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Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
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Author:  BroncoSport [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
It seems to me that over the years (and presently) that Breitling has gone overboard with the release of LE watches. Every time you turn around there is another Japan exclusive LE and with the new line of Blacksteel everything, I wonder how market perception of the brand can remain positive since the ownership of a Breiling LE is available for almost anyone. I dont see the likes of Rolex and Zenith and Omega doing so many (if any) limited editions (Panerai aside). While I do like the idea of owning a Breitling LE, I dont think its really as exclusive as some people would make it out to be. Just curious what others think about this......
Author:  Otto [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
I think that's quite a valid point, and I think there is a perception that other brands (not Rolex, but definitely Omega) are guilty of the same thing.

If you look at Omega discussion forums, for instance, there is often complaint that they release too many LE Speedmasters, and that the numbers are not limited enough.

On the other hand, I suppose, they are still sought-after items. And similarly for Breitling, there is an aura about a LE even though there are so many of them that it takes the combined knowledge of Roff and all the other experts on this site just to list them all in one thread.

I'll be interested to hear what others think.
Author:  dhalem [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
I think a lot depends on the nature of the LE. A watch with a logo on the dial or back is no big deal to me. A cosmetic difference like the blacksteels is a bit more. Something different mechanically starts to get interesting.

If you look at Panerai LE's, they tend to do pretty small runs of their LE, like 200-500 pieces, and they tend to be different in some major ways(unusual movements, left crown, etc). Those ones seem to really hold their value.

Omega seems to just stick an Apollo logo or a 007 logo on their watches and call it LE.
Author:  RJRJRJ [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
Almost every Panerai is an LE in some way (real or imagined) and they seem to be doing aiight.
Author:  aleister [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
I agree on the Blacksteels, but not on the Japan LE's. They are in fact rather limited - you have to get over here to get them.

Over in Japan more or less all brands have some kind of LE available, official or inofficial.
Author:  Driver8 [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
Personally I think LE's are always good thing, as they mean more models in general (even if some are no more than a logo on the dial), and there is also something satisfying about knowing that you own one of only, say, 1000 in existance.

I think Breitling have certainly overdone the whole Blacksteel LE thing, especially with the ASBS being followed by the near identical SABS (as I've said before, those were so identical that Breitling themselves even had the wrong picture on their website for a while! :lol: ), but IMO LE's are only a good thing.

I struggle a little bit with Panerai alleging that everything they make is an LE, because most are just their standard models with yearly letter and then a number after it...... meaning they're not really a true LE. However as dhallam said, their proper LE's are indeed limited and aren't repeated the following year.

For me, the best Breitling LE's are those like the Bentley Le Mans, whereby it has a totally unique movement inside (to that model at least), plus a unique dial, and (at the time it was made, as the "T" models hadn't come out) a unique bezel. The logo type of LE's are great if the logo means something personal to you, but I find them a bit of a weak entry in the LE stakes in general.

But as I say, I'm all for LE's as a rule. I just hope Breitling make one I like again soon! :wink:
Author:  Roffensian [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
The logo LEs are usually market driven - most are commissioned by a group or an AD / distributor and they are easy money for Breitling so easy to see why they do them. Also, when you set a precedent of producing an LE for one particular squadron / aviation groupyou can't really refuse for another.

The Breitling driven LEs - gold versions of many watches are a little over the top in my opinion - too many models and too many in each production run (often 500 of each colour gold) - not to mention ridiculous pricing.

Repetition of an LE concept definitely reduces the exclusivity and that's what we are clearly seeing now with Blacksteels, people are buying them now because they want a DLC watch, not because they want a Breitling LE.

I'm with Driver8, the 'special' LEs are the onest that are different - the Le Mans, the ratty CA, even the DB Cossie - although technically that's not an LE because it wasn't limited to a specific number of watches.

If Breitling were to do a 'real' LE every year then I would be a big fan - a DB in house movement one year, a rattrapante complication the next year, a retrograde display the year after, etc.
Author:  BroncoSport [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
Yeah but the truely "special" LE's like the Le Mans or the DB Cosmonaute or even most of the Japan models, are not whats in question, from my perspective. I am talking about the cheapening of the brand (IMO) by allowing anyone with the money and a minimum order (and the willingness from Breitling) to slap a logo on the dial and numbering the caseback with a LE number. It was cool to see the red arrows models and it really suited the brand to have the aviation tie, but common... every club, airplane or pilots group seem to be talking Breitling into a LE run. And the blacksteel deal is just getting comical. They should remove the LE numbering from all of those BS brands in the future. If I was would have bought one of the AS BS when they first arrived, I would be slightly pissed right now with the flood of all the BS models. So much for exclusitivity.

Maybe its just me because I am not interested in ever owning (never say never huh) one of those types of LE's but I just just see the likes of Rolex catering to the whims of all these special group LE request and therefore remaining somewhat more respected as a "luxury" brand.
Author:  FEAR [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
look at corum, who recently announced EVERY watch will be a LE of 5, 55, 550, or 5500. kinda cool, i like it.

i like how breitling does it, a few a year, but the bulk is available regularly. too much blacksteel if we really get 5 new ones this year.
Author:  RJRJRJ [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
FEAR wrote:
look at corum, who recently announced EVERY watch will be a LE of 5, 55, 550, or 5500. kinda cool, i like it.

i like how breitling does it, a few a year, but the bulk is available regularly. too much blacksteel if we really get 5 new ones this year.


Interesting idea, but I have a feeling the 550 and 5500 are basically a front since they probably couldnt sell more than those amounts even if they tried.
Author:  dhalem [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 1:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
And true to form, Omega just announced a 35th anniversary apollo-soyuz LE.
Author:  alex** [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
I don't think many people consider the personalised models an le more a special addition I don't think they cheapen the brand I think they supplament
it. The bs I think have been overdone.
Author:  FEAR [ Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
RJRJRJ wrote:
FEAR wrote:
look at corum, who recently announced EVERY watch will be a LE of 5, 55, 550, or 5500. kinda cool, i like it.

i like how breitling does it, a few a year, but the bulk is available regularly. too much blacksteel if we really get 5 new ones this year.


Interesting idea, but I have a feeling the 550 and 5500 are basically a front since they probably couldnt sell more than those amounts even if they tried.

keep in mind they dont do the bubbles anymore, and corum usa is sold back to the french, trying to go higher end, so we'll see
Author:  Tim S [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thoughts on Breitling's LEs
I agree BroncoSport that there seems to have been a plethora of LE's coming out in recent times, so much so that I wonder if the concept of an LE hasn't in fact been diminished. I also like your argument about 'true' LE's rather than a standard watch with a logo that is also classed as LE.

However personally when I receive an LE watch, that's important to me because I know I'm 1 of only X with that particular model, even if the only difference between the LE and a standard watch of the same model is the logo. So while I agree with your broad argument when I take it down to a personal level then I don't think it matters how many LE's there are because I only care about the one I have. Macro versus micro at its best, it really depends on what view you take :D
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