The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Breitling newbie here, researching my first good watch purchase.

I've seen the B01 online but it's not in the Chronolog. The watches in there have three-digit numerical identifiers. Have I missed something?

Peace

Mike

P. S. Is it "bee-oh-one" or "bee-zero-one"?

It's a new version of the chronomat announced at Basel last year with an in house movement. It's not yet in the chronolog because historically the chronolog was published before Basel - basel is in March and the chronolog was issued in the fall.

This year Breitling is moving chronolog production until after Basel to include the new models that are unveiled next month. The upshot of all that is that no chronolog has been published since late 2008, before the B01 was announced.

In terms of the watch itself, aside from the love it / hate it looks, the key thing is that it contains Breitling's first modern in house movement rather than reworked movements from ETA / Valjoux.

In terms of pronunciation, well I guess it depends where you live - I always refer to it as the B-oh-1.

I'm definitely curious as to the next model the B01 (or a variant) will end up in and when that will be...unless someone knows already

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

I've heard AD's call it both ways. I had one but couldn't grow to like the "different" looks. I will wait until they put the great new movement in a different watch...

Okay, thanks everyone for the clarification but I am still confused about a couple of points.

I was under the impression that all Breitlings have in-house movements because the Chronolog refers many times to, for example, "Breitling caliber [XX] movement." So I take it that those are modified ETA movements and it is more desirable or prestigious for Breitling to market them as their own. Correct?

Also (and I think I've figured this out as well), the three-digit identifiers in the catalog actually refer to configurations of a certain model, rather than the model itself, yes?

Thanks again.

Peace

Mike

Well, yes it IS more desirable for them to market them as their own, but the only reason they can do that is because Breitling modify the standard ETA quite considerably. They don't just drop in a standard ETA and call it their own.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Correct.

does Breitling have them online as soon as they are announced?

Not in things like the configurator, or even in the general models area - that seems to take forever. With the Chronomat B01 they had a countdown going on the front page of the site and then a big deal when it was unveiled at Basel.

The proper way to address the watch is B-zero-1. You can call is a B-oh-1 if you like; people should still know what you're referring to.

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

I say B-oh-one just like I say "oh-nine" for 2009. Ive never heard anybody say "zero nine." The dealers ive spoken to seem to call it B-zero-one though.

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-RJ

Franz the MD of BUK was saying B01 last time i spoke with him so id imagine the name is interchangeable

Hi all - another newbie here.
Can we expect to see the B01 in other models or even the current Chronomat, as I like the idea of an in house movement but I cant get my head around the new look at all.
Also,does anyone know if there are other movements on the way?
Cheers.

I don't think the B01 movement would ever go to the Chronomat Evo. To me the B01 seems more like a successor to the Evo, so I guess eventually the Evo will be discontinued, and the Chronomat B01 will live on.

I'm sure the B01 movement will appear in both the Blackbird and the Navitimer soon. Breitling might just roll out those new models in Basel 2010, just a couple of weeks from now.

As for other movements, I don't see them coming this year, but maybe in 2011. I expect a simple, sturdy non-chrono movement after the B01, to be built into the SuperOcean, SuperOcean Steelfish, Avenger Seawolf, etc.

But all that is just my assumptions/guesses.

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Ingenieur - Speedmaster - Submariner

I wouldnt be surprised if it made it into a chronomat, or at the very least a new variation on the current chronomat. Dont forget, the new model is called the 'Chronomat B01', not just the B01. But, I really have no idea what they have planned.

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-RJ