The Breitling Watch Source Forums

It not bad, but it lacks the class of prior Chronomats....its alot more casual. I think Breitling would have been better off with introducing this watch as a totally NEW model or maybe as a new version of the Colt?

Mac

I have an evo and I turly like this one alot

I think Mac is on the right track. Breitling is playing on a dangerous ground messing with a design icon and a classic model, and so dramatically at that. That´s probably why we´re all shocked. I undertsand why they wanted to celebrate this important occasion of their much awaited new movement by using their biggest seller. It´s a way to really make an impact (which from all the posts we can see they achieved.) At the same time it´s a great opportunity to present a more modern style to the range.

Maybe still they should´ve put the B01 in the current Chronomat with only a small facelift. At the same time they´ve could´ve presented the new chronomat, call it New Chronomat LE (or such) and call it a day. (but for sure it could have not been a colt! Not the same impact.)

This way all would´ve won. They´ve got a new style for the chronomat, we´d got the much wanted LE version and those who didn´t like the "new" look could go for the familiar piece.

...Buuut, then all this discussion would have not happened and the impact wouldn´t have been so significant. Now people talk and it´s very interesting. I believe that´s part of their whole marketing plan to make people notice and create a buzz.

...And about the piece itself... Well, I think it´s very modern and youthful. A lot of its design, to me, looks like it´s meant to attract a wider range of people and showcase new design ideas. (which is probably a must to cover the manufacturung cost of their own movement) It allso looks significantly sleeker then anything before from Bretling. I believe in the metal it will look very cool. At the same time I think it doesn´t have quite the same upmarket and precious look as before.

In my mind the biggest problem is that, we all seen most Ling models in real life and because of the same design filosophy and familliar fashion we know how they look in the metal. Even from a photo.

With this newcomer with such a different design, we have no preperseptions on how it looks until we really see it.

Just my 0,02€ (cents)

And yes, I work in marketing.

I'm not sure wether I like it or not! The size would be an issue for me but I really like the look of it. It certainly looks a bit sporty as well. Not sure about the square on the face either, I think there's something strange about it, maybe my OCD don't quite like the square on a round watch but that's just me!

Cheers

Andrew

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Currently:
Avenger Skyland(Black)
Super Avenger(White)

Moved on:
Montbrillant Legende(Silver)
Panerai 312
SOHC 125th Ann. LE(Silver)
Navitimer World(Pearl)
Panerai 441

While I agree with you in theory, we dont know the details of what does on at breitling. Maybe chronomat sales are slipping, or maybe their research shows that people are becoming bored with the current iteration.

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-RJ

Yes RJ I agree 100%. I think it doesn´t change my point.

I work in audio bisnes and there are alot of similarities. There we can see that true enthusiasts are unfortunetaly a slowly decreasing group. Words that used to mean everythin, like: icon, classic, legacy, or anything that suggest of yesterday are almost curse words.

Even High End brands need to these days be: thrilling, engaging, and have an instant wow factor. People go more and more for instant satisfaction. "Growing on you" doesn´t work anymore. (Why Tags sel wel? Nothing against Tags!)

Here surrounded by only enthusiast, I´ll probably cause objections. I exaggerated a little. Don´t read too much into it and it´s not my personal preference in anyway.

Although it goes some way in explaining for the new Chronomat model. Just like you said!

Fair enough. Interestingly, while the reception over here seems rather cold, the people over at timezone seem to think its great.

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-RJ

thats because we are not a watch even demographic we are a breitling one so we already liked the old model, not to say you have to like one or the other only but maybe the new one will have wider appeal. Maybe it will real in all the tag fans that like tag but want a more up market brand, you have to consider we are actually a minority here.

I was just browsing around the net too and everywhere else the new Chronomat seems to get nothing but love. Only things people seem to wonder are the Chronomat as beeing still too big and a little too evolutionary, not revolutionary enough. That´s so funny.

Btw it´s too small in my mind too. As the Lings do wear smaller then numbers suggest, the sleeker design will probably make seem even smaller.

But Breitling probably got what they went after. Other brands collectors seem to be intrested.

Overall it is not a bad looking watch, it reminds me alot of the Blackbird. What ruins it, is that ugly bezel! I think if Breitling would have kept the older bezel, the watch would get alot more love. I still do love the classic look of the Older Chronomat ALOT better, this design strayed alittle too far from previous designs.

Is Breitling discontinuing the older chronomat totoally??? Is it possible this is just another version...The "Chronomat B01"???

Mac

Well all that wait for the new movement and....... not totally sold on it.

Pros:

I actually like the low profile rider tabs. Kinda classy and less sporty, to me.

The dial layout is nice and a couple of the color combos arent too bad (ie the blue w/ black subs)

The size isnt an issue for me as I have an Evo and a World so I can go either way.

Date change anytime is great

Reserve is good

"Swiss Made" on the dial. Anyone else notice this and think its a little strange since they generally didnt care to add this before?

Cons:

125 year anniversary, their flagship model, a Brand new (thier very first) in house movement.... and we cant even flip the watch around and see the damn thing though a display back. I am very disappointed in this decision. I cant belive they wouldnt have wanted to show off this movement, heck they might as well slapped the 7750 in it, because we will never know the difference from the outside.

The bezel font sucks. It is very Buck Rogers and doent work at all with roman numbers on the dial. The only way to salvage this would be a diamond bezel and I didnt see that offered as an option and adding that would defeat the everyday look I would want.

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It will probally grow on me and if the bezel wasnt stamped withthe space font, I would probally thinkabout getting one... but right now its not even on my radar screen.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

Looking at it again, it the lume on the batons and the dial textures that I like.

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I've looked at this a few times today, and still am not a fan of it. I looked at the gallery on Breitling's website and thought the blue dial with the black subs wasn't that bad, but still can't get past the bezel. The dial with romans looks awful, I don't know what they were thinking with that one.

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
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I too think the blue is a good one

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I completely agree--but:
They upped the WR to 500m, so maybe that was more important to them than a display back. I would rather have 200m and a DB, but whatever...
and the subdial layout was a good call to differentiate it from the 7750's (from the outside).

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-RJ