The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi everyone,

My wife and I recently spent a week in Bangkok, and I was able to look at a fantastic variety of watches while I was there. I have a hard time in Seattle because brands like Zenith and Carl F. Bucherer do not have dealerships anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, and even more common brands like IWC and GO have a very poor selection among the limited number of dealers.

At the IWC Boutique they had a truly excellent selection...better than the boutique in Las Vegas. I was able to see a model I have been lusting after: the Big Ingenieur Chrono, pictured here:



I have to admit, though, after seeing it in person I am not as impressed. One of the things that turned me off was the color of the chrono subdials. In the photos I have seen, they look silver. However, in reality they are white. This just doesn't match tone the stainless steel, and somehow ruins the magic of the look. The chrono pushers where not quite as perfect as I had expected, too, from a $13,000 watch. They had a slight bit of play in them, and you actually had to work to push them and do it at just the right angle.

It's a shame because the depth of the dial beneath the crystal looks great. You really get the 3D effect. But you really don't notice the rest of the beauty in the dial because the subdials are just too "loud." Sadly, I have have now ceased to lust after this timepiece.

My wife and I both agreed that the regular BI is much better looking, so I am going back to lusting after the BI rather than the chrono. Another example of how one really needs to see these things in person.

///M

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

I've always thought that this watch looked a bit 'off'. To me it's the tachymetre scale pushed out onto the bezel that looks wrong. Very interesting dial layout though.

Glad that you managed to see one and definitely good news that your new 'must have' watch is a bit cheaper

I agree. Funny though, the tachy scale on the Speedmaster looks great. I guess it's not what you do, it's the way that you do it.

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I really love this watch but the regular BI is where its at.

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Interesting story Mofongo particularly as I think the watch looks awesome on paper. Definitely a shame that it didn't live up to your expectations but great result as you've potentially saved yourself a rather large sum of money

The BI is a beautiful watch. As a more reasonable option, when do you think you'll you be acquiring

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Actually, I like the bezel quite a lot. In person the tachy scale looks fine there (I don't think it's as noticeable as it appears in the photos), and the 3D effect of the bezel being quite raised above the dial is quite stunning. In fact, it really does make me sad that I don't like the subdials, because the rest of the watch looks great, IMHO.

Since my wife and I now have 8 high-end watches between us (me 5 her 3), I think I'm going to wait awhile to get the BI and let the bank account recover. It's good to have something to lust after, plus I think the prices for pre-owned BIs will probably come down over the next year. Also, I would really like to get Mrs. Mofongo an Ingenieur mid-size as the next purchase. She tried one on in Bangkok, and it looks great on her.

///M

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

I still haven't had a chance to see one in the flesh yet, so at the moment I'm still firmly in the "I love it" camp at the moment. The only thing that very VERY slightly puts me off it style-wise is the way that the dial layout and bezel makes it look a little bit too much like a Tag Carrera too me...... like this - http://www.thewatchgallery.co.uk/watch. ... ctid=11854 And me no likey Tag much!

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Driver8

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