The Breitling Watch Source Forums

My first 'nice" watch was a Rolex GMT Master, which I bought over eleven years ago. It was the Rolex which appealed to me most, with one exception. There was this beautiful blue dial two-tone which seemed to morph a bit with every different reflection of the light. I was at the same time fascinated and a little intimidated by it, in the sense that wearing something like that might draw a bit too much attention, and probably wasn't the best daily wear. It was the one I really wanted most, but maybe sometime in the future.

Years passed, I started collecting a few other watches. I wanted variety. I also wanted a Navitimer, the watch which, along with the Omega Speedy, was in competition with the GMT for my first nice watch. After a while I bought a few variations of the Navi, bought all sorts of other watches, even bought an old two-tone Datejust with a blue dial. It wasn't the same, however. One would come up, I'd think about it, and determine I just wasn't ready yet.

Life caused a reduction in the collection recently, but in this little compulsion you can have nearly as much fun bargain shopping, which is where I have been. In a brief lull before another college entrant starts to overwhelm the 529 plan, I sold a number of less expensive pieces to go for one more nice watch. I first tried for my watch guy's Chrono-Matic SE but he's not ready to let go of it. (I completely understand) He had a Speedmaster but an automatic, thought with a panda dial which I have always liked. Then he looked at me an pulled out an E serial (1991 or so) bluesy in excellent shape with everything, box, papers, tags, anchor, the whole kit. As always, for just a little more. Fact is, they have been creeping up in value. So, after eleven-plus years of wanting, I now have my two-tone blue Sub.

Now comes the point of all this. I have a habit of not holding on to watches forever. I wanted a Navitimer for a long time, got a couple, and ultimately sold them. This one, in many respects, is different--or is it? I'm about to find out.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

Nice Scott! I'm a sucker for Rolex TT. And love the Tritium dial. Congrats.

And you are right, they have been slowly creeping up in price.

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

Congrats on the great timepiece. My first nice piece was also a GMT Master, it was from 1978 and I bought it in 1983, kept it for 7 years and got a Rolex Sub and then in 1999 bought a brand new 16613 blue TT Rolex Sub.... 14 years and I still love the piece and I hope you will also enjoy yours!

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TREVOR

nice pick up Scott. the watch just has amazing wrist appeal. not sure if you know but Rolex has started to remake these kind of blue sunburst dials for the updated ceramic model bluesy.

Just saw reference to that last week, and a photo. They needed to do something, the first effort with ceramic bezel was not good IMO. Dial color was flatter and the ceramic color was completely different, not in a good way. I understand they are changing both. My watch guy told me the older ones like mine had more life in the dial than even the more recent pre-ceramic models. I also suspect the blue color does well with age. The tritium markers have taken on a cream hue which softens the look and dresses it up a bit. The pearl bezel dot actually looks pearl. And -2 seconds in a week, gotta like that. Only downside so far is the old all-stainless clasp. So far, really enjoying it.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

yeah the new ceramic models with that pastel like blue dial were a little strange. i suspect Rolex was trying to match the dial with the ceramic bezel. IMO somethings are better left the way they were. I definitely share your sentiments regarding you latest acquisition.

As for the clasp, for me, i think that all the other good points of this piece far out way the old clasp so its a winner in my book..

Congrats and enjoy!

Congrats Scott ! The blue is quite flashy, sure you can handle it, .

I'm not really a Rolex guy, but if you could scrape off that cyclops 'thingy', I might warm up to it .

Enjoy! (Maybe some day your stubborn watch guy will give up the Chrono-matic SE, don't give up)

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362