The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello everybody. I am very new to the watch world and new to this forum but I have appreciated what I have read and am looking for some honest advice about my first watch purchase. I am having trouble deciding between two watches:

1) This used Breitling (Chronomat Automatic): http://images.europeanwatch.com/images/13/13624-1.jpg I saw it used at a Tourneau, without its original box and papers, although it was "Certified" through Tourneau. I fell in love with how it looked, but don't know much more about it other than that. After negotiating I was able to get them down from their $2999 sticker to $2600. I was concerned though that it did not have its original Breitling box and papers.

2) The Omega NZL-32 Chrono [/i][/i] http://www.jomashop.com/omega-seamaster ... 13-30.html
This was the other watch that I was trying to decide between. I found an Authorized Dealer who would sell me this watch new for $3000. Again, I don't know much about its movement or other specifics. Again, I just love the way it looked (even though it is now discontinued).

I would love to hear opinions about these two watches from some people who are much more knowledgable than myself. I will be wearing it to work (with a suit) and casual with jeans. Again, I love both brands quite a bit, but would just love to hear some opinions as to the better deal/better watch for a first "real" watch purchase. Thank you very much!

Ive never seen that Omega before, and to be honest, I dont really like it. The Chronomat is nice, but Tourneau is a rip-off. If you like the look of the Breitling id check the sales forum for a used current model Chronomat/Chronomat Evolution. You should be able to find one with full boxes and papers within your budget.

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-RJ

+1. As RJ said...with a budget around $3K you have a lot of options. You should be able to find quite a few used Breitlings that will come with all the paperwork, and you can also look at some new Breitlings for less than $3K. Have you looked at the Steelfish yet or the Superocean Chrono? Do yourself a favor and don't buy from Tourneau because you will be throwing money away. If you decide to buy new then there are a couple of guys here on the forum that can hook you up with an AD that will give you a nice discount.

Good luck!!

IMO that's way to much money for that particular Chronomat. It's a beautiful piece but a check on ebay shows that model sells in the mid $1500.00 to upper $1000's range and some include boxes and paperwork.

Thank you very much for all of the nice and honest responses. I really do appreciate it. The Tourneau salesman really turned me off as well, and if I was going to purchase at an AD, I would rather it be with a salesperson who I could go with as I purchase more watches as well.

I just looked at the Superocean Chrono again and am starting to really like that as well, along with the Chronomat Evolution as well. The Evolution seems to be priced a little higher, and to be quite honest, being a novice to all of this, I don't know the true differences between the Superocean and Evolution. Are they pretty significant?

Also, I know that this is a Breitling forum, but everything I have read has been wonderful so I have to ask it- does Omega make a timepiece of the same quality? (like that NZL-32 chrono)

Thanks again to everyone for all of your answers; I really do appreciate them...they really do help me quite a bit and I can't wait to get this first watch purchased!

Very similar movements in both, though the superocean chrono has a day feature that the Chronomat lacks. Superocean is smaller at 42mm; chronomat is 44mm. The Chronomat has a pilot bracelet which retails for much more than the Pro II on the superocean, and that accounts for a big chunk of the price difference.

If your budget is $3000, you should have no problem finding either of these used models for under that with full docs.

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-RJ

Spot-on on all counts IMO.

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Driver8

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