The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi everyone and thanks for reading my first thread. I am totally new to Breitling and I am currently looking to add a chronograph to my Rolex sub.

So yesterday I went to a local AD to try on some Daytonas but they just didn't do it for me. They didn't feel right on my wrist (size-wise) and I found the sub-dials a bit difficult to read. I was, however, very attracted to the Breitling chronographs. It was like "love at first sight" when I saw the Navitimer (SS, black dial, white sub-dials, black leather strap) in the adjacent showcase. Of the 3 or 4 Breitling models that I tried on yesterday, I also liked the Bentley GT (SS). Although I am a Rolex fan; the look, the size, the versatility, the readability, and the date function of the Navitimer all seemed to me (IMHO) to be advantages over the Daytona (not to mention the cost difference!). The sales person, however, was not very knowledgable about the movements. She told me that in some models Breitling uses an outside swiss movement and in other models they use a new in-house movement. She could tell me nothing more about the movements. I have been trying to educate myself on Breitling over the past 24 hours (as I hope to make my first Breitling purchase within the next week or two) and I am hoping that the members of this forum might help me on the following 4 questions:
1. What movements are used in the Navitimer and the Bentley GT and what are differences (strengths and weaknesses) between the outside and in-house movements used by Breitling in their chronographs?
2. Do my model choices make good sense or should I be looking at other Breitling models and may have better movements, more jewels, etc.)?...and if so, which?
3. Do my reasons for moving from a Daytona to a Navitimer or Bentley GT make sense? What are the differences (from a practical standpoint) between the movements in the Daytona and the Navitimer or Bentley GT? General comments on the daytona vs.the Breitling chronographs?
4. Last and probably least, what can you tell me about the differences in the clasps (tang vs. deployant). My choice on the Navitimer would be the black leather strap and on the Bentley GT either the SS bacelet or the leather strap??. Is there a choice / preference on the clasp for current models and is there a cost difference?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience and expertise with a Breitling newcomer!!

The reference section here should answer your questions, but at the moment, Breitling only makes one in-house movement, the B01, and the only watch you will find it in is the Chronomat B01.

The A23 Navitimer you liked use a modified ETA 2892 and the Bentley GT uses a ETA Valjoux 7750. Both great workhorse movements, but definitely not in-house. Both have about 44 hours power reserves compared to the 72 hours for the Daytona. They do have a date though.

Personally I prefer the Navitimer to the GT. I think you'll find Breitling makes a nice bracelet than Rolex though. Tang vs Deployant is purely a personal choice. I don't wear my Bretlings on straps much, but I prefer tangs on my Panerai.

Oh, and the number of jewels means very little in terms of the quality of the movement.

The Daytona will certainly hold resale value a lot better than any Breitling will. That said, I can't see myself owning one. If I were going to spend that much on a chronograph, I'd probably get an AP ROO or a Panerai 311...

Thanks for answering all of my questions and thanks for your suggestions...I will check out both the AP ROO and the Panerai 311 as I am not too familiar with either, before making any final decisions.

Well a ROO isn't in house either.

The Daytona is the only one that you mentioned that you were considering that had an in house movement, and while Both the 2892 based and 7750 based movements come from the same house there are some differences. The 2892 is a modular movement - time only base designed to have different modules added for additional complications, while the 7750 was designed from the ground up as a chronograph. Does it make a practical difference - probably not. The 2892 is seen asa slightly more refined movement than the 7750, but they are all COSC certified (in Breitlings) so again it's splitting hairs.

The advantages that a deployant has over tang are firstly that it is infinitely adjustable vs. the tang where you have to fit in a hole, and straps also last longer with a deployant. On the flip side, a deployant will be around $250 more. My personal preference is deployant, but it's definitely a case of try it and see. Breitling bracelets are very comfortable so you shouldn't have any problems there.

Choices making sense is a personal choice - be aware that the Navitimer doesn't like water - take it off to shower and swim, but otherwise it's personal choice.

Not to get too far off topic but the ROO has more of an "in-house" movement than the Breitlings mentioned. The older ones (and I think still some of the ROO models) have the 2326 movement which is derived from the JLC 889/1 and the newer models have the "in-house" 3126 movement derived from their 3120 movement. I suppose it is not completely in-house because it has a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module but nevertheless it is different than the modified ETA based movements of Breitlings (not that I find anything wrong with that). Please correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure this is a fairly accurate assessment of the ROO movements.

I do love the ROOs but they are quite a step up price wise from a Navi or a Bentley. If the price of the ROO is okay with you then that is what I would spring for over a Daytona, or basically any other watch, but if you don't wish to spend such a large sum of money I would say that you can't really go wrong with either of those Breitlings. I would pick them over the Daytona as well but which one of the Breitlings to pick is not a decision I can make. Personally I would go with the Bentley but I don't think you can make a poor decision out of those two; they are both amazing watches in my opinion.

All this is good info....I've never seen a ROO but I will look them up....Always thought that I would stick with pre-owned Rolex. Always thought that I would add a Daytona to my sub but when I tried a few on, the feeling it just wasn't there. The dial is important to me. I like contrast (like the black dial and the white sub-dials), I like large dial (40 - 42) and I need to be able to easily reas the sub-dials (why I liked the Navitimer and the Bentlry GT). I also like to know that they will have a reasonable re-sale value (especially if purchased at a good price and kept in excellant condition). If I like the ROO and if they are not too much more expemsive than the Daytona, then I may be interested. Thanks again for all of the info!

Ill save you some time: They start at about $20,000.

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-RJ

Hi, my opinions where I have one:

1) the problem with the 7753 cal.23 in the Navitimer is the lack of quick-set date. (Unlike the Panerai 250, it doesn't have a date setting "button" at the 11 o'clock pos'n.) If you have a watch-winder then fine, but if not - I think you'll be annoyed each time you pick up the Navi to wear after a week or so. The 7750 cal.13 in the Bentley is more user friendly in that respect.
2) I personally think the Navitimer is a great looking watch, and so is a black dial Bentley GT. I prefer the half-brushed GT Racing though. If I were to choose another Breitling chronograph, I think it'd be the Blackbird (brushed). Water resistant and unique. IMO, Blackbirds are unmistakeable for anything else.??
3) I'm not familiar with Rolex movement but I beleive they are all Chronometers. The Breits have fairly reliable movements.
4) I had a tang strap and a deployant on my Navi. The tang just didnt agree with me. I couldn't get a snug fit. Whereas the deployant was perfect

If I were to choose a chrono other than Breitling, it'd have to be a PAM250! I'm currently angling to get one, but need to save up first!

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Oyster Date '78, Blackbird chrono DLC '10, Blackbird chrono' 02, Navitimer Fighters '02, Aerospace Evo , Seamaster Chrono Diver 300' 02, Carrera cbm2110

Correct me if I'm wrong guys but:

Isn't the 2892-A2 the base for cal.41, used in the Navi 50th Anniv, the Hercules and the Cosmo? Seconds at 3.

The cal.23 uses a 7753 base, with seconds at 9?

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Oyster Date '78, Blackbird chrono DLC '10, Blackbird chrono' 02, Navitimer Fighters '02, Aerospace Evo , Seamaster Chrono Diver 300' 02, Carrera cbm2110

Thanks, That's more than I would want to spend!

I do like the brushed Blackbird as well....I'm not familiar with the Pam250 but I will check it out.
Thanks!!

Correct.

Not sure about now, but the older J:LC bases used to be slow beat (3 Hz) versions

I believe the newer 3126 movement is also 3Hz.

To the OP though, if you are looking at something fairly comparable to the Daytona and would prefer an in-house movement why not take a look at the B01. Outside of Breitling you could take a look at some of the JLC Master Compressors, Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms, Panerais (as suggested), and IWC's, all make nice watches, and if you are not quite sure what you want yet it can't hurt to take a look. Sorry to just keep listing stuff but there are so many options, but I would say that Ulysse Nardin might make something that you would be interested in at a not too absurd price point, and although a little more expensive the Vacheron Constantin Overseas is fairly similar to the Daytona (except that it is better...).

Thanks for the brand / model suggestions...I do appreciate them and I will take a look at all of them.

Now I do very much like the looks of the chronomat (B01); but when the sales person told me that Brietling's in-house movement was too new to have an opinion on whether it is an equal or better movement than that in the Navitimer or the Bentley GT, it left me leaning back to the Navitimer or Bentley. I was hoping to get some comparison feedback on the quaility of Brietlings in-house movement from this forum......Thanks again for all of your advice!!

The salesperson was correct in the sense that there is no hard data to tell you whether or not the B01 is more robust or reliable. However, the simple fact that its an in-house movement automatically places it in another league to most enthusiasts. Aside from that and the technical merits that you may never actually see or realize, you have things like the 70+ hour power reserve that may be beneficial to you on a daily basis.

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-RJ