The Breitling Watch Source Forums

To me this really highlights a thought that I've held for a while now -

Breitling definitely seem to be heading towards a clearly defined "two-tier" collection IMO. On the one hand we have the more classic, restrained (and dare I say, nicer) in-house range that seems to appeal more to watch collectors and people who value the more traditional aspects of watches. And on the other hand, we have the non-in-house pieces that seem to be more and more designed to, first and foremost, attract people to the brand and therefore the watches seem to follow trends and transient fashions more.

This to me explains why the in-house pieces are more conservatively styled and sized, while the non-in-house range contains the much larger pieces, plus rubber bezels, DLC, and all that other transient "hot and the moment" stuff. (I'm certainly not saying that all the current non-in-house models fall into this category, but it certains seems to be the direction Breitling is going in).

I guess these latest 'Skyracer Fisher Price' models are designed to attract the pre-schoolers to the brand!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Yeah, if anyone's taking bets, I can see that happening.

I can see how that strategy would make some sense, but the implication would suggest that the non in house pieces would have mass market appeal (at least as a collection) and I fail to see how there is any justification that these pieces broaden the appeal - especially priced as the Skyracer is at the high end of the non in house pieces.

It's also interesting that you now describe the in house as classic and restrained - really, with that Chronomat 01 bezel

No idea where this leaves Bentley - I wonder when the current contract expires.............

Re. your part in blue - I obviously should've underlined the "more" (now in red) in my previous post! It's all relative!

In terms of broadening the appeal, lets not forget that TAG made a few watches with hideously coloured plastic bezels for a number of years - a mate of mine had one - so it's safe to say that someone with buy them. They may not broaden the appeal with anyone here (or indeed anyone anywhere wo isn't colour-blind), but when all's said and done, sticking some dye into the "rubber bezel mix vat" is a pretty cheap way of potentially making a few more sales to people who want the Christmas-Cracker-watch look for a million times the price.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I was 99.99% of the way there on pulling the trigger on ordering a Transocean LE.

But now this really makes me re-think whether I want to continue my love affair with Breitling.

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Breitling Colt GMT
Breitling Navitimer World
IWC Portuguese Automatic
Breitling Transocean Chronograph LE

So what exactly are you guys saying? You don't like the new Sesame Street line?

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

The more I look at them , the more I can't understand what they were thinking. Orange has it's place in dive watches, and serves a purpose with the Planet Ocean for example. But the raspberry red??? I am really disappointed in this brand for doing this. I love Breitling watches for the most part because of the "aero-marine" concept, and their aviation tool watch theme. But this??

I hope that this does not come to fruition, and that someone from the company is reading these blogs.

Breitling is a great company, and their customer service to me, has been superb. But I will definitely re-think my loyalty if these are released. Just sayin....

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An ever changing collection.....

Plain awful!

I'm with most of the guyz here, the colour, the bezel just the overall look seems to just cheapen the Breitling name. After some very constructive pieces coming out of the works before christmas there Breitling have just gone and blotted the copybook again.

I'm hoping to buy another Breitling this year and have a 2 or 3 or 4 in mind but I was really looking forward to them releasing some 'back to basics' pieces.



Cheers

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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

When did the Breitling designers start huffing airplane glue? Worst design i've seen yet.

Just horrible

Brason

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Brason

Montbrillant Legend limited Edition #535

I really do wonder if the design concept team at Breitling is older or a bit younger???
Reason being, I understand that Breitling TEND to be geared toward the younger generation so if the Designer was older he may THINK the younger crowd would like it....when realistically, it's a joke!

It's kinda like when your grandparents buy you a hoody with a big orange basketball stitched to the front thinking you would like... and they do this ever year and don't realize that your almost 30 and it's not so cool any more.

And what really sucks IMO... now BREITLING will appear to even a younger crowd kinda what mfserge previously said, "Michelle Watches"(which every high-schooler has!)

Go EAGLES!

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Past: BlackBird, Navi World, SA, Rolex DJII, IWC Yacht Club
Present: CE, DSSD
Future: Changes daily

Ahhhhhhhhhhh......The resemblance!

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Past: BlackBird, Navi World, SA, Rolex DJII, IWC Yacht Club
Present: CE, DSSD
Future: Changes daily

Breitling is making a very strange move as of late. I mean on one hand the WIS crowd has FINALLY seen a few models that we have all been drueling over. In house, display back, refined finishing and designs keeping true to Breitlings heritage. It would have seamed like they had finally woke up and made the decision to move UP in the watch manufacturer world. Yipee for us...

Then along with this new and respected decision, they anounce the wierdest (and cheap looking) models ever conceived. Red Strike, blacksteel everything, rubber bezels, bold color dial rings, buck rogers fonts, and now super radical colors trying to redo a model that has been removed from production in its original form..... what a strange departure.

I believe that Breitling is just trying to increase revenue in a down market. They may have over extended themselves while moving to the in house movement manufacture or not planned well for the economic down turn. Either way it is a poor decision for maintaining the credibility of the brand.

If they wish to continue this path, I would suggest to them to create a sub-brand without reducing the image of the Breitling name. New models under a new name, to fulfill this "market" they are trying to capture. As it stands right now they maybe appealing to that fashion consumer (who may or not ever either purchase one, let alone more than one), but they are issolating the die hard Breitling consumer.

I for one feel that this path reduces Breitling's standing as one of the top swiss manufacturers. I don't believe that I will EVER see Rolex issue a Submariner with a rubber orange bezel.

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

Suddenly this thing doesn't look so bad. Almost conservative.


I don't get how making a $5k watch with a rubber bezel is supposed to help Breitling in a down economy either, wouldn't making cheaper watches, that don't look like toys, do that better. I get that maybe they're looking to expand their market but you'd have to think that more people would be interested in , say a quartz model for under $1k than a watch with a brightly colored bezel. Hell, my son's LEGO Star Wars watches looks better than these pieces of crap and they were only $20, I'd wear one of them before either of these things also.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

Think BREITLING sees this forum?... WELL THEY SHOULD START!

They should post photos of concepts on B-Source to test the market and see reactions of it's biggest fans before $hit hits the fan!

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Past: BlackBird, Navi World, SA, Rolex DJII, IWC Yacht Club
Present: CE, DSSD
Future: Changes daily

This site is ALWAYS monitored. There is no "if" about it.

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SHARKMAN