to see what "Breitlight" actually is....but on first impression it looks like some kind of forged carbon. If so then I'm impressed that Breitling have FINALLY tried something new. It's also great to see an in-house movement in the Avenger line just as I hoped we would, plus I like the rubber/canvas strap too.

AND a ceramic case now available in the range as well! Will wonders never cease!

Also I really REALLY like what they're doing with the B01 in the Chronoworks division. There's some great things going on in there - ceramic baseplate, zero lubricant, silicon wheels, improved power reserve, etc. Fantastic stuff and a major improvement on the slightly "ordinary" B01.

HOWEVER, it's most certainly NOT all good news. Firstly, there's the size of the Hurricane : 50mm is a simply CRAZY size! I like fairly decent sized watches, but I have an SA that gets zero wrist-time these days because I find it way too large and cumbersome compared to my 44mm Panerais. So to add an EXTRA 2mm isn't going to do the Avenger case any good at all IMO. (Oh and I think the hands look way too small for the case too).

And while the Chronoworks B01 movement looks superb.....I have to say an SOHC is a peculiar choice of watch to put the first one in! OK, so the case is ceramic, but the SOHC is hardly Breitling's flagship model. If it was a Navi or even a Chronomat, I could accept that, but choosing an SOHC is a real head-scratcher IMO. (Oh and not to mention the truly INSANE pricing on this one as well! £30,000 in the UK! Have they gone stark staring mad??? ).

But if nothing else, I must say this is already shaping up to be the most revelatory Baselworld for Breitling in YEARS!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Well I for one feel pretty good today. Breitling finally acknowledged the 21st century with some non traditional case materials and they have invested in an area where it matters - silicon based / low friction movements is a meaningful step forward.

However, what really makes me feel good is an internal recognition that I am ready to move on. Since I took the decision to combine my Caribbean semi-retirement with a disposal of most of my watches I have been concerned that I would regret it. A couple of sales have happened without it bothering me too much, but now I can finally say I'm over Breitling. An innovative material that looks virtually identical to the DLC stuff, a price tag 10x the price of the in house bronze Black Bay, and a feature piece that comes in at a clownish 50mm.

Sorry Breitling, I really don't care what the rest of the week has in store, I'm done with the brand. Anyone wanna buy a watch?

I'm not selling my watches, because I like the ones I purchased. But I'm with you, not so interested the last few years. And every time that I think I am, I just give it a few days and the feeling passes anymore. Though I do still think about a 24 hour chronomatic from the late 60s from time to time.

Imagine a 43mm SS Navitimer with that Chronoworks movement at a "normal" price tag.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

Funny you should say that Roff (and I wasn't going to mention it here until it was a completely done deal), but I've been quietly selling off my Breitlings for a little while now, and my final two (my SA and my Navi World) go to a dealer I know on Saturday this week.

Basically my reasons for this are that I feel I've grown apart from Breitling over the last few years, and the likes of Bentleys and SA's just aren't my thing any more. The only one I had to think long and hard about selling was the Navi World, but the lack of an in-house movement finally got the better of me. So come this weekend I will be Breitling-free for the first time in circa 20 years!

That said, I'm certainly not totally done with Breitling, and I'll keep on the lookout for one that ticks all my boxes....and I actually take the pre-Basel releases this week as POTENTIALLY a positive indication of things to come (i.e. movement innovations, interesting case materials, etc). But until I find one that totally "yanks my chain" again, I'll be sticking with my Panerais (with the odd Omega thrown in too).

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Driver8

Site Moderator

The Hurricane looks fantastic! Very interested to see it in the flesh and try it on. I'm opposite to some of you guys size wise . . my Avenger doesn't get much wrist time as I much prefer the extra size in my SA haha I have a birthday coming up so the my no.1 pick Navi world now has a competitor!

Nice work Breitling keep it up!

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Avenger II Seawolf LE
Avenger Blackbird 44 LE
Super Avenger II
Rolex Sub C 114060

well, in a way Breitling seems to say they are "done with the brand" ???
saw some more of the new models today, nothing coming close to attracting me, but expected that.

But ..... the "Datora" was one of Breitling's iconic models, since launching one of the first triple date chronographs in the early 1940s.
So, when the "New Breitling" launched a R7751 Triple Date Chrono in 2002, they called it ... the Montbrillant Datora, of course.

Basel 2016 brings us a 46mm bloated version w/ the same movement, but it's called ...... Navitimer 1884 ?????
sad, just sad. Hank the Cod now responsible for brand strategy too.

It's a limited run only. I don't mind, first of all because I find size kinda huge - the 40 mm of the Montbrillant 01 is just fine for me. Second, it is hightime (or highest time ) for Breitling to add the same calendar module to the B01 movement and so a dial layout could be obtained that's the very same with the Valjoux 72 C / 730 layout of the original Datora.

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Chronomat 41 BEB, Steelfish Chrono BEB, 2x Grand Premier, Chrono Cockpit 39 mm, Aerospace Avantage 79362
IWC 3706, 3705, 376706, 371928
Sinn 103 plexy
For sale: Sinn 356 II, Porsche Design Titan Chrono Valjoux
Wanted: Breitling Blackbird 13353 on bracelet

Breitling , making rebranding watches since 1979

So realistically it should be named 'Navitimer 1979'

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard