The Breitling Watch Source Forums

This isn't a post directly at you Sergio : I've just used a quote of yours from the "Another nit pick" thread as a catalyst for my post below -



To be fair, the use of multiple fonts (and how they don't always seem to gel together) was actually raised on here as soon as the Chronomat 01 was first released a couple of years back. That said, I do at least partially agree with the sentiment of Sergio's post about us potentially coming across as always bitching about something, but on the flip side I think this is entirely symptomatic of how radically Breitling have moved from where they were when many of us first found them and fell in love with the brand.

The fact is that (all in my opinion of course), the multiple fonts don't really work that well together, the rubber bezels are pretty horrible, the lack of a bezel pearl is daft on supposedly professional dive watches, the reluctance to try other case materials is a missed opportunity, DLC has been overdone and run it's course, the lack of rider tabs is a shame as it set Breitling apart visually, the Buck font isn't very attractive or indeed modern, the new cardboard boxes do look cheap, I know many of you don't like the square on the dial, although personally it doesn't bother me, etc, etc.

The problem as I see it is that most watch fanatics are very traditional, and by that I mean that they tend to like the style(s) of watches that drew them to a particular brand in the first place. You only needed to spend a bit of time on Rolex forums when the Deepsea first came out to see what I mean. To most of us the Deepsea is essentially just a Submariner on steroids....... but the reaction from a lot of die-hard Rolex fans seemed to suggest it was the most hideous and radical watch design in history. The same with Doxa - the die-hard Doxa fans moaned for weeks about the position of dial text on the SUB 5000T because it was central and not offset as Doxa-tradition dictated. In comparison to that, long-term Breitling fans have had to put with with far more radical changes over recent years.

Most established watch companies (i.e. those with a bit of history) tend to evolve designs over time as that keeps the long-term (i.e. traditional) owner/fan base happy, while at the same time changing things just enough to keep things fresh and attract new fans to the brand. With the exception (IMO) of the TOC and the Navi, Breitling have taken a much more radical route which no doubt is attracting some new fans as a lot of the new members here have the new models on their wrists. However for many of us long-term fans (or dinosaurs, or miserable old gits, or crusty old farts - take your pick! ), Breitling are leaving us well and truly behind.

Perhaps it's time for a few of us to hang up our Breitling spurs? Perhaps us old b'stards should just accept that times change and look elsewhere for what we want in our watches? When all's said and done, as much as we would like to influence Breitling into making the kind of watches we want to see, that would no doubt alienate the new breed of Breitling fan who's been attracted by the coloured rubber bezels and the DLC. And with the best will in the world, Breitling aren't going to listen to us, or indeed anyone else. It's the owner's company and they'll take it forward as they damn well see fit - and I guess that's exactly how it should be. It's just a pity that the brand that properly got me into decent watches won't be taking me with them....

But in a funny way, I'm not actually that bothered! It's just a hobby/interest at the end of the day. If Breitling ever decide to make a larger size in-house Navi of some sort (i.e. 46mm) then I'll buy it, but if they don't, then never mind - there's quite a few other brands out there that are producing things that I do like.

So in future, I think I will limit my critique of Breitlings decisions to either, "I like it", or "I don't like it", and leave it at that.

(PS - I'm not planning to hang up my Breitlingsource spurs just yet, so you can't get rid of me that easily! )

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Well said Driver.

However, I do think it is still important to discuss the rather radical changes Breitling is making to the brand.

As others have said... if Breitling was more vocal about their reasons for the changes, and involved the consumer base then maybe we'd be more willing to go with them on the ride. Instead they continue to make big changes without much of a design explanation... which leaves many feeling like the designers in Breitling are either flipping coins or as said in the font thread "only just now discovering new fonts and trying to use them all"... maybe we will see Wingdings next!

I think if Breitling as a company took a step out towards us and offered to help the "old timers" along a journey into their new designs it might be more successful.

Excellent post.

There's no reason a major player like Breitling can't introduce models and ranges that broaden the brand's appeal while still keeping their established fan base happy. The source of frustration for long-time fans is that we feel abandoned — like Breitling is saying, "Thanks for bringing us to the dance, but we've decided to go home with someone else."

I would much rather have discussions about new topics, no matter how trivial than to have the same questions asked over and over and over simply because it's easier to have someone else use the search function on the OP's behalf. Many of the topics are trivial, so what.

In terms of leaving Breitling behind because the brand is evolving faster than our tastes, well I have a track record of buying 'weird' watches or at least non traditional designs and so I don't think that I am that much of a stick in the mud. For me it's not the radical departures as much as it is the direction of the radical departures - if Breitling had said here is our new Seawolf ceramic depth gauge with an in house 3 hand movement how many of us would be complaining that it was too much of a radical departure from what a Seawolf should be?

Instead, Breitling seems to have made a single huge leap into the 'loud' designs and nothing more. If that's all that it takes to attract and keep the younger audience then they have left us behind and I'll stick to buying traditional watches like a Mr. Roboto or an Alain Silberstein.

But I'll still be here speaking my mind!

Superb post Mr.8! I'm already at the "I don't like it"/"I don't like it" stage.

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a few Pams...

OK I totally agree on those points that it's the direction of departure rather than the departure itself that's the problem. But then IMO a ceramic depth gauge Seawolf with an in-house movement could very well be a perfectly acceptable evolution of the previous Seawolf : it wouldn't need to be coated in red rubber and covered in 38 different fonts for it to be considered radical enough to release.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I feel bad for this poor dead horse....

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sco
Breitling Chrono Superocean
Omega Aqua Terra 8500
Rolex Submariner Date Ceramic

I believe everything Breitling does is perfect, just perfect. Are you listening Breitling? When shall I expect my free watch?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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SHARKMAN

great post Driver. To be honest I left Breitling quite some months back. Even got rid of my b4b GT ice. the only ling i have left is my chronomat evo and thats because my wife bought it as a first anniversery gift. if it wasnt for that I would have dumped it a while back. not to say that I dont like that watch but for me (personally) I cant stand the direction the company is heading in. The designs are way too "out there". no need for me to describe it as it would be beating a dead horse.

I remember in another thread someone was saying that Breitling should clean house and fire the management team and start fresh like Zenith. Actually that would be a good idea. Clearly they have a fan base but it seems like they are losing ground pretty fast. Obviously I understand that they are trying to attract new buyers, some have even suggested that these designs are more appealing to people in asian markets. its odd because I have talked to my friends in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China and they all laugh when I ask them if they look for breitlings. To them they all want to own Rolex, Omega, PP or AP. Those are the brands most appealing to them.

I'm curious as to how Breitling's current direction is affecting its bottom line.

No one knows except for breitling. But I would bet dollars to doughnuts that thy are seeing less money than before.

I really don't get that logic.... that's like saying, "I am selling my '67 mustang because I don't like the 2013's"....

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sco
Breitling Chrono Superocean
Omega Aqua Terra 8500
Rolex Submariner Date Ceramic

I get what he's saying.... some people just like what they consider the "classics". I personally, have no desire at all to own a newer Mustang, but wouldn't mind having a '67 in my stable. He's just saying he likes the previous Breitling designs, and would prefer a slower evolution of the design instead of the radical design changes we're seeing now.

Breitling could have some Mayans on staff, who
know what's coming in 4 months, so it has taken
the Kiamikaze/go for broke stance, figuring it makes
no difference @ the end.

Please kindly up your medication. J/K