The Breitling Watch Source Forums

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Yes it is plain but I still think its got class. Would be very nice with non-chrono, inhouse movement and display back. Dunno, but I think Breitling will miss a trick if they don't wholeheartedly embrace display back options across the board for all non-diver watches with in-house movements. To see the movement is such a nice feature for any high-end watch.

I agree with Shark's comment 100%. There no longer is a CURRENT Breitling that I want to have in my collection, and that's really sad. I used to think that it was possible for my entire collection to consist of nothing but Breitlings, now I am having a hard time deciding if I am going to have ANY Breitlings in it. I don't know who they are targeting, but it seems to me that it is young buyers who don't currently own a Breitling...or maybe the Asian buyer. Are these styles popular in Asia??? I know that a larger percentage of watches being purchased over the last couple of years has been from the Asian markets...maybe they are designing their newer models to cater to these individuals.

The problem is that I want Breitling to be something that they just aren't...and I realize that now. I'm with Sharkie...they have lost a customer.

For the most part I totally agree with you, although I personally think the non-chrono TO is just too dull - yes I know it's extremely retro and true to Breitling's roots, but frankly it should've stayed buried like most roots should IMO! Now, the chrono TO on the other hand is a very nice looking piece that successfully brifges the gap of retro and modern. There is no doubt that the retro styled models are a great success all round.

That said, I slightly disagree with you where you basically say there is nothing of merit in the new stuff. Obviously (as you rightly say) taste is a very personal and subjective thing, but a brand has to move forward to a certain extent or else they just rehash the past over and over again........ and as much as I like the Navi 01, the Monty 01 (apart from the size), the TO 01, etc, they are still essentially carbon copies of the past. That in itself is fine, but there needs to be new stuff as well. While the Chronomat 01 and the GMT 04 are not to everyone's taste (and it's purely because of the bezel in most cases), they are at least pushing Breitling's designs forward.... perhaps too radically for some, but ultimately the styling cues of Breitlings made in the last 10 to 15 years are still there in these models. i.e. great legibility/contrast on the dial, chronograph functionality, uni-directional bezel with a pearl, rider tabs (albeit with a shaved down profile), the Windrider style crown, the Pilot bracelet, etc. Aside from the bezel font, I think very few fans of Breitlings over the last 10 years or so would have a problem with the Chronomat 01.

So again, I personally believe all the current in-house stuff, and the retro-styled pieces, are successes in their own right. It's just all the latest non-in-house stuff that looks like it was thrown together without any thought of coherance, class or style. (IMHO of course!)

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Driver8

Site Moderator

my god what is this??? ugly watches, 2 years since a really nice and great breitling watch, last year was disappointing and this year even worse...;(

what about the new emergency??

breitling is becoming a nonsense

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Breitling Chrono Avenger Black Dial whit Pro II Ti, Diver Pro I
Breitling BlackBird Big Date brushed whit SS Bracelet, brown croco
Breitling BlackBird Blacksteel 528/2000 Whit Dp2 Deployment
Omega Planet Ocean Chrono 9300 Co-axial Ceramic on SS bracelet

That perfectly sums up the way I feel about Breitling's current line-up.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

Daytona

Cerachrome

The entire R&D department should be indicted for murdering the brand.

I really do believe that Breitling will wind up selling to a conglomerate within the next few years, possibly sooner. The last two years' efforts show a distinct lack of inspiration and direction, which tends to be the first symptom of corporate degredation. I know for a fact that in the US the B01 and the entire Bentley line is not selling well, so I have to believe the company is in some sort of financial straits, unless Asia is totally kicking @ss. However they're non-public and I don't have any reliable financial info so who really knows.

Here's what I'm curious about: Breitling is NOT dropping the price on ANY of their timepieces; as has been well chronicled, the prices continue to rise. So they have basically eviscerated the brand equity and loyalty but are still aiming to sell their timepieces to the same income bracket that voted in the affirmative with their wallets on prior designs. Why change what was working? Could they not simply have dropped the 01/04 movements into a revised Chronomat case, kept the bezel and been done with it? In my humble opinion this sets the land speed record for Corporate Arrogance.

An earlier poster expressed the sentiment that Breitling must have conducted market research and determined that their customer base wanted larger watches. Okay, but how did they determine their customer base would like the god awful bezel and stupid, cheap-@ss rubber inserts????? Who do they think is gonna buy this cr*p? It's not most of the people on this board, who I assume have sufficient disposable income to throw at for example a B01. Are they aiming at the younger set? Young people are busted @ss broke, moreso now than in the past 20-30 years. Not that Rolex needed the customers but I think the practical effect of this "redesign" was to drive Breitling's existing customer base over to Rolex/JLC/Omega and possibly, yes, possibly TAG-HUER.

I apologize for the rant. I'm just incredibly frustrated. I very much was looking forward to purchasing a few models with the in-house movement and continuing my relationship with the company. But that is now off the table until further notice, if ever.

And I've been averaging 2 Breitlings per year for the past 4 years so if Breitling is reading this board, I am walking the talk.

I am a very, very p*ssed off (at this stage) ex customer.

Without focusing on the negative, I will say that generally speaking, I like this new line up more than the past few years. I love the Chronomat GMT, the Navi 01, Monti 01, and the Chronospace auto. The SOC44mm is nice, but I don't like any of the rubber bezels. Not sure why they did the 41mm chronomat or 42mm SOH.

As usual, everyone will not be happy. Personally, I think the company has listened to it's customer base and tried to please us, by making the Superocean larger for example. To each his own, but I am still very happy with the brand, hence why I'm here.

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An ever changing collection.....

I actually think the 42mm SOH is one of the better moves that they've made. When you have one at 38mm(?) and another at 46mm that pretty much eliminates a lot of people who want a good sized watch that doesn't look like a dinner plate. They do still have some nice models, the Flying Fish as I've said before is just an outstanding version of the B01 and there are others that I'd happily own but there a good number of models that are either LE's or replacements of classics that just don't seem to make sense, but that's just my opinion.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

For all of you who are freaking out that the new SO doesn't have a lume dot or pip...I must say dive computers are pretty much the standard these days and dive watches aren't as necessary as they once were.

With that said, would it kill Breitling to put a dot at 12?

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viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2335
Breitling SuperOcean (coral)
Breitling Avenger
Corum Admiral's Cup
Rolex Sub

Well yes, no sane diver would ever trust his safety entirely to just a wristwatch these days so the need for a pearl is not so vital, but it's nevertheless a good backup and the lume is simply expected on a professional divers watch, much like a unidirectional bezel. As with anything safety based it's better to have it and not need it, than need it an not have it. The SO is now a fashion watch.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I totally agree with you D8 concerning models with 01 or 04 movement. And you should know by now that I do like the "Buck Rogers" bezel.

On the other side of the range however, look what they did to our beloved Steelfish, Colt or BB. And Martini maybe be right on Breitling. I see no luxury in those models.

I am sure glad to have gotten mine before this mess.

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

I am pleased there are some here who really like the overall flow of the new releases. I am pleased there are some here who really like certain releases. I am always pleased when anyone admires and then enjoys owning a watch – whether I think the watch is awesome or….otherwise. My personal opinion does not and should not influence anyone (except hopefully my daughter from time to time).

I used to “get” the Breitling lineup. It flowed with depth and substance. IT MADE SENSE to me. But it doesn’t make sense to me anymore. My personal opinion is Breitling is moving in a direction that is schizophrenic. My watch dollars are MY watch dollars and I cannot spend them on a brand that has made a sweeping and fundamental design shift with which I do not agree.

On the one hand, the SOH42 seems a good idea. On the other hand, the rest of the new lineup leaves me bewildered….and a bit pissed off if I am to be completely honest here. In terms of styling cues IMO, whether in-house or the rest of the general abominations, there is nothing there. Breitling has abandoned coherence and direction. Example – why bother to keep a “suggestion” of the rider tabs on the Buck Rogers bezel? I find it farcical. Machine some damn grip into the bezel edge and just get on with it!

What attracted me to the brand and made sense to me no longer exists. And that is not an overstatement – every element of the brand that pleased me has been obliterated in the last two years. I don’t know WHO Breitling’s target market is and at this point do not care. I just know that market is not me, though I will continue for years to enjoy the few Breitlings I still have.

I sincerely hope my comments do not offend anyone here who is mostly enamored of the new lineup. That is neither my intent nor should you care or be influenced by my views or the views of anyone else. Taste is an entirely personal matter. It is not subject to debate or disagreement. It just is. And it changes over time individually and collectively.

When it comes to consumerism , we vote with our dollars, pounds, marks, etc… I shall not cast any additional votes for Breitling.

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SHARKMAN

Jesus sharky. You getting ready for court?

Nicely stated though.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

Court? Not today anyway. Not much chance of Reno now either.

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SHARKMAN

Where is the Emergency?

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Emergency Mission
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