The Breitling Watch Source Forums

No idea what a "Candian" is so can't comment on that.

I've watched this thread develop with interest, and I'll freely confess that the lack of Tags in my collection is as much about watch snobbery as anything else. What I will say, is that when a brand spends as much money creating an image for itself as Tag does (or Rolex) then two things will happen.

1) Buyers will have to pay a premium for the image - the high marketing budgets, ambassador fees, etc are paid for by sales so a larger percentage of the cost goes into that overhead rather than the substance of the watch.

2) The image will become polarising. When you spend so much time and effort creating the image the whole purpose is to get your target market to spend more on the product in order to try and become part of that image. The opposite will always also be true - people who cannot relate to that image will also be turned off the brand because they are indelibly linked with the image.

It's an inevitability that clearly Tag are OK with because they are selling enough watches to their target market that other demographics are of less concern.

Yeah...The folks at tag are probably just fine with their place in the market

Consider also the larger corporate picture. Regardless of how much independence the brand does or doesn't have, it clearly has to fit a niche within corporate ownership. LVMH owns a number of fashion watch brands (FRED, Dior) but the big ones are Tag, Zenith and Hublot. Clearly there are restrictions there that will prevent Tag from going too far up market and taking market share from it's siblings.

Exactly. Which is why I said in my post in this thread, that my single biggest issue with Tag is the image, and my second issue is that IMO they cost a lot for what they are. Now I'm not remotely saying they are poor quality in terms of build or anything like that (the Aquagraph 2000 I had was a very well built piece) - I'm saying that for me, an ETA with a Tag rotor on it shouldn't cost what Tag charge.

(Yes I freely admit I'm a watch snob)

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Driver8

Site Moderator

That's funny. Except for the DSSD (which for me, personally, is too big - not to mention outsized for its bracelet), every new model you've named is one I like, and which I think Rolex has actually improved with its changes. The new Sub is, with little doubt, my single favorite watch on the planet. The new clasp and bracelet, as well as the platinum-inlaid ceramic bezel, are real improvements over the previous model. Admittedly, the "super case" design is lamented by some purists, but it has been very well received by others. I think it makes the watch more interesting looking. The same qualities apply to the GMTIIc. And the new white gold YMII is a stunner, IMO. If it weren't $40,000, I'd consider it more seriously. All in all, I'm encouraged with Rolex's very conservative attitude toward change. The 116610LN is the first change to the base model in over 20 years, and its changes, while certainly noticeable, are relatively subtle and, imo, enhancements rather than degradations. Compare that to the overnight splash (or slap) in the face that was the Chronomat Evo, relative to the preceding version. And now, six years later, the Evo is gone, too. I say hats off to Rolex for knowing their client base and staying true to their DNA.

The fit of endlinks to case is something I've come to pay more attention to, and TAG does do it well, even on their less expensive watches. It's become a bit of a sticking point with me, in light of how abysmally Breitling's Pro II endlinks fit with the Aeromarine cases - notably, it seems, on the old gen CSO. The more I see it, the more it bugs me, and I don't understand how a brand that prides itself so much on fit and finish can let such a detail like that slide. In contrast, the way the Pilot endlinks fit into the 01 Chronomat case is nothing short of magnificent, but I shouldn't have to pay $9k to get that. Hell, the bracelet on my old TAG quartz Link fits the case like a glove.

Not too sure about the Tag hate, I personally like the Monaco from there series annd can't stand the Formula Racers. I think with any maker I will find some I like and some I don't in there colletion, even with Rolex and Breitling theres some I like and some I don't.

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TIMEZONE

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BREITLING EMERGENCY + UTC CORAL DIALS
BREITLING AEROSPACE TITANIUM PROF (SOLD)
ROLEX SUBMARINER BI-COLOR BLUE DIAL
LOUIS VUITTON TAMBOUR DIVERS
PANERAI LUMINOR

I agree entirely. I'd love a vintage Heuer Monaco. I remember seeing one a few years back for a little over $1000. I REALLY wish i'd bought it!

Well they've made one of them.........

With a 2 1/2 minute power reserve for the chrono.


I think that there's still a little bit of work needed there.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

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BREITLING EMERGENCY + UTC CORAL DIALS
BREITLING AEROSPACE TITANIUM PROF (SOLD)
ROLEX SUBMARINER BI-COLOR BLUE DIAL
LOUIS VUITTON TAMBOUR DIVERS
PANERAI LUMINOR

I like the 2000 series but that's about it.

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"It's not how it's written it's how it's read"

It's a beautiful watch, though.

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

Not everyone hates tag...

A few years ago, I went to a bachelor party and saw some friends for the first time in years. One of them admired my Breitling Motors T. Another friend shouted, "it's no TAG though" and pointed to someone wearing a Quartz Tag and said "Now that's a watch."

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3