The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi Guys,

I have a big problem, I am addicted to Breitling watches, it has not been too long, about 3 weeks I have been battling this addiction! I know I have a problem, but at the same time I do not want to break this addiction as there are so many fantastic models out there, at lest a few for every occasion I can think of!

My story started when I was a teenager, I first fell in love with a Breitling emergency with a yellow face, I saw it in a second hand shop. At the time I could not afford anything near this. The best I had untill this point was a Bulova chronograph. In my final year of university I treated my self to an Omega Planet ocean chrono. At the time I liked the watch, it was the orange that I liked. For some reason I did not buy a Breitling. To this day I am glad I did not as my addiction would have started earlier. However I had always had a soft place in my heart for Breitlings.

Anyway, I had the planet ocean for about 4 yrs before getting rid of it. Being a practical guy, I started looking for a every day watch with an automatic movement, as I love all things mechanical. I only wanted to spend between $1000 - $2000. So I started looking at Oris watches, as they provide good value for your money, and I do like the display back case. They had some great watches, but I always felt that there was something missing no matter which one I tried on. Anyway, for the fun of it I tried on a SOH 46mm with a mesh bracelet even though I did not want to spend that much (coz I am a practical guy and a watch is really only used to tell the time.... or so I thought till I came in contact with the Breitling).

After trying on the watch, I really loved the watch, everything felt right, and even my GF said it looked great. After some negotiation I managed to get about 30% off the sale price (which was good as it was the LE with green bezel). Being with my GF, she convinced me not to get the watch, and think about it as it was much more than I was looking at originally. Anyway, my GF and I went to a few more stores, I looked at a lot of TAGs as well, but it just was not a Breitling. I have never had much interest in TAGs, not that I don't think that they are good watches. Anyway, after a week of looking at more watches I decided to get the watch. My justification was that I would not look at getting any other watches after getting the SOH. Which was fine for about a 2 weeks. Then i realized that the SOH was not good for sports, and started looking for a digital watch, something like a Casio G-Shock. Well the whole process started again, and before I knew it I was looking at an aerospace and a B1. Well, I am now the proud owner of a B1. I do not regret getting the SOH or the B1, I love them both. Yesterday day I was at my AD and saw the Avenger Sea Wolf Black LE. I tried it on and it looked great! I managed to walk out from the AD without purchasing the watch. This is when I realised I have a big problem!!!!! I tried looking at IWC and some JLC but I don't get the same buzz I do from Breitlings.

I am now looking at purchasing a watch with the Breitling in house movement, the B01. I feel that somehow it will quench my addiction for Breitlings (but in the back of my head I know it will not) and i don't want to quit this adiction.

Does anyone else have this addiction, and how can I over come it?? Its so hard as my GF often drags me to he shopping centers which always seem to have a Breitling AD!

On a side note, I would like to add a Vintage Breitling add to my collection, any recommendations (around $1000 - $2000, maybe a bit more)?

thanks!

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SOH 46mm LE Green Bezel
B1

Welcome aboard.

My advice - don't fight it! Just go with it and irresponsibly spend all your cash on Breitlings!

(OK, so I AM kidding here..... kind of! )

Vintage isn't really my thing, but I'm sure one of the vintage guys will soon pipe up with recommendations.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Welcome! Many of us suffer from the same addiction. Don't resist it. Withdrawl symptoms may include: Waking in a cold sweat shaking like a leaf in the wind, anguish, anxiety, insomnia, late night "Which Ling should I buy?" posts or cravings ranging from mild to severe.

On a more serious note... IMHO; you are better off to set yourself a maximum number of pieces, 3, 5, 7 etc depending on what your significant other and financial situation will allow. That way you can continuously feed your addiction, but will have to sell a piece to get the next latest and greatest piece you desire. This both offsets the amount you spend thus increasing your purchasing power, if you buy pre-owned you may not lose any money when you sell at all, and allow you to buy way more pieces than you could of otherwise helping you to decide which pieces you really, really want to keep.

Good luck and be very careful with the Vintage market!

In terms of Vintage - take a look through the Vintage section and see what kind of thing you like. With budgets up to $2,000 you can find many, many different models from 40s to 70s so if you can narroe it down a bit then it will help.

Mike_Aus,

I hate to tell you, but there is no cure for your "Sickness" at this time. This addiction can and usually does eventually lead to your addiction expanding to incorporate other brands.

The only sure cure is to deplete your bank account acquiring an ever increasing number of Breitlings as well as other brands; however once you run out of money you will suffer from WIS withdrawal syndrome. This serious side effect will leave you a drooling, gibbering, introvert hoarding his watch stash in some brightly lit room where you can be mesmerized by all your shiny baubles.

The other method is to marry your financially sensible girlfriend, but be aware that these types of relationships can end up in divorce court since she will not understand your needs as a WIS. This in turn will lead to WIS withdrawal syndrome too and I need not go any further to point out a good example of one our very own forum participants than Sharkman. Unfortunately I am following in his footsteps it seems and soon will be joining him in his brightly lit room drooling over all our shiny baubles uttering "Mine Mine Mine".

So you see you are in a hopeless predicament now and the only advice I can give you is to sit back and enjoy the ride while you are sane enough to do so. We look forward to your joining us soon in our brightly lit room and we will save you a bib so you don't ruin your clothes with the drool. INCOMING!!

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Thanks Guys for the responsible, and not so responsible responsible replies - or should I say more realistic responses! As I thought there is no antidote!

I think that JustinFournier idea of setting a limit on how many pieces to have in my collection is a great idea! However, I am sure that everyone can agree thats easier said than done. But in reality I think thats what I will have to do!

Has anyone come up with a solution of trying to explain to their loved one why:
1: They need more than 2 watches
2: Why we have to spend so much money on each watch - even though they look fantastic
3: Why buying a cheaper engagement ring is a great idea so that I can get an engagement watch. I mean come on! For $20K she could get like a $2K ring of ebay leaving me with $18K for a watch or 2! At the end of the day all a diamond does is sparkle, its not like it has any LUME where you can see it at night!

Just a final thought....Has anyone ever wanted to be in that episode of the Simpson where Bart and Millouse get locked in a shopping center and they break onto the candy store.... well I have a similar fantasy, except that I replace the candy store with a Breitling AD, and they have not locked up all the watches in the safe....?

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SOH 46mm LE Green Bezel
B1

The # can be based on your personal situation, but you will find people who can afford 20 often sell them when they have too many as they realize the money is tied up on something they don't really need, use or desire anymore.

Personally, I'm going from a hard limit, to ones I really love. If I never wear it, I don't need it. If I limit my purchasing to 1 a year or 2, that is reasonable. Set a hard limit if you must as well! I've also considered setting a % limit based on my yearly incomel; say no more than 10% net. I've also started my own business on the side, just a small thing but easy money that will feed my Ling fund. All money from that is for my