The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I like the way you think. ....Happy 25K! ☺

More to read at work - tomorrow should fly by.

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End of Discussion.

I blame you for making me late to work today Roff.

A truly well-thought out post. Congrats on 25k posts. And thanks for all your help.

Let the good times continue to roll.

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

Funny that, I just read your 10,000 post yesterday while browsing through the archives
Well done Roff, keep it coming.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

Roff, congrats on your 25,000th post and even more, thank you for the outstanding work for our forum, the Breitling community AND for the Breitling brand.

Depth and scope of knowledge you have built up over those years are quite stunning.

The apparent lack of interest Breitling shows in this forum of Breitling enthusiasts and, even more, the negligent way they treat their own heritage - as bylines for marketing blah and not as a solid base of brand awareness - continue to surprise me, but not enough to loose hope or the love for the brand.

This community - very much thanks to you - is the best ambassador a brand could hope for; maybe somebody in Grenchen will wake up and listen ?

I believe the SF is ISO and the newer SO's are not.

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

Not had time to read Roff's dissertation yet ( ), so until I can (and then fully comment) I'll just say many congrats on reaching 25K! It's been a pleasure moderating with you over these last few years..... although your posting proliferation makes me something of a bit part player these days!

Thanks for all your efforts here Roff, and it wouldn't be the same without you!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Congrats on 25K and thanks for all the effort you put into this board.

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For more information on identifying Breitling replicas, please visit my web site
http://f4buz.com/watches/breitling/fakes/fakes.html

The way Breitlingsource grow is absolutely directly related to how much time & effort you put here Roff. Cheers & much thanks!!!

I agree with what you say, and I vote with my wallet. It's sad that for a brand that introduced me to the love of high-end watches, I now only own one Breitling, and it's probably going on sale soon.

Congrats again on the 25K!

P.S.: How about a bronze SA for Christmas, Breitling? I'll buy one...

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a few Pams...

Congrats on 25,000 posts, and thanks for all you do here!

OK I've taken the time to fully read and digest this now, and I can safely say Roff....., you're an idiot. Kidding!

No in all seriousness I find very little (if anything) to disagree with in there, and I would struggle to add anything else. I whole-heartedly agree with the vast majority your comments, and there are certainly more than a few points in there that I've alluded to myself over the last couple of years.

I agree that expanding the in-house and haute horlogerie side of things is vital (and something I've long hoped for) if they want to be taken seriously as a major player in the watch industry, but at this stage that is secondary to my mind behind the essential and urgent need to solve their direction issues. The scattergun approach to model development (i.e. be as random as possible and hope that something will stick) has to change, and change rapidly. Or alternatively just tell us why they are following a certain route, and then maybe we can put up with the journey if we know what the end goal is.

To me, the "model" mid/upper range watch company (in terms of sustained image and brand development/protection) has got to be Rolex. They developed most of their models decades ago, and have stuck with them over the years by subtly (some may say too subtly) developing them over time. (You don't see them making a 50mm, red rubber bezeled DLC'd "Bling-O-Graph" without a pearl, and then calling it a Submariner for example). Because of the strength of the brand, they have no problem retaining old customers, or attracting new ones. Surely this ability is what all other mid/upper range companies should strive for? When you compare Breitling with Rolex in this regard, the difference is stark......

As you say, all companies make mistakes (á la Zenith), but they should be big enough to admit it, rectify it, and then move on : anything else smacks of arrogance.

I really hope we see a change over the next year or so, I really do, because I'm still a Breitling fan, but I hate where they currently are.

But once again - great post Roff, and a great 24,999 behind it! It's been and continues to be a privilege. Keep it up chief!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

+1.

I agree with most all of your post but even if not would echo the above. (In particular, I suspect that the forum does such a good job identifying fakes that Breitling themselves don't feel moved to bother.)

Gentlemen, thank you for the kind words - they mean a lot.

I think that we will see that the 2011 COSC numbers will show growth from Breitling that is slower than competitors and I really do think that finances must be a major issue - the huge investment into in house production equipment and the R&D that went into the B01 combined with the global financial crisis that hit as the B01 was launched must have had a big impact.

I think that selling may be the ultimate end game, maybe not a VC firm, but an addition to one of the big houses might make sense - although I'm not sure whether the product development in the last couple of years have made them more attractive to a potential buyer.

I hope that there are one or two things in this thread that resonate at Breitling SA - I could give two hoots what they think of my opinion, but the fact that at least some of it seems to be a common sentiment should at least make them sit up and take notice.

Congratulations Roff. It really goes without saying that you're a big reason this forum is such a great success.

As far as your assessment of Breitling's fall from grace, I couldn't agree more. I haven't had the opportunity to be in the brand as long as most folks, but I have a true affinity for it (largely due to this very forum). I really hope they pull a Zenith-like recovery from an abysmal few years.

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

Nicely written and even though I am relatively new to the world of fine watches, I can honestly say that I agree with pretty much everything you stated. The only problem I have with your post, is that in my opinion it should have been sent directly to Breitling's top office, and not labeled "My 25,000 post" where the content may be missed. Excellent job, and thanks for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us. Cheers to the next 25K.

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sco
Breitling Chrono Superocean
Omega Aqua Terra 8500
Rolex Submariner Date Ceramic