The Breitling Watch Source Forums

There's still excellent watches in the current range.

I think what most object to is the lack of coherence in styling across the range and also the omission of some previous models which augmented the image of beautiful watches with interesting movements and a unique identity.

The omission of a rapptrapante or even flyback from the current range of Breitlings spring to mind and dilute the model range offered (is this due to COSC?). Plus you would have thought such movements would have fitted in well with the sporting heritage of the Bentley range.

If anyone is familiar with the world of fine guitars - I hope you would get the PRS simile. At PRS they quite rightly identified that new customers were buying second hand. It was what PRS had done in the past which attracted the buyers, so in response PRS took what they did before but improved on the successful models, adding certain things that made the newer models even more attractive than their older counter parts. Something similar should happen at Breitling.

They have done some good things - like the in house stuff, all COSC etc. However as it stands they seem to be joining the vast ranks of indistinguishable expensive Swiss watches with no great differentiation from what others do and that others can do (arguably) better than Breitling.

Styling is always going to be subjective and the real substance Breitling offered was in the range of movements for me.

But they also added a new movement with 70 hour power reserve, 47 jewels and a better waterproof rating. Looks of a watch are all personal but the internals you cannot argue. On paper the B01 is a more advanced watch and for the money it costs the competition doesn't come close. If you want the same type of specs in a different brand you are going to pay another 3k easily.

A valid advancement from 42, but not exactly revolutionary - way behind many of its competitors.





Meaningless





Better than what? They had 3,000m water resistance (no such thing as waterproof in a watch) almost 10 years ago.





Wanna bet? Using your logic, every single El Primero movement ever made is better - they're 5Hz movements and you can't argue with internals!





That's simply not true. The Chronomat 44 on bracelet lists for around $9,000, and for under $12,000 I (and many other members) could come up with a whole host of comparable in house chronos.

Your earlier comment mentioned the "design" of the Chronomat 44 (B01) vs. Evolution, by which I thought you were referring specifically to the exterior. Of course, the 01 movement presents certain technical advantages over the B13, plus the cachet of being in-house. However, if given the choice between a B13-based watch that I find to be better looking and an 01-based watch that I do not find as attractive, I'll choose the B13.

Regarding the WR, the Evolution already had a 300m rating. Technically, 500m is superior, yes, but if you actually have a need for more WR than 300m, you're a more adventurous man than most.

I personally like breitling but if I was to read the previous two posts, I would gather that the B01 is an over priced, falling behind the competition product. I find this hard to believe. I checked out so many different models with the ulyse Nardine maxiarine being my other choice. I personally want an in house movement if I am paying 6500 for the watch. For 6500 you cannot find better. List price I never go by. Also the 500meters vs 300 really doesn't apply to me because I won't swim in it

I can't speak for others, but I did not say that. Rather, I was simply saying that for me, the 01 movement is not so superior to the B13 as to make me want to settle for a watch I find visually less appealing just to get the 01. I have a base threshold for what I expect out of a movement, and once that's met, looks and fit become the primary criteria I go by when deciding what I like. Although I do like the Flying Fish, in general I do not like the current generation of Chronomats as well as older generations - especially pre-Evo. In other words, my beef isn't so much with the movement as with the watch(es) the movement is in.


I believe the UN-35 (the movement in the Maxi Marine Chronograph) is based on the ETA 2892-A2.

Ah ok that makes sense then. This was my first watch so I had to be very picky with what I wanted. Looks are subjective. Some people like one thing others like another. What bothers me is the people that comment (in real life) and have no idea what they are saying. i had someone tell me oh thats a breitling and it sucks... I asked them "Can you tell me what you dont like about it and compare it to say a watch you love?" Other than basic looks which is pointless, I wanted the person to give me facts about why it sucks? Why they think brietling sucks and guess what? Not one technical agrument. All bs!!

Breitling and Rolex are as similar in class as BMW and Mercedes. The main difference in my mind between Rolex and Breitling is that Rolex styles can be traced back through time. The Rolex on one's wrist now is very similar (but with modern upgrades) to their forefathers dating back 50-60 years ago. On the other hand, Breitling changes its design & model names quite often (Cockpit to Galactic, Evolution to B01 to Chronomat). Maybe it's just my personal feeling but most of the watch designs today seem to have little or no characteristics of their predecessors. No sense of timelessness or transendence: aka Identity Crisis. I would like to see them stick with a solid design/brand name (possibly even fewer design options) and stick to it. Improve the customer buying experience. If they brought back nicer storage boxes (and smaller watch cushions), ie. get rid of the cardboard, that would return some of the perceived "lost prestige" when buying such an expensive timepiece. While the hat is nice, it really doesn't make the consumer feel like they "achieved" something by finally owning a Breitling. How about a Breitling pen or cufflinks? Does anyone really care about getting chocolates from the Boutique stores that are poping up? Rolex is starting to get cheap on this front as well---smaller boxes, inferior cushions, no more watch collector memorabilia. If Breitling wants to retain higher resale value then it would make sense to limit 15-25% discounting by ADs (set limit to 10%?). On the flip side, if the prices were not so astronomical (for example US$9,800 for a GMT 44 on pilot braclet) then there would be less of an incentive by consumers to ask for deep discounts. If there were fewer watches in the stores (ie. less design choices), then there would be less of an incentive for ADs to provide such discounts to move inventory. Unfortunately, you can't offer every style to attract every potential customer. If supply is greater than demand, then prices must drop. But as its been said elsewhere, Breitling tells their customers what to think and want...and not the other way around-- at least for right now.

Well, there is a flip-side to that.

I think Rolex's are stale. The same boring styling over and over again.

I find the new models of Breitling, while I don't like everything, at least they have a very nice variety. Something Rolex doesn't have.

Rolex doesn't need variety. They have a core of models that are widely appreciated and sell very well. The updates they implement are evolutionary, not revolutionary, and are just enough to keep the models from growing stale (at least in the eyes of those who liked them to begin with), without obliterating what made them great in the first place. I'm not saying Breitling should be Rolex. Breitling is Breitling. The problem is, what Breitling is now isn't what Breitling was just a few years ago - and that was the Breitling I liked.

You forgot the "end of discission" bit JS

_________________
"It is just a matter of time!"

My number one answer: Provide support for their older watches for a longer period of time. I am being forced to retire my 19 year old Pluton 3100 because Breitling no longer carries parts for it, and it therefore cannot be serviced. I would expect that from Timex or Casio, but not from Breitling. These are not supposed to be disposable watches.

Agreed, but practicality-wise it'd be impossible with quartz as they'd need to store infinite numbers of movements, because quartz movements generally aren't repaired when they fail - they are simply swapped out for a new one. The problem with quartz is that the technology evolves over time, so what was cutting edge 20 years ago, isn't anymore. This means the company would either have to use the same quartz movement forever, or store an infinite number of each type of quartz movement they've used.

The difference with mechanical watches is that the technology hasn't really changed in a few hundred years or so : it's all still cogs, wheels and springs. This means it's always possible to fabricate a part if needs be, hence why mechanical watches are far more "future proof" than quartz.

But yes, as this is a "one thing Breitling could do better" thread, then I agree with you. It's unfortunate that's it's just not practical to actually do so.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

I believe it is Breitling practice to offer you a heavy discount on a newts model watch. I have heard of this before. It's would be worth your while checking that out with them.
Hopefully it will work out ok for you.

_________________
Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

Breitling now controls quartz movement supply and have stated that they will support all current models for at least 20 years after production stops. The problem with these older pieces is that Breitling never had the leverage with the movement manufacturers to maintain supply past their obsolescence and the suppliers just stopped producing them leaving Breitling's hands tied.