The Breitling Watch Source Forums

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LESA


LEAS

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Can't wait for this one!

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Breitling Super Avenger (Black Dial) - SOLD
Breitling Super Avenger (Black Steel)
Breitling Super Avenger (White Dial) - FOR SALE
Breitling Chronomat (White Dial)

I'm still wondering if this is some kind of April fool actually! Don't get me wrong, both these Blacksteel models look great, and as I've said loads of times, if it wasn't a surface coating I'd be snapping up the new Blacksteel SA like a shot.

BUT...., what the heck is the point in making (essentially) the same model twice???? Yeah I know the SA is 3mm bigger, it's got an SA bezel, and it's got a little bit of red round the minute counter subdial, but frankly, BIG DEAL!

What on Earth possessed Breitling to make it????

Did the Breitling R&D boys think, "Wow, we enjoyed making the AS Blacksteel so much, so lets do it all again and make an SA that looks 99.99999% the same! Yeeeeah! And I tell you what, lets give it the same DLC finish.... oh and the same strap.... and the same stencil numbers..... oh and lets paint the wings on the dial instead of the usual applied SA wings or else (heaven forbid) it might start to look a bit different from the AS version, and we can't have that now can we? In fact, imagine how great it would be if we make a watch that even seasoned watch people may struggle at a glance to be able to tell apart from the last model we made!" Just daft IMO.

By the way this is in no way a dig at people wanting to buy it as it is a very smart looking watch (errr....., just like the AS was/is!), but I just cannot understand the reasoning behind making it. All standard AS's have stencils, so the Blacksteel has stencils too. Fine, it makes sense. However the standard SA has plain arabics or batons..... so why doesn't the Blacksteel SA? Even if they'd made the red bits blue or something. Just SOMETHING!! ANYTHING!

I put it down to either lunacy or laziness.

OK rant over!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I'm with you 100% Driver. To tell you the truth I am much more in love of the idea of a LE SA then the design itself. I had both images up on my monitors here in my office and no one can tell the difference between the two unless I point them out.

I'd really like to see some pictures of an AS with some scratches on it... not that I wish that on anyone, I just want to see how bad it would look. I have to be honest, I'm having second thoughts.

I mean let's say there is a hypothetical price difference of say $1400 between this and a steel bracelet regular SA. If I'm going to be terrified of wearing it without bubble wrap around it, would I enjoy it enough to justify the price?

Crap

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I know what you mean Mario. I love Breitling LE's (I just wish they made more LE models), but with the Blacksteel, the coating and the lack of a matching (i.e. DLC) deployant option on the strap has always really put me off.

With regards to scratches, I believe Roff has managed to put a tiny scratch on his Blacksteel AS - not sure if he's ever posted a pic of the offending area.....

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I'm not sure he posted that either - but the guy you referred to in the DLC discussion had posted pics on his scratch (after unloading the trunk I think it was).

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

I'll try and take some pics - it's very minor.

The positive part of me wants to think that something big is coming from Breitling at Basel next year. Here's my logic.....

There weren't too many major announcements at Basel this year - mostly warmed over models, with only the Bentley GMT being truly unique. This LE is another example.

I can't believe that Breitling have dramatically cut back their design and R&D teams, so it raises the question - what are they working on?

March 2009 could be interesting.

Ive seen a picture of a dent on a BS, that didnt even remove the DLC. I think its very similar in concept to powder coating, in the sense that it sort of becomes part of the metal. Of course, it can be damaged, but it is much more durable than the painted-on concept that people imagine.

Driver8 - your rant is exactly my thoughts too...

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Blue Baton Super Avenger
Black Avenger Seawolf

I have to agree with Driver. As tempting as the limited edition model is, I just don't see the point in basically making it look the same as the previous Blacksteel Avenger.

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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.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

Well, hopefully they're working on a 46mm+ Chronomat / Crosswind (with TT cases and roman numerals), a large size automatic rattrapante of some description, display back options across the range, a whole bunch of Limited Editions that AREN'T just limited to Japan, a TT Bentley, a sub-$10K tourbillon, a large-size Navitimer in tantalum (including the full bracelet) and an SS Bentley Mulliner Perpetual at a reasonable price! Anything less than that and I'm going to be REALLY disappointed!

(Actually, any ONE of those and I'd be really pleased!)

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I found this "Breitling Chronomat Maritim Black Steel limited" from 1987 on eBay.
This might give you an idea on how the SA LE would look like after some years on the wrist ....

http://cgi.ebay.de/Breitling-Chronomat- ... 286.c0.m14

Best regards,
tigergutt

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Officine Panerai Luminor 1950 Marina 3 Days Automatic (PAM 00312/00328)
Breitling Aeromarine Super Avenger

Ouch! I wonder if it's the same material and plating process or if it has been improved over the years

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Actually not as bad as I thought it would be after first reading Mario's reply. At least the first owner got to handle the black bracelet too...

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

It's not the same. Case on Maritime isn't made of steel but from light metal alloy and finish is oxidized, not a DLC.