The Breitling Watch Source Forums

First manufacture model from Breitling will be the new Chronomat Evolution.

Just a rumor

BG
Alien

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http://www.ellert.at

Very, very cool.

No surprise that manufacture is in the plans given the planned cessation of ebauche sales in 2010, but if true, the fact that Breitling are going for a model that is such a big seller means that this is likely not going to be just something that goes into super expensive models, but will be designed and built for the masses from day one.

Assuming that Breitling stay true to the Breitling 13 style layout there is also the opportunity to use the movement across many models as well.

This definitely sounds like an investment in across the board manufacture movements and that has to be good news - hopefully confirmation at Basel, pieces by the summer and doubtless a price bump to reflect it.

One word - FANTASTIC!

And if as Roff surmises, it is designed as a "reasonably" cheap manufacture movement from the outset, it'll be a truly TRULY great day if and when it's announced!

(* If it turns out to be true of course!)

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Stupid question: What is this "manufacture" you speak of? What does it mean??

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Chronomat, Steel/Gold, MOP Dial, 2-tone band (2008)
Super Avenger Black Baton Dial (2009)
Bentley B04 GMT Silver Dial (2013)
Avenger Blacksteel Baton Dial (2014)

Breitling producing in house movements (meaning that they can claim to be a 'manufacture')

In other words not using a modified Valjoux or ETA movement.

That is what I thought was meant. How is this thought to impact our beloved brand? And what will the Rolex lovers say then??

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Chronomat, Steel/Gold, MOP Dial, 2-tone band (2008)
Super Avenger Black Baton Dial (2009)
Bentley B04 GMT Silver Dial (2013)
Avenger Blacksteel Baton Dial (2014)

Well, if other manufacturers are anything to go by, in-house movements tend to push the price up due to the huge R&D costs involved with making their own movement. But time will tell...........

Oh, and it might finally shut up a few of the Rolie nay-sayers!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I have no doubt that an in house movement will push prices up, but if it's true that the Chronomat will be the first piece, I think that's a very good sign. If we assume that the 6, 9, 12 layout will be the basis for the movement then that says to me that they are looking to high volume production - just think how many models use a Breitling 13. Of course that then allows the R&D cost to be discounted across more units. Also consider how successful Breitling have been in expanding market share in recent years - they've been able to invest a lot into R&D.

The Chronomat is a logical place to start - a decent amount of space in the case, a rugged structure and a model that can absorb a price rise more than something in the Aeromarine range (and really - would you want to put your first in house movement there?).

Will this result in an all new Chronomat to begin with, or will it remain visually the same?

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Well, hopefully they will make the case bigger just to make sure everything fits inside.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

Is this just speculation or have you heard from someone "in the know"?

It's good to see the watch companies going this way, producing EVERYTHING for themselves. I hope it's true!

What about the future of SuperQuartz?

I'll just hope they won't end up putting the one manufacture caliber in every breitling model, but as I get it ETA will continue to supply movements if the watchmakers try to do their own in-house movements.

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Super Avenger, Black, Batons, Pro 2
SuperOcean Heritage 46, Black, Ocean Classic

If they do, I'll buy one and that is likely to be it.

Personally I like the fact that all my watches have different movements in them. Yeah yeah I know that all 6 are all based on a couple of ETA movements, but they still all have different complications - Time/Date only (B17) on the Steelfish ; Standard chronograph (B13) on the SA ; GMT Chronograph (B24) on the Navi World ; 30 Second Chronograph (B25) on the Motors ; Big Date Chronograph (B44) on the 6.75 ; and a 24hr Chronograph (B22) on the Le Mans.

If Breitling ended up with just one in-house movement I'd really struggle to buy more than one example of it. Owning loads of models with identical internals doesn't do much for me really. However, I'm pretty sure they will still work in a modular way, so there will undoubtedly be bolt-on modules to make different calibres going forward.

If this manufacture rumour is true (and there's no reason to assume it's not as in-house movements are the only way watchmakers will stay in business if the future), it could herald some exciting times ahead!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Hmm, something like a Navitimer Olympus 49 with an in-house movement would be nice

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Super Avenger, Black, Batons, Pro 2
SuperOcean Heritage 46, Black, Ocean Classic

Remember what's driving this - the Swatch group will no longer sell ebauches movements from 2009. You therefore have two choices for your Breitling - an in house Breitling movement or the exact same movement (Valjoux 7750 in the case of the Chronomat) as goes into the better fakes.

Sure Breitling would buy the version with the tightest tolerances, but it wouldn't be a modified movement anymore.

To answer other questions:

Will it result in a new Chronomat - that's up to Breitling, no reason for it to.

What about SQ - likely an inhouse version of that coming too - Breitling has already done the hard part.

Is it speculation - according to Thomas (Alien) in the first post, it's just a rumour - but he's an AD!