The Breitling Watch Source Forums

After seeing BahamaBob's post about Debaufre and Chase Durer I thought I'd check out Debaufre's website ( http://www.debaufre.com/ ) as while I'd come across the odd watch on-line I'd never paid them too much attention.

They do some nice looking models, but I don't think I'm being unreasonable when I say they've taken one or two er....... shall we say "styling cues" from a couple of the more expensive brands!

Check them out and you'll see 2 Bell & Ross look-a-likes (the Airforce and Aircaft-8 ), a few Rolex-like pieces (Explorer and Submariner mainly), a drop of IWC with the Nav-B's, and even a little bit of Tag in there too with the Le Mans models!

BUT, I must be honest I like a couple of them - the Aircraft-8 and 48mm Nav-B automatic in particular. Looking at reviews they seem very good value too, and at that price they could make a great knockaround/beater watch.....

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

Driver8, my point exactly. For the price you can't beat it. I like the mechanical Nav B. I was in NYC last week looking at an Azimuth similar to the Nav B, of course the Azimuth was about $5,000 more. The size is just right compared to the Chase Durer for my taste, but I keep flip-flopping.............

Just a drop of IWC, Driver? You must be feeling generous today.

Having said that, I can see the attraction, particularly considering what a real Big Pilot costs.

A very good friend of mine has the IWC big pilot style and he loves it! Let me make one thing clear, its not the quailty of the big pilot but for the money pretty darn nice. Its really a big beefy watch and he is always getting comments about it. For the money they make a nice quailty time piece.

.

_________________
YOU CAN'T HAVE A GREAT TIME WITHOUT A GREAT WATCH.........MAKE IT A BREITLING

The business model appeals to me as a consumer - no retail network means that they can be one of the highest quality brands at the price point. As has also been suggested, they likely don't spend too much money in the design department.

The thing that makes me wary is their ability to stand behind their product - you just can't take it to an AD to have work done so presumably it has to go back to them every time there's an issue, no matter how minor - or you just accept that you are buying an unsupported watch.

True, but to be fair, for the price they are charging, alternative watches at that price point here in the UK are the likes of Rotary or Citizen...... and you aren't going to be getting anything remotely as nice from those manufacturers. You'd get no sapphire crystal, probably no decorated Unitas movement on a hand-wind - heck you'd probably even struggle to get anything other than quartz!

At $500 these are a 10th of the price of a Breitling, so it's almost disposable watch territory if something goes wrong.

I'm not saying I'd want a whole collection of them (in fact I'm not in the market for one!), but from what I've seen I think you'd struggle to find something better for a knockaround watch at that price point.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

Can't argue with that.

I have a couple of citizens and love the wear it and forget it mentality that goes with them for general outdoor activities here in SoCal. They are perfect for diving, wakeboarding, bikes etc. The lings concern me sometimes... paranoia about denting or scratching it stops me from wearing a breitling anywhere.

_________________