The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi Guys

Just wondering if any of you guys believe there to be a best watch amongst the watches made by Breitling?

If so which one,

I know which is my favorite but it is just that, my humble opinion. But is there a watch that is superior and stands out from the others?

I think "best" is a probably a subjective term. All Breitlings are manufactured under the same conditions and all use essentially the same types of materials so one is not going to really be really any better than another in terms of quality. I think that it's the features and style of the watches that make one more appealing to one person than another. Over the last few days I've read posts where people say the chronograph function of a watch is not that appealing to them and others who say they use that function a lot in real life and others who even like their chronograph to run full time just because they like the look of it. I would say "best" is what is best for each individual person and it's not so much a quality issue between the lines or models because IMO there isn't an issue in this regard.

Thats what I thought but wondered if there was one which a a holy grail status for the masses! Like the Daytona appears to be for rolex. (again I am not a big fan of the daytona - I much prefer the GMTs, seadwellers and submariners)

I am not a huge fan of the Bently range - don't know why just think they are a little to BLINGY for me.

Hope I havent offended anyone with the above

Psssssssssssssst.....Errol, you already have the holy grail of Lings .....except its the wrong colour .........if you had a SA 563.......now there is a class piece.............all
Joe

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SUPER AVENGER 563
BLUE DIAL
SILVER SUBS
PRO 2 BRACELET
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As Elwyn says it's subjective. For some the Mulliner Tourbillon would be one of those watches, for others a full perpetual (B29 movement), or even the Chronomat B01 with the in house movement.

For me, watches that come closest to 'grail' Breitlings for me (which is as close as I can equate to 'best') would be a super rare LE or a 1942 (first year) Chronomat. I'll add a 1952 Navitimer to the list as well, although anyone following recent discussions in the vintage section will know that they may well not exist.

Chears joejag,

I love my SA but saw the blackbird on holiday in Majorca three years ago and fell in love. I think it is one to strive for for a while

The wierd thing is I have bought everything but the Blackbird! I even bought a GMTIIc from the rolex stand right next to the Blackbird!!! go figure!?!

No offense, but I don't think there's a Daytona-like single piece in Breitling's lineup. Until recently you couldn't buy a Daytona from an AD even if you were willing to pay +10% over MSRP. It was an artificial situation that Rolex willingly produced less Daytonas than what the market demanded. Now things got back to normal, now you can find Daytonas on stock at ADs.

AFAIK Breitling never had such models. Even the latest B01 is carried by all ADs, with multiple choices on stock with different dials and different materials. And all the other models are widely available, with the usual price that a Breitling watch carries. I don't see any models stand out from the crowd. Of course everyone has a personal grail or a favourite Breitling, but I don't see many people lusting for the same model for years -- like what happened about the Daytona. If you have your eye on a specific Breitling model, you save up or sell some of your existing watches, and you buy your choice from the closest AD, mostly from stock.

Maybe if Breitling had carried out the B01 at a much higher price tag (matching Daytona's maybe?), with limited availability? But maybe then noone would have bought it, but instead went for other brands or just the cheaper good-old Chronomat Evo. We'll never know.

I think Breitling can simply not afford such moves what Rolex can. IMHO Rolex has a brand that is stronger than 5 Breitlings or 5 Omegas. It doesn't mean Breitling watches are less than Rolex watches of course. But in the luxury market branding tends to overwrite quality, price and of course practical reasons...

For me it´s Navitimer and I feel it´s the most regodnised model of all Breitlings.

I think I tend to agree with Fiery. I will say though that there should be a separation between the "best" watch and the most demanded watch; this is the case for the Rolex Daytona. It is probably not the best Rolex, although it is subjective I think Rolex wants the Masterpiece (Crown Collection) to be their best watches. The Daytona is one of the more demanded watches, which Rolex (by design) "limited" production, giving the verisimilitude of the Daytona's specialness. Whether it is or is not Rolex's best watch makes no difference, because the vast majority of Rolex buyers (non-WIS) think that the Daytona is somehow special.

Now to switch to Breitling, they do not have this type of model. They appear to keep up with demand for all of their models, and whilst some like the B01 have more provenance per-se than a SteelFish none of the Breitling line has an over-inflated reputation causing mass appeal. With that said I think Breitling would like buyers to think that the Chronomat, whichever version (Evo or B01) to be perceived as their best watch: the 2009 Chronolog calls the Chronomat the "unrivaled leader within the Breitling collection", I would interpret that as "best" amongst the Breitling collection. Whether that is true or not is besides the point, as classifying a watch as "best" is subjective for the most part. I think Breitling would also like the buyer to see the Bentley line as special and above the regular Breitling roster, as reflected in price and marketing. Again, the Bentley's may or may not be better, but they are probably perceived that way.

Personally, I feel the Bentley line is the best line the Breitling makes, and I would say their complication models or the Mulliner Tourbillon are their best watches. I do not necessarily think that a Bentley Motors is better than a Navitimer Montbrillant Olympus for example, but I think the Bentley line as a whole stands above the rest of the Breitling models. With that said I wear a Super Avenger; this is certainly not the best Breitling by far, it isn't the most refined, nor does it have the best movement, yet it is the one which simply "does it" for me. It speaks to me in a way that other Breitling's do not, and isn't that what it is all about. The "best" watch does not matter one bit, what matters is that the watch you have is the one you like the most. That is how I see it at least...

For me its the Navitimer

A Navi with the B01 Caliber. It's time to have some distance from Mr. Hayek.

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

Completely subjective. BUT:

It has to be an auto chronograph – what Breitling is famous for. If I want a dive watch I’ll get a Sub or a Doxa thanks.

It has to have contrasting subdials – again, what Breitling is famous for. Sure, Rolex and Omega have been doing it for a while too, but decades ago the Navi really nailed that one.

It has to have a geared pinion calculating bezel – what Breitling took the patent for. Rider tabs are cool, but not as cool as an extra mechanism. Mechanisms are why we like mechanical watches, yeah?

So, for my money, that leaves the “old” Chronomatic 44mm, the new Chronomatic 49mm, or the “old” Bentley GT...or, indeed, a sold gold Bentley Motors...

Avenger Skyland BlackSteel? I'm biased of course.

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ROLEX SUBMARINER BI-COLOR BLUE DIAL
LOUIS VUITTON TAMBOUR DIVERS
PANERAI LUMINOR

Thats easy... Breitling for Bentley GT

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Breitling for Bentley Barnato 42
Rolex Submariner