The Breitling Watch Source Forums

This is a tough one. I can think of four ways to go off the top of my head, and I'm sticking with what I know.

My AP Royal Oak Jumbo is truly something special, and it had better be as I am really grumpy about how its chunk of the watch budget limits my ability to own much else. I like variety. But the AP is unique in that I appreciate it more over my short ownership than when I bought it. Instead of buyer remorse or familiarity, there is buyer discovery. It's an amazing piece.

My first nice watch was a Rolex GMT, which I would rank instantly over a Sub. I don't dive, but I do travel, and the GMT has that covered. For just over $100, you can change the bezel, and the look of your watch within minutes. Yes, the hollow links sucked, the solid ends weren't that much better, but I only understood the difference after wearing a lot of higher-end pieces. If you're coming up from, say, a Seiko, you don't notice. My GMT was also the product of a final conversation with my mother before she passed, and on the personal side of things that takes it. But I'm looking a little larger in criteria here.

I am privileged to say that I have owned a Breguet. As much as I enjoy my AP, Breguet is different to me. It is a testament to history, innovation and craftsmanship that dates back to its namesake, considered probably the most important of all the watchmakers. My XXI was an inexpensive model for Breguet, which makes it special in and of itself. A rather pedestrian piece for them, it still provided joy of the tactile feel of winding a watch that I have never experienced anywhere else. Not AP, not JLC, not Rolex, not VC, I think the Blancpain I tried on was pretty good, but simply winding the thing was a guilty pleasure and an ode to those who truly care. While apropos of nothing, I know of no rap song singing the praises of a Breguet and I doubt I will. Even AP is subject to that now. Breguet is in a different place. I was never more self-conscious about what I wore, protecting it like it was a museum piece. And mine cost more than a Rolex but not much more, and much less than my AP. If that dial wasn't brown and I wasn't so self-conscious about it I'd have never let it go.

I just celebrated my 24th wedding anniversary. In year two, we had bought our first home and were pinching pennies like crazy. I had a dying quartz Casio watch and saw in the window a nice Seiko quartz with a Rolex Thunderbird-type bezel. I wanted it, but it cost $125. For all that we had put into the house it was a lot of money. My wife found a way to do it anyway, giving me the best Christmas gift she ever gave me. I don't wear it much now but I have it, and it runs as faultlessly as ever. Important personally but as a methaphor as well, because I was absolutely not alone. Talk about sacrilege with the Sub, but here we really go: The Seiko quartz brought accuracy in timekeeping to the masses, and has done so for decades. For watch lovers, the Sub/GMT may be the greatest watch but on a larger scale, probably the most important watch in modern times is the Seiko quartz. Nevermind that it also nearly killed most of the swiss watch industry.


So which one? Head says Breguet--I'm a watch nut, and it still holds a place in that part of my brain which it won't let go. My tastes are now clearly more for my AP, but again, to me any Breguet is more than the piece of metal. Heart says GMT with the Seiko not far behind. Funny, because by far the most comfortable watch I have owned, with perfect balance for me, was another Rolex, my Yachtmaster. Head and heart together actually lean to the Seiko. Nah, greatest one now is my AP but greatest one ever is the GMT.

I can't even begin to answer this question. It's like trying to nail down my favorite car ever, which is equally as impossible.

I am going to agree based upon the criteria you expressed. Certainly on a pure amazing factor, the Sub does not compare to a VC Patrimony Chrono Perpetual, but that is a 6 figure watch and who do you know who will ever own one?

Yep, all things considered, I'll take the Sub, hands down.


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The PLOROF is pure bad-ass tool watch goodness. If you have never seen one in the flesh, then you are missing 1/2 the allure. This watch does something to me that I cant describe. To most non-wis people, it is big, ugly and silly. But to me, it made my heart race the first time I saw it. In fact, the first time I saw it in person, I left with it in a fancy jewellery store bag. I cant stop staring at it when its on my wrist, again the clarity is amazing, the case and finish perfect. The bracelet is sublime, and the clasp is an engineering work of functional art. But here comes the struggle... as much as I LOVE the watch, there are times when I'm embarassed to wear it. I feel like people look at me like a poser, or a dork because I'm wearing this huge brick of SS on my wrist. They dont get it, and perhaps I cant blame them. It is definitley beyond most peoples understanding and appreciation. Whereas the POC 9300 looks the business in any attire, and has solicited many compliments in the short time I've owned it. People get it, it is beautiful regardless of your horological tastes. I never hesitate to wear it, and I dont have to think about the crowd I'll be around before putting it on. So there's the struggle. The Ploprof represents the wild girl with unique beauty, crazy, passionate, and makes your pulse race, yet embarasses you once in a while and makes people question why you are with her.

Good to see you back again Mark, and also good to see you are still loving the Ploprof.... well 90% of the time!

I pleased to say I've never once had any of the negative feelings with the Ploprof though. It fits me perfectly, so I never feel it's too big for my wrist, and as a result I never have any negative comments. (And even if I did I wouldn't care anyway 'cause the Ploprof's got too much of a place in my heart to give other people's opinions a second thought! )

i feel that you're being very self centric .