good find sharky
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| Found this on a watch buyer's blog site https://www.breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2232 |
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| Author: | Sharkmouth [ Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:22 am ] |
| Post subject: | Found this on a watch buyer's blog site |
Just found this on a blog site and I thought it was a good read. It includes a rare statement of the number of watches Breitling make a year. The article was written in September 2007. For all Breitling Watch enthusiasts, I’d like to share a most enjoyable conference held just this past week, August 30th through the 31st. I among several store representatives and/or watch buyers attended a wonderful function sponsored by Breitling at the beautiful Cloister Resort and Hotel on beautiful Sea Island, Georgia. As customary, Breitling always puts on a first class training and product seminar. The accommodations were nothing short of spectacular, not to mention, the excellent information shared with all of the participants. It’s no wonder that Breitling as a company has enjoyed healthy sales increases over the past several years consistently. All the new products introduced this year in Basel were on display for all of us to actually hold and evaluate. Their ability to create and innovate definitely puts them in the upper realm of Swiss manufacturers. In their latest endeavour, Breitling Watch will be partnering with world famous entrepreneur and multi millionaire Richard Branson, the founder and CEO of Virgin Atlantic Airlines as well as numerous other companies, to launch “Virgin Galactic” which will offer distinguished clientèle the opportunity for space observation missions. These missions are scheduled to begin sometime between 2009 and 2010. Breitling’s affiliation with this venture will be to supply the spacecraft with all of the instrumentation used within. Several dozen clients have given substantial monetary deposits in order to reserve the first available flights. I will keep everyone posted as to any changes and or updated regarding this incredible opportunity. Some Breitling history and significant milestones that all readers may find interesting: * Breitling Watch was founded in 1884 by Leon Breitling. * Breitling invented the first wrist-worn stopwatch in history in the year 1915. * Breitling was the first Swiss watch company to patent single independent push pieces for chronographs in 1923. * Breitling was the first to add a second push piece for chronographs in 1934. * Breitling contracts and supplies the Royal Air Force of England with all aircraft instrumentation in 1936. * Breitling creates and develops the first slide rule used on a wrist-watch in 1942. * Breitling contracts and supplies Boeing, Con-Air, and various other airline companies with full cockpit instrumentation in 1950. * Breitling introduces it’s first family of “Navitimer” wrist-watches which are AOPA Certified in 1952. * Breitling makes it’s first venture into outer space and introduces it’s “Cosmonaut” model worn by astronaut Scott Carpenter aboard the Aurora 7 in 1962. * Breitling introduces the worlds first self-winding chronograph titled “Chronomatic” which featured it’s patented Calibre 11 movement in 1969. * Breitling creates and introduces it’s signature design “Chronomat” which revolutionizes functionality, reliability and aesthetic appeal and rapidly becomes it’s most widely recognized design in 1984. * Breitling creates and introduces the new “Aerospace” which is the first analog/digital watch of it’s kind and also utilizes Titanium constructed case and bracelet in 1985. * Breitling creates and introduces the smallest ever made mechanical “Chronograph” known in the watch industry in 1992. * Breitling creates and introduces in 1995 the first ever “Emergency” model wrist-watch with it’s own 121.5mh transmitting signal which took the company 10 years to perfect and has currently to this day been credited with 20 life saves around the world. * Breitling’s involvement with aviation also prompted the company to launch it’s first successful non-stop hot air balloon circumnavigation of the world aboard the Orbiter 3 in 1999. * Breitling creates and introduces to the watch industry the first Swiss Certified “Super Quartz” movement technology which is evaluated and deemed to be the most accurate in history in 1999-2001. * Breitling’s involvement in the automobile world has always been evident. In 2003 Breitling partners with Bentley Motorcars to create and launch a series of high quality Bentley related timepieces which meets with great client appeal and demand. This endeavour takes Breitling to even newer heights and popularity. * Breitling introduces for it’s 20th year anniversary the brand new “Chronomat Evolution” which still to this day represents the best selling family of watches in the Breitling line. * For all of Breitling’s demand and public desire the company still only produces approximately 150,000 to 170,000 wrist-watches each year. In closing, I hope that everyone finds this information interesting and I look forward to communicating any watch related noteworthy news as it develops. Enjoy all watch enthusiasts! Anthony Bonner Watch Buyer |
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| Author: | doctor diesel [ Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:37 am ] |
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good find sharky
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| Author: | Damian [ Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:22 am ] |
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Nice1 there! |
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| Author: | VillageIdiot [ Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:07 pm ] |
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Nice, in comparison I heard Rolex manufacture 2000 a day, and Patek Philippe 2000 a year! |
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| Author: | Alien [ Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:19 am ] |
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A few additions: The movement of the chronomatic (presented on March 3rd 1969) was developed together with Heuer-Leonidas, Dubois Dépraz and Buren (3 companies not existing anymore) At about the same time a cooperation from Zenith and Movado presented the El Primero movement. (January 10th 1969) In 1979 Breitling went bankrupt and was closed. In 1982 Ernest Schneider buys the name and company So, there was not a continuous production from 1884 to 2008 The movement of the Aerospace was already used in the Omega Seamaster at least 2 years before. Some fans try to change history a little bit.... |
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| Author: | Roffensian [ Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:54 am ] |
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Alien wrote: A few additions:
The movement of the chronomatic (presented on March 3rd 1969) was developed together with Heuer-Leonidas, Dubois Dépraz and Buren (3 companies not existing anymore) At about the same time a cooperation from Zenith and Movado presented the El Primero movement. (January 10th 1969) In 1979 Breitling went bankrupt and was closed. In 1982 Ernest Schneider buys the name and company So, there was not a continuous production from 1884 to 2008 The movement of the Aerospace was already used in the Omega Seamaster at least 2 years before. Some fans try to change history a little bit.... This has been an ongoing argument for a long time - El Primero was introduced first, Chronomat was publicly available first - the El Primero in a watch wasn't available until April 1969. To me, it doesn't matter, to others it means a huge amount! |
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| Author: | ggreedy4you [ Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:36 pm ] |
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nice page shark
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| Author: | Mikey H [ Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:32 am ] |
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Very interesting stuff. It reminds me of this article I once read about Rolex and their achievements, the author titles it "Why its Okay to Hate Rolex." Posted by James M. Dowling on February 10, 1998 at 22:24:33: "It's a free world, you can love or hate any one or any thing that you choose. However the point that I would like to make is that a little research might convince even the most ardent critic of Rolex (or of the folks who wear them) that in this case a little tolerance might be no bad thing. Let us first look at the facts and then turn our view upon the perception. To all intents and purposes, Rolex invented the wristwatch, as we know it. Sure there were companies making and marketing the things before Rolex burst upon the scene in 1905. But none of them put the effort that Rolex did into this new market. The reason for this is that the older companies could see no reason to change; they had major investments in plant and machinery designed specifically to make pocket watches. So why should they change. Rolex had nothing, no history, no factory and most importantly no tradition. So the only option open to them was that of being an innovator; and the innovation they chose was the wristwatch Rolex without doubt invented the waterproof wristwatch; again as with all their other advances, they were not the originators of the concept. But they were the people who made it work, the screw down crown was a classically simple concept and Wilsdorf had the genius to see the simplicity and make it work for the company. Once again with self-winding mechanisms, Rolex saw the way the market was going, saw the mistakes all their predecessors had made and neatly sidestepped them all. Whilst many other competing self winding systems have arisen in the 65 years since Rolex introduced the Auto Rotor system, the vast majority of all automatic watches now use a version of the Rolex concept. However despite all of the above reasons, my opinion is that the greatest advance Rolex have ever made is their decision to gain chronometer certification for a few and then for almost all their watches. In the days before Rolex instituted this program, every watch manufacturer TALKED about the accuracy of their watches; but Rolex were the first people ever to have the accuracy proved by an independent agency. Before the advent of quartz watches; accuracy was in direct relationship to the cost of the watch; therefore people wanted to know that their watch was really accurate. Rolex gave them that assurance. Nowadays we are all used to the concept of Tool watches, that is watches designed for a particular job or hobby; you know the sort of thing...diving watches, sailing watches, pilot's watches etc. Well Rolex invented that concept too. The Submariner, the GMT Master and the Milgauss were all pioneers in this field. Being waterproof and shockproof long before the rest of the watch industry was, Rolex became the natural choice of sports people who needed a watch. From this starting point they then moved to make watches FOR sportsmen; this moved the Tool watch concept on a little further. Watches such as the Explorer 1 and 2 were targeted at climbers and cave explorers, they were simple timepieces but with high visibility dials and very strong cases. Once again they created a market and defined it. They are, by far, the most innovative of all the Swiss watch companies; as well as all the new ideas mentioned above; Rolex have always pursued a long term development strategy. They have patented more than a thousand advances in horology during their 90+ year history. Rolex is now the most self-sufficient watch company in Europe; they make all their own movements (apart from chronograph movements), all their cases, all their bracelets and all their crystals. They own most of their distributors and have no shareholders (as all the shares are held by 2 family trusts which have charitable status) because of this they can pursue long term goals without fear. They are, without doubt, the largest Swiss watchmaker. Producing around 800,000 watches a year, they still sell every watch they make. They are dependent on no single market, one could really say that the world is their OYSTER!!!!!!!! (sorry) Perhaps the one problem they do have is that they have become a victim of their own success. Whilst the company has not changed its design philosophy; their public perception have changed. Whereas Rolex made its name with sports watches and still makes more of them than any other kind of watch; many people think of diamond encrusted Day-Dates when they hear the name Rolex. However this is not the fault of the company. Rolex have the longest single continuous ownership of any Swiss watch company; having been owned by the same two families (and its successor trusts) for its entire existence. During this time the company has essentially had only 2 chief executives (the third came to power in 1997). Both of these factors have enabled the company to steer in an uninterrupted course throughout its history. Many people whine about the cost of a new Rolex; they forget 2 things. Firstly Rolex manage to sell every watch they make (so obviously SOME people do not think they are too expensive). Secondly, no-one was ever forced to buy a Rolex watch; it is a decision people make with their own free will and their own money. In the end, the free market rules everything. It is difficult to talk about Rolex watches without talking about resale value; in simple terms Rolex (new or used) retain a higher percentage of their cost than any other production Swiss watch. Everything from the no date Submariner all the way to the President can be resold in an instant anywhere in the world, for very good money. Also, if the watch was bought used, it is quite possible to wear a Rolex for 2 or 3 years and sell it for the same price you paid for it. Apart from the cost of the money invested, essentially that makes it a free watch. One of the reasons to buy a Rolex may well be one of the best, but undoubtedly one that no-one ever thinks of: it is that most of the profits made through the sale of the watches go to good causes. As mentioned above, the company is owned by two family trusts. The larger one (the Wilsdorf family trusts) gives a fixed sum to the remaining members of his family but the majority is given to charitable causes; including a high school in his home town and the watchmakers school in Geneva. This gives rise to the thought that if it were not for the substantial profits made by Rolex, there would probably be no Franck Muller; because it was at the Geneva watchmaker's school that Muller learned his trade. As I said in the introduction, if you want to hate Rolex; then be my guest but at least I hope when you do you will at least give the devil his due." I just figured I'd post this juxtaposition on one of Breitling's main competitors. Rolex does have alot of history behind it, but I think Breitling has found its niche in the Aviation world, and I love how they produce far fewer watches than Rolex. To me, Rolex doesnt have a niche. It is the monolith of the watch world, which is probably why it is so popular even amongst those who have little knowledge of the horological world. Id say people buy Rolex, because it says Rolex, but others buy Breitling because they recognize quality and innovation coupled with unique, yet timeless style. Anyway Cheers all, Breitling is still Tops in my opinion!! |
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| Author: | Driver8 [ Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:54 am ] |
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Great post Mikey! 
As some of my previous posts have shown, I'm not the worlds biggest Rolex Fan. However, there is no doubting their place in horological history, and right at the forefront of it too. However for me, Rolex lack the innovative spirit nowadays that the article speaks about at length. I think their designs are a bit "old hat" (some may say "traditional" at this point!) these days, and I think Breitling and other manufacturers are much more forward thinking as a result. I don't for one minute belittle the magnitude of their achievements in bringing the wristwatch to where it is today, but I feel that others have picked up the batton and run with it while Rolex have stood still in recent years. (The new Yachtmaster II is a definite step in the right direction however). My own irritation with Rolex is purely based on having owned a 50th Anniversary Submariner, and being less than impressed with it as an overall package. I just always felt I had bought the little crown on the dial... and not much else. |
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