The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Well, this review of mine was 9 months ago, and my personal opinions on it have changed one bit in that time I'm afraid. I've been into Breitlings for a long long time, so to me the old style bezel with the rider tabs is part of Breitling's history and it's almost as much a part of a "proper" Chronomat as the name on dial. If you like the new bezel, then that's great as it means you can happily buy something with a really find in-house movement inside. The rest of us will have to wait.

Oh and I don't really agree that the main issue with the B01 Chronomat is the price (at least not in my opinion). I personally wouldn't buy one for half the price. Honestly. I just don't don't like the design, and no amount of discounting onthe price is going to change that.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I just came across your comments from 10 months ago and obviously, having bought a B01 I am biased. But it also means that I fully agree with what you said back in 5/31/09:



What a difference with the comment you made today! What made you change so radically?

When I decided to buy the B01 instead of a Chronomat or a Chrono Cockpit these were exactly the points that tipped the scales: the new style romans (I always preferred romans to batons) with the square in the center following precisely their special design, the new, and different compared to other Breitlings, bezel (of course that was before Galactic era!), the smooth push-pieces and the pearl dial (for which there was a $600 surplus). And what a difference between pictures and real metal!

I think that these points make this watch special compared to "normal" Breitlings but still is a Breitling nevertheless. And it could prove to be a collector if the problems mentioned by Roff materialize.

But then again, this IMHO.

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

I have no doubt at all that in time the 1st year BO1s will be sought by collectors. It was one of the small reasons I decided to get the BO1. Keep the box, all the docos, keep everything. The BO1 could turn out to be a Breitling classic in time.

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Breitling Chronomat BO1 Riviera Blue Dial Stainless Steel Case and Pilot Bracelet

Gotta agree that pics are deceiving and don't do the B01 justice. Configuration can make or break any of the models.
Though new to Breitling, I have been lurking around for while. I spent hours on Breitling web site looking at different configurations focused on Chromolat, Cockpit and Chromolat Cockpit; considered the B01, but thought too pricey. When I finally saw them all live, I fell in love with the B01. I bought a Blackeye Blue Stainless on Diver Pro and love it. It has a sleek sophisticated look.
It may be because I'm new Breitling versus a long term enthusiastic; maybe that's what Breitling is trying to do - bring in more fans with new looks and more configuration options. Before moving up to Breitling, I have been wearing a Tag Link Series with diamond face which just doesn't cut next to the B01!

I don't think my comments were really that different back then. My last paragraph of my post back then is basically the same as my comments now. This is what I wrote -

"So there we are - perhaps a little better than the pictures suggest, but still a long way from being a classic. If the movement is as great as we all hope (jumping chronograph hand aside ) then I for one feel it should've received an instant-classic case, instead of something that is likely to be quite transitory. Seeing it in person hasn't really changed my feelings about it : all the issues I saw in the pics are still there in the metal, although in the right colour combination (and probably with a diamond bezel if you can stomach the £11,000+ GBP price tag ), you could end up with something that looks pretty much OK. Not exactly a ringing endorsement though is it!? I'm probably going to be waiting until the B01 makes it's way into smething with Navitimer in the name!"

The part of my post that you quoted above was only half the story. In that part was simply saying the things about it that I thought were OK. i.e. I think the case IS nicely finished, the dials ARE nicely executed (just not in a design that I like), the square on the dial ISN'T as noticable in the flesh as in the pictures, and the movement DOES feel perhaps a little smoother. So I still stand by that today.

However (as my original post also said) I still hate the bezel, I dislike the mish-mash of fonts, I still the the dial looks crowded, and while I thought I might warm to the romans over time, I haven't.

Part of my comments back then were due to the fact that pretty much whenever ANY new model has come out, they always seem to take time to bed in and be fully appreciated by people. I remember when the SS Seawolf came out and for a while people still much preferred the old ti model, but after a couple of weeks people came round to it. Back then I was assuming that the same thing would happen with the B01 Chronomat, and while a few no doubt have come round over the past year, a lot (including me) still haven't, and probably never will.

It's all just opinions at the end of the day, and I'm glad you're enjoying your B01 - it's just not a watch for me. And I'm pretty sure a lot of people don't like the watches I own!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I don't think that the B01 was meant to make a name like the legend that the Navitimer is, at least not for the time being.

And as much as I love my B01 I do consider buying a Navitimer as well because they are two totally different watches even if they belong to same brand.


And if everybody liked the same watches, well the world would be dull. That is why IMO a forum like this one is interesting because we can share taste, ideas, opinions and maybe forge a decision with a lot more information in hand than you would have talking to an AD or reading the press.

Thank you for sharing yours.

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

I totally agree with you. And that's why I love this place. We can all share opinions and then everyone is still friends afterwards. Just how it should be!

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Driver8

Site Moderator