The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Dear BreitlingSource members,

I'm extremely pleased to announce that after two successful BreitlingSource watch projects in the past, we are now in a position to offer you guys the chance and opportunity to get involved in the shaping, designing and ultimately the purchase of a 3rd watch produced exclusively for BreitlingSource members.

As the longer serving members amongst you will remember, our last two projects have been undertaken in partnership with Steinhart Watches and were arrived at by means of a number of polls on the forum whereby members got to vote on various options (e.g. case, dial, strap, etc), and very successful these projects were too. However, for watch number three, we want to try something a little bit different, and after looking at a number of watch manufacturers, I am very pleased to tell you that we have decided upon a fantastic boutique brand called Crepas Watches. Now before there's a chorus of "Who?", let me give you a little background on the company and the kind of work they undertake -

Crepas was founded in late 2009/early2010 in Southern Spain by a vintage dive watch enthusiast in collaboration with his wife. Incidentally, for those of you who think the name sounds strange, it's actually an acronym for Compañía Relojera Especializada para Actividades Subacuáticas (Specialised Watch Company for Underwater Activities).

In a very short space of time, Crepas have made a huge splash (pardon the pun) in the dive watch arena on account of producing some amazing watches for even more amazing money. They already have something of a cult following on the dive watch forum on WUS and in Spain. Their first watch, the "Le Grand" (http://www.crepaswatches.com/crbst_2.html) was produced in 2010 for just $849 and just 99 examples were produced. Try finding one of these for sale anyway and you will be sorely disappointed..... and the reason for that is because it's just a superb watch, produced in very small numbers, and owners simply don't sell them. Their second watch - made ouside of the Crepas vintage collection - was the more modern looking Tactico TC1, and was produced as a run of just 100 pieces - again all sold out, and like all Crepas watches, it will never be repeated. Their third watch was the "El Buzo" (“The Diver” in Spanish) - http://www.crepaswatches.com/crbst_18.html - and was produced in collaboration with a Spanish watch forum. This watch was again produced in limited numbers (333 examples), and unsurprisingly it sold rather well. Rather well indeed in fact! I personally have been looking for one of these for the best part of a year now, and whenever any come up for sale (which isn't very often) they go for around twice what they originally cost..... and there is never a shortage of buyers. Why? Because, as with the Le Grand, the El Buzo is just a superb watch. Their fourth watch to date, “The Tektite” (http://www.crepaswatches.com/crbst_20.html), was released this year as a limited edition of 199 pieces, and once again they're all sold out - for exactly the same reasons : a great watch for great money. And their most recent watch - the "Cayman" (http://www.crepaswatches.com/crbst_23.html) - has already sold almost half of the 299 pieces as pre-orders alone despite only being released a couple of weeks ago. And when I say "great money", don't think for one second that it means low quality. On the contrary, many owners and reviewers have remarked that Crepas watches more than hold their own against those produced by a number of the Swiss "big boys". I thoroughly believe this is one micro-brand that is going places.

Part of the reason we are planning to use Crepas this time around is because they don't use off the shelf cases unlike most micro-brands : practically everything on the watch (except for the movement, obviously) can be designed from the ground up - case, dial, bezel, hand-set, etc - and that is extremely rare in boutique brands, and even more so in a forum project like this.

This project, if it goes ahead, will work rather differently to previous ones, and there are specific guidelines I will need to go into, but more on that later. The first step is simply to gauge interest in this project from the forum membership, given a couple of initial facts -

Firstly, this will be a Limited Edition of 100 pieces.

Secondly, it will be a vintage styled diver's chronograph (in keeping with Crepas' work to date, but their first divers chronograph).

And thirdly, the cost is likely to be in the region of 1100 - 1400 Euros (i.e. $1400 to $1800 USD) depending on the design and spec.

The reason for this "interest gauging" thread is because I am well aware that the price doesn't make this necessarily an impulse buy for most people. So basically, if you think you might want to get involved and, more importantly, think you would be prepared to pay that kind of cash for a forum limited edition, then just register your initial interest here. Likewise if you aren't interested in it, or think it will most likely be too expensive for you to justify on a fairly new micro-brand, then let us know that too. Please just be honest here people, because these projects take a huge amount of organising and effort, and no-one wants to waste time on something if no-one is genuinely interested.

In short, if you want this to happen, then we'll do it ; if not, then we won't. Simple as that.

So let us know your thoughts - good and bad.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Driver8, obviously from the various discussions you know that I am interested, and let me also say that having done some more research on Crepas after Driver8 first floated them as a possible partner I think that they are an absolutely wonderful company to be working with - something truly different in the boutique space, a company that is developing a cult following and a company that is allowing great flexibility with this proposed project.

Great props to Driver8 for taking the lead on this and hopefully we can make this the most successful project yet.

well, as it is "vintage themed" and a diver's chronograph, I'm interested, of course.
what size range are we looking at - quite afraid our tastes here at at the opposite ends of the spectrum ?

I am interested, this seems very interesting and I like both divers and chronos.

Based on what I have read, I am also very inerested, finally a BS project watch for me, at least in my "lifetime" as a member of this forum
I only have two basic requirements:
- min 38mm
- max 44mm

Otherwise I'm flexible with whatever contraption we end up voting and deciding on

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"It is just a matter of time!"

Assume you think about Breitling vintage dive watches as an inspiration for the design, maybe the 2005 - both functionally and in the basic design elements might be an interesting foundation ?

I know it is very early days, however could I please, please, please have #008/100?
Its a China thing

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"It is just a matter of time!"

I could have sworn I posted a response. So long as the length (not diameter) does not exceed 50-51mm, which is within the range of all 3 linked watches, I'm definitely in. This a a great idea and thanks for getting it started!

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SHARKMAN

I would be interested, but based on the sizes of their previous models, it may end up too large (?) I would need something in the 41-43mm range, reasonable thickness, lug length 51mm max.

I like their previous dial and hand designs so would be interested at this early point in the project.
Thanks.

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

Most of them are right in that range, with the important part being a 50mm lug end to lug end, which to me is more the more significant size factor. That puts it shorter than the Navi 01, Steelfish or Evo.

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SHARKMAN

If its closer to the $1400 mark, I'm in.

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Breitling navitimer super constellation LE
Omega Ploprof 1200m
Bremont supermarine
Rolex milgauss GV
Olivant and Botsford 40mm Gold edition

Sounds like fun and I'm very interested in how this will turn out. Unfortunately, my budget would limit me much closer to $500.00 for a watch like this. Good Luck and can't wait to see the finished version!

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

I'd be interested at a lower price, and might prefer a non-chronograph.

Thanks for the input so far guys. Interesting that some of you would prefer a non-chrono at this stage, especially from a group of Breitling fans! Part of going for a chrono was simply because Crepas haven't done one yet and they're quite keen to do so, plus there are some excellent and classically designed chronos from the 60's and 70's to draw inspiration from. But what I will say is that absolutely nothing is set in stone at this stage. I'm sure a non-chrono will reduce the price a little, but I don't think we're going to get anywhere near the $500 range. The El Buzo sold for the frankly crazy-low price of 490€ (670$) with an additional mesh bracelet, and just 440€ (602$) without the mesh, but that was when they essentially only had one watch under their belt, and a very limited presence anywhere........

Just in answer to some of the size questions - Crepas have said (and on their website as well actually) that they won't make anything over 45mm to ensure that their watches are wearable to the vast majority of people. With this in mind I can say now that this watch will most likely be 44mm. However it is worth remembering that a lot of retro designs aren't too long lug to lug. Now I'm not saying it will look like a Doxa, but a number of Doxas are 44mm in diameter, but wear much smaller on account of the case design and a short lug to lug distance. Rest assured this isn't going to be old-style-Submariner-small, but it's definitely not going to be SA-sized either.

The other thing to note is thickness. The last couple of Crepas's have been quite thick on account of needing 2000m and 3000m WR. This watch is more likely to be in the 500m WR region, so won't need to be anywhere near as thick.

Just a bit more in terms of details, if we go with a chrono, we have the option of an ETA 2894 an ETA/Valjoux 7753 or a Dubois Deprez 2030 (an ETA 2824 with a DD chrono module), and probably any spec up to Top spec. Tricompax or twin-register options are available. In terms of bezel we can go with anodised aluminium inserts (like the SOH) or with lumed sapphire. Crystal can be flat or domed. Dial can be matt or gloss, can be made of ceramic, can be multi-leveled, etc.

Keep your opinions coming guys.

Here's a quick link to a thread on WUS showing the El Buzo and a few of their earlier models - http://forums.watchuseek.com/f74/crepas ... 99209.html

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I like the Tektite and El Buzo (without GMT function) type hands and dials. If do a chrono, maybe two register keeping date at 6:00. Prefer standard type case/lugs like on Tektite. Matte dial with lumed sapphire would be awesome. Would also like rubber strap option.

Not too picky huh?

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362