The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have to say I'm quite pleased that I'm not a huge fan of diamonds on my watches after a conversation with my AD today.

We were chatting away, and I just mentioned that I'd recently seen a white dial SA with a factory diamond bezel a few days previously. (I must be honest, while I'm not generally a diamond fan, this SA on a croco strap actually looked pretty good! )

Anyway as I say, I just mentioned I'd seen it, so he told me the list price and I nearly fell off my chair! The cost of an SA with a factory diamond bezel on croco in the UK is a whopping......... £8135.00!

That means that the diamonds are allegedly worth around £5k GBP!

Now bear in mind that while Breitling diamonds are very good quality (VVS and colour F) and the settings are immaculate, they are also very small. I think the entire factory SA diamond bezel with 80 diamonds is only something like 1.25 carats. Unbelievable price.

Lucky I'm not a major fan of them then huh!?

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Not knocking the look, to each their own. But I do wonder about the long term desirability, in 10 years time will people still like the look of an "iced" out watch ? I can't imagine myself at say 65 sporting such an ostentatious looking timepiece LOL, but hey I still have a few years to go before I get to that point. Like you said Driver, some of them do look pretty good in the here and now though.

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never argue with idiots, they just drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience

I totally agree with the "each to their own" comment, but that's a fair point about long term desirability. Fortunately the small size of the Breitling diamonds does keep a certain amount of restraint about the proceedings......... if that's even remotely possible with 80 diamonds blinking up at you!

I was more shocked about the price more than anything. I've seen aftermarket bezels with 3 or 4 carats of much larger rocks for a fraction of that price. Sure, they're aftermarket (which for me would be a no-no anyway) and the quality is usually less (nearer to VS and colour G or H), but even so, that's one heck of a difference in price to justify.

But like I say, as a "no-diamonds-on-my-watches" person, this SA I saw did actually look pretty damn good. But at that price, not a chance in hell..... even if I could get over the whole diamonds on an 'Instrument For Professionals' thing!

Not knocking anyone who has them..... just not for me.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

But admit that the limited edition 6.75 with diamonds ON THE BACK OF THE WATCH is very cool?

(if that is not just a myth?)

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Blue Baton Super Avenger
Black Avenger Seawolf

Yes I believe it IS true (although I've only seen a fairly low res picture on here), but that just strikes me as a totally and utterly bizarre thing to do!

Buying watches for your own pleasure (and not to show off to others) is one thing, but to have expensive diamonds that even YOU can't see unless you take it off is just plain daft IMHO!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I remember the first Breitling I ever tried on was an SA with diamond bezel. I wasn't trying it on because of the diamonds but rather because it was the only SA the AD had in stock at the time.

It looked good, but definately NOT for me. And with a $12K USD price tag, I'll pass.

Now, a rose gold Bentley on a croco strap is another story...

Yep, it's waaaaay cheaper to go aftermarket on the bling bezels

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