The Breitling Watch Source Forums

About a week ago I removed the back from my Steefish. I was one of those kids that just had to have a look to see how things worked

Well lets just say I was underwhelmed. Really didn't think much to the finish of the movement. Didn't think the surface finish was that great, edges weren't especially crisp or nicely chamferred.

So if I spent £5k on a Blackbird or Bentley, would that look just as mediocre?

Just curious... Did you happen to notice what type of spacer was used? (Plastic/metal/any?)

Bentleys have a more refined finish, otherwise there is virtually no difference.

I assume you mean some kind of ring around the movement to centre it within the case. There was a metal ring, probably about 3mm thick around the movement.

Sold the watch now so can't take any pics, the new owner does know I removed the case back

Every Breitling I've ever seen the inside of (none of my own incidentally!) all have metal spacers if a spacer is required.

In fact just about all quality makes will use metal. It's only the really cheap stuff and fakes that will have plastic in there.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

What did you think of the quality D8? on par with what you were expecting? I have no issue with spacer rings, well plastic one maybe.

Roff, you've probably seen more movements than most of us, are any other commonly stocked makes better finished, like Omega, IWC etc?

I wasn't particularly unimpressed with Breitling's finishing, but then I wasn't massively impressed either. It's a heck of a lot better than a bog-standard ETA, but not up there with Patek. Then again, Breitling rarely show off their movements as they don't have many display backs, so there's no great incentive to put an intricate finish on them.

Rolex movements are very boring and generic looking if you've ever seen one of them. The only IWC movements I've seen are through DB's so again the level of finishing is definitely higher........ but then Breitling finish their DB movements nicely too.

What I will say is that Omega tend to finish their movements very nicely. Check out a picture of the 8500 movement if you get a chance - very nice indeed. I also remember reading an article on the net by a watchmaker who said Omega hugely impressed him by the way they polish the other side of the movement that no-one sees. That's attention to detail.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Yeah of the comparable brands (price wise) I would say that Omega is the stand out. It doesn't really bother me to be honest, because I would rather the effort went into quality of function if you aren't going to show me the movement. I would like to see well decorated movements because they were under sapphire, and Breitling has proved that they can produce some very nice looking movements - the Lemania DB Cossie is an obvious example.

Thats the sort of attention to detail I like to hear about and would help persuade me towards one brand over another. I don't intend to remove the case back from every watch I own, but I really appreciate good engineering and attention to detail even if its hidden.

I'm not really into decortated movements, although I do appreciate the work that goes into them. Uniform surface finish and clean edges I think should be standard at this level. Just IMO

I've owned a Seamaster before, and sure I read that the movement was Rhodium plated. Wonder if Breitling use this process?