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I think it looks like a cheap after thought.

Just me.

Cheers

I think it is all about saving some money. Different case diameters (I mean 1-1 mm) have the same bracelet width, usually crying for different end link shapes. Breitling now produces one shape each width (both polished and brushed) and that's it. no more thinking, no more pairing needed. I do not like the new design and do not hate so much to be a deal breaker. Give me a day-date Chronomat 41 and I'll be happy with that design.
Just my two cents.
Robert

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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

Wonder how the case shoulder and end links would be handled if the analog UTC module was brought back to the Chronomat series pieces?.... Just saying...
Best,
Ron

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"The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea"...

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The old Chronomat looks like garbage next to the new redesign.

Maybe its an age thing? I am 32 and into the new style type watches (traditional watches al la Rolex just do nothing for me).

Yes I think it's age-related. Google "Rolex Killy" and you'll breath a little deeper what prices these "garbage-looking" pieces reach... But some Breitlings too, say old Navitimers and so on. I'd be very, very happy with a proved original old steel Datora... (Valjoux 72C and/or Venus 191 if 'm not mistaken.)

Enjoy oldies AND new models too!
Best regards,
Robert

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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

A set of end links sells retail for about $100, so it probably costs Breitling about $10 to make them. Given the overall price of the new model Chronomats, the price saving argument makes no sense - demand is high and they would have NO problem passing along the cost to the consumer. As for the rest of the post, I have no idea what it means.


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SHARKMAN

Of course opinions might differ, no problem with that. Regarding other parts, plz ask and I'll try to make clearer what I meant.

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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

It's an interesting theory, but it doesn't make sense right now. As it stands, the newly designed Pilot will only work with 01-based Chronomats; it will not look right with - and probably will not even fit - any other models. In order to have a "universal" bracelet system, Breitling would have to redesign the cases of all their models, which would cost them far more in the long run than simply continuing to make custom-fitted end links. Besides which, Breitling seems to like to make bracelets exclusive to certain models. I don't think they would actually want a Pilot or a Speed that could fit a Colt.

According to my opinion Breitling is slowly-slowly phasing out cases with old end-pieces, as we see not only at the B01-driven Chronomats but you can look at the new Colt cases and Pro end-pieces. Of course just my two cents as I might be wrong on all this.

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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

According to my opinion, supermodels should want to sleep with me, but...

As far as the Colt goes, you're right that it also features a new-style, non-integrated end link design, which lends weight to your theory that Breitling may be shifting away from traditional end links in general. However, the situation hasn't really changed any: each case design still has its own bracelet. To get back to your original point, I don't think this move is about saving money. I think it's just Breitling's current style trend, probably for the sake of being different and to separate the brand from the competition, for better or worse.

Might be, it's only my guess. I know that every line has its own bracelet & endpiece design. But (I don't know if it was on design or production cost basis) Breitling slowly-slowly, year by year is shifting away from the pulli-killer rider tabs too. Trends begin and go all along. Money base is only a guess but I believe it. And I do not think it's a sin taking economics too into consideration when planning the future models.

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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

There is no doubt Breitling made a dramatic design shift which has been discussed and berated on many threads here over the past couple years. Clearly the rider tab bezel has been scrapped for Buck Rogers font bezel, the former being virtually gone. Many, most including me, are not thrilled with this. But I see no evidence of Breitling going to one size fits all in bezels, cases or bracelets. That simply isn't what has happened. And what happened certainly did not have a slow element to it. It was virtually overnight. It is just a matter of time that the holdouts - Avenger, SA, Seawolf go the way of the entire Windrider range and cross over to the new style bezel.

But again, In none of this do I see evidence of cost saving - the changes just don't speak to that - or anymore uniformity than Breitling has always had. It is about new design whether one views that as a bad thing or a good thing.


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SHARKMAN

Let's see - Breitling takes an end link design previously only used on the ultra-posh Bentley range and introduces it into the first model to feature Breitling's new, make-or-break in-house movement, with the aim of cutting costs via a one-size-fits-all bracelet scheme that, three years on, has not materialized. Yeah...I'm not seeing it.

This is the most cogent explanation so far. Excellent point. I agree, the rounded end link looks better with a strap. Though I don't know how they'd do a UTC with it....

But then it looks nice on a strap but not so nice with the bracelet. Lol.