Hi all
Here's my story....
Titanium, chrono function, automatic, Breitling. The only one that called out to me was the Chrono Avenger and I am sure many will miss the CA being out of the Breitling range, Skyland's great, but it's steel.
As some of you have known, I have been looking for a CA for a while... Wanted to buy one in 2007 but the finances didn't permit it so now (late 2008/early 2009), when I have the spare cash, the watch is nowhere to be found. Well, not exactly, nowhere to be found. I found some on ebay, but a few grand based on lousy pics and unresponsive buyers who hesitate shipping to Asia is decidedly not worth the trouble.
I found some grey market shopping sites like jomashop, etc but they were out of stock as well. Found some other dodgy sites but the pic says CA but when you email them (and when they reply days later, some don't), they tell you it is out of stock or it's actually a CA M1. Too risky.
Second hand ones are another avenue but I really wanted a brand new one, that's just me. Anyway, second hand ones are fairly difficult to come across too. Looked it too many people loved their CAs.
Found one in the UK but that's too many time zones away!
So, I called the regional distributor, no luck. Visited every AD in my country, no luck too.
I called some AD in the neighbouring countries, no luck, increased my phone bills that month too.
Then I found a AD in Hong Kong that had it (after calling 80% of all the ADs in HK!)
E13360? Sure it's a CA and not a CA M1? Yes, he confirmed it, white dial! So I told him that I will think about it. I checked how much a air ticket was to Hong Kong... time to think real hard. Then I found out a friend's wife had to go to HK fairly regularly for work. What luck, she's going to be there in 2 weeks!
The next day, I was returning to the office after lunch and thinking to myself during the elevator ride.... "Shall I get it? Shall I trouble my friend? It's a little on the expensive side (exchange rate worked against me!)... what shall I do!"
I was torn and undecided. (actually, i kinda decided...haha!)
Then, there was another gentleman in the elevator with me. I ran my eyes to his left wrist (bad habit), and guess what he was wearing? A white dial CA.
No kidding, the gods have spoken.
I called my friend's wife and after few blackberry messages and a phone call to HK, the price was negotiated and he reserved it for me. As planned, my friend was in HK last Wednesday and by Friday evening, the bakelite box was opened to unveil the prize.
So, I have a brand new CA with bracelet for 3 days now and I remember why I am working so hard and just what kind of self-rewarding reward the CA meant to me.
I am glad I hunted for the CA and looked all over the world for it. The story of my Chrono Avenger.
ps: my first "expensive, branded" watch was a Breitling too, a Colt Ocean Automatic... bought 8.5 years back.
Here's the pic!
