The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Maybe I missed a post somewhere, but today ...in my hand... at the AD, was a Blackbird LE that I havent seen. My first thought was Red Strike. It very well might have been, but get this. It was a Blackbird LE of 2000 examples in SMOOTH SHINEY BLACKSTEEL!!! Not the typical brushed Blacksteel. If fact I had them bring out a normal BS model and held it side by side.. BIG DIFFERENCE. She said they got it in at the same time as my Nav 01 LE.

It looked like the mook up pics of the Red Strike but NO red date, just normal white. The outside dial indicators are red and the sub hands are red. This was on the new OR strap with BS deploy. I can attest to the fact that it looked like it was made out of that rock (Hematite) that people make rings out of. I mean exactly like hematite. Very awesome and the red accents really set it off. If I would have had the money I would have seriously thought about buying two watches today!

Just a heads up. Here is some borderline crappy cell phone pictures I took with the Droid X.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

As a BB owner, I can honestly say that watch does absolutely nothing for me...and that's in no disrespect to the OP.

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PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller

Wish they did a bracelet to match

Thanks for the pics though!

As a Blackbird owner who generally dislikes DLC watches but has inspected this LE and had it on the wrist, I can say this is a beautiful watch in person. No similarity to the Red Strike at all. Pictures just don't do it justice.

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SHARKMAN

I like the shiny DLC a lot. Look like ceramic or tungsten or something ese that cool lol.

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-RJ

The DLC that they do on this watch is incredible. I would very well own this watch!

When they released the Bentley GMT in the same Midnight Carbon, high polished DLC, I was stunned as well. I love the finish that they are doing on these.

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Breitling Emergency Mission-- Breitling B01--
Chronomatic 24H-- Skyland Blacksteel-- Navitimer World--
Emergency Ti-- Chronomat Evo-- Airwolf-- Skyracer Raven
Bentley GMT-- Motors Speed

I own the original brushed version and have never been a fan of the LEs, this one comes the closest to something I would consider, but I'm just burned out on seeing all these variations of the BB.

Im not a fan of the different Blackbirds, per se. I have always contended that the brushed Blackbird was the ONLY one I would own. Most of what we have seen in the different Blackbird variation have done nothing for me, because of that reason. In fact I reject all of the previous versions.

But this particular one, did turn my eye. Its unlike any DLC watch I have seen. Like I said before, it doesnt look like DLC... it looks like polished Hematite! Add that to the red accents and its a visually striking watch.

In reality I wont be getting one. The price tag was up over the $7k range and I have others on my list that I am wanting long before this one. But it is worth looking at.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

Change the red accents to yellow and I'd be moist! Hate red accents on the blackbird!!!

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Love it.

I saw that model a couple months ago at an AD while I was traveling. The DLC is more of a polished black rather than a flat black 'thick' looking coating. I thought it was awesome and the red accents really give a nice touch. To me this is how a true blackbird (based on the aircraft) should look, not that I don't like the brushed SS version, but a stealthy look in all black is cool IMO! The price I am not so fond of .

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

Not that it may be relevant to all, but the SR-71 had lines painted on it in red to indicate where maintenance personel couldn't step or they would cause damage. Red accents are totally in keeping with the tradition of the plane IMO, yellow would be out.

I've said before that polished is not necessarily the way I see the SR-71 Blackbird being interpreted into a watch, polished is look at me, where as brushed is understated. Black was the color of the plane so a black case is a natural fit. This also comes down to personal preference for the finish, if you like brushed or not, coatings or not. But it should be noted the SR-71 was not stealthy at ALL. In fact it left a gigantic radar signature. Huge. It was not that it couldn't be seen, it's that is was so high and fast, no one could do anything about it. If you think of it that way, the polished is a decent fit. Personal preference.

Having placed my hands on a real SR-71, I can attest to the awesomeness of this plane. (There is one in the air and space museum in Hutchison, KS) If you ever get a chance to see one in person, do it. Its the coolest looking plane I have ever seen.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

Original BB brushed stainless is still the best! IMHO, of course,
I wish that Breitling would stop the obsession with "Blacksteel" LE models. Enough already! All it does is make the DLC LE models seem more commonplace every time a new one comes out. My AD has had the Seawolf Chrono model in the display for a couple of months now, although it could be partly due to the fact that it has a quartz movement.
The Blackbird, until they started changing it with various dial options, and polished surfaces, was a real exclusive model in the Breitling lineup. To me, all the variations ruin the exclusivity. Just my take on the whole thing.
Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

I thought I would add in addition to my other post, the dial has a finish keeping strongly in tradition with the SR-71, regardless of the case that has never changed.