The Breitling Watch Source Forums

My wife and I drove up to my AD (2+ hours away) and did I ever learn a few things.

1) What I used to think was cartoon big (Super Avenger), stangely fits me now. Either wearing a 43mm watch for a long period broke me in for larger watches or my wrists are way swollen!!! I may end up getting one now. Either way I am awaiting the call when they receive the Blacksteel version and see about price at that time...

2) Because of my swollen wrist, obviously, the Montbrilliant is now a tiny thing of a watch. Holy moly did it look small on my wrist. I had my wife try it on and I think that one of those is in her future. It looked surprisingly nice with the black smooth calf strap, on her small wrist.

3) I dont know squat about Panerai models. They arent a AD for Panerai, but carry a few in the back for people who ask. I just didnt know what to ask for. I tried on a base with the sandwich dial (very nice) and a Luminor power reserve (very nice as well). I also didnt realize the the cyclops for the date is UNDER the crystal. I like this better than Rolex. The AD is going to sign me up for a catalog from Panerai, so I can study it a bit more. She said that they can get about anything, it just takes a little time.

4) They are an AD for many brands including Bell & Ross. I have decided that I MUST OWN THE PHANTOM. This watch is unbelievably awesome. I tried on the BR03 (the non limited ed version and the little smaller version of the phantom). Words cant describe how drawn I was to this watch. Least to say, its very close to the top of my list now.

5) Somewhere close to the top is the Milgauss Rolex with the green crystal, that the also had and wanted badly to sell to me. Reasonable price (msrp) and it was very nice and just something so unique with the green crystal. Funny thing was that the owners sone (resident watch nut) almost interviewed me before letting me see or offering it to me for sale. It seems they are very concerned with people scalping this watch on the internet and want the "owner" to wear/keep the watch. He also enlightened me that this is NOT a limited ed watch just that it was in short supply becasue of the difficulty in growning good green crystals. Appearently they figured it out with the ehlp of some scientist and will be making this version for some time.

6) Tried on the SuperOcean Heritage Chrono (blue version) DAMN!!! Dont know if I like the funky bracelet but the watch itself is great. Sure hope we end up with this model IF we get our custom watch made.

7) Didnt realize that the Motors and Motors T had a brushed/polished bracelet. Different looking and I would think hard to keep nice. Also the new GMT if the fugliest watchI have ever seen from Breitling... yuck.

Whew. All in all great trip concidering I came home with no watch. I did score a Runway 08 and snagged the Bently catalog... so I do have some pretty pictures to stare at!!!

Scott

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

Your trip to the AD today reminds me of how much I love watches. I could spend all day at a watch boutique just staring at the watches, but trying them on is when you discover how you truly feel about it. Being able to try on and learn about the different brands is what a good AD will do for you. It sounds like you have found yourself one of them. The Black Steel SA is starting to gather some good buzz and reviews. This watch is making people look at the SA with different eyes. Good luck tracking one of these down and I hope your AD makes you an offer you can't refuse when they get one. Thanks for sharing your reviews.

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- Nathan
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Breitling Avenger Skyland (Black)

The exact same thing happened to me last year! I railed against the SA on here for quite a while after having tried one on years ago. I then tried it on again about a year ago, and lo and behold it suddenly fitted..... and looked great!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Scott,
I just love journeys like that! Isn't it a little odd when you realize that the larger pieces DO look ok and can fit your writs quite nicely? I wish you all the best in choosing some great watches!
-jbbb

Great story and sounds like a great day out.

I've arranged a trip to my AD towards the end of the month, and now I'm thinking I need to go sooner........

Good luck with the choices, although of course we all know the decision is really only on which one comes first

I can tell you which one comes first... well at least as of today. The Bell & Ross Phantom comes first. Cant decide, though, if the super sized 46mm limited ed. is worth the extra $$ or not. The AD said she would sell me the smaller 42mm version, that they actually had and I tried on (non limited ed.) for $4000 IF they get another one in, otherwise it would be $4400. Something about the difficulty in getting them because of restictions from Bell & Ross.

Strangly I found a BR1 (limited) online for $4000 advertised. Sure wish I had some disposable imcome right now.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

The LE is 500 of each colour right?

Do you know if the finish is DLC or PVD?

As far as I could tell, the BR01-92 Phantom is the limited edition of 500 pieces. This is the 46mm version as well.

The BR03-92 Phantom is the NON limited edition, 42mm version.

They are Black PVD, if memory serves.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

Here is a pic straight from Bell & Ross's site, but pictures dont do this watch justice.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

500 of each colour, except the orange - only 250 of those, hence they seem to be commanding a higher asking price. All of them that I've seen look much better in the metal than in pictures.

Scott is correct, the finish is PVD. Seems pretty tough. My PVD BR01 whacked a doorframe yesterday, hard enough to make me wince, but no mark on the watch.

Scott - $4,400 sounds a bit steep for a phantom BR03, although it's true they're not the easiest to find. That phantom BR01 probably won't last long at $4k though.

Just found out that the department store 30 seconds from my office is a B&R dealer, anyone want to guess where I'm going later today?

Not fair, having a AD so close. I did a little research and appearantly B&R has three different sizes in the Instrument line (square). 46mm, 42mm, and 39mm.

Hope they have a Phantom for you to look at.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

I brought this up in another post but no one commented. Would anyone be interested in a Breitling all black model like this B&R Phantom? I think the all black would look nice on the SuperOcean Steelfish or the SuperOcean Heritage. What do you guys think? This might not be a bad idea for the BreitlingSource LE? I would be very interested in a LE along these lines.

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- Nathan
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Breitling Avenger Skyland (Black)

is there a 39mm phantom? 46mm is way to big for me.

No I dont think that they are making the Phantom in thier new smaller size, but they do make it in the 42mm size. So you have a choice of 46mm and 42mm for the Phantom.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15