The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I've been thinking about this for a while and now that I am sitting in a hotel room with nothing better to do I finally have time to try and articulate my thoughts. I don't mean this as a comment on individuals or groups, not a comment on positions, just an observation about something that I don't quite understand............

When BreitlingSource first took off there was a lof of discussion around 'Full Lings' and the Super Avenger in particular and there were fans and detractors. There were those that liked the SA and those that thought it was too big. There were those that were all about the Full Ling and those that wanted to defend straps and mid size watches - it even gave rise to PCACPBORC for those that wanted choice. There were passionate discussions, but it was always in good fun.

After that we had the rise of the BlackSteels and again there were those who were fans, and those who were against (I'm talking about the days before Breitling threw DLC at everything that ticked). Debate was again empassioned, but it still seemed to be light hearted.

Now we have the B01. When it first came out there were few fans here, but now that it is 'on the street' and people are buying it and finding BreitlingSource as the result of suddenly becoming Breitling lovers, we are seeing more divided opinion - agains those in favour, and those against.

This time though I sense a little more edge to some of the conversations, and I'm not sure why - whether it's because opinions have been strongly stated and people feel a need to defend (the anti camp), or whether it's that people have paid a premium for a watch that they love and want to defend it (the pro camp) I'm not sure.

Maybe it's just that I am three years older and three years crustier, maybe it's just symptomatic of the fact that the site is much larger than the early days when we 'knew' all of the regular posters, I don't know. I'm not even sure if it's a good or bad thing (as long as it stays civil), but the B01 is really fostering very, very strong opinions.

I suspect that a part of it is what Breitling wanted - the B01 is attracting people to the brand who wouldn't have considered Breitling before because they didn't grow up liking the models that I consider iconic - just a thought.

To reiterate what I said at the start, this isn't a criticism of anyone, just a comment that it feels 'different' this time - as I think about it I think that it may well be the result of non Breitling lovers suddenly finding a Breitling to love.

Or maybe it's the ramblings of a crusty old man in a hotel room a long way from home....

Put down the little key and step away from the mini-bar...............

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Steel Fish (Blue Dial)

Now this is what a good moderator does. Some really good discussion points here....

I've noticed an edge to people's comments on the B01 here as well (both pro and con). For those who are con (full disclosure: I am very anti-B01 design), I feel it's really an issue of the break from traditional Breitling aesthetic, and the consequences thereof. The B01, in my opinion, will not attract the "traditional" Breitling patron. That means there will be a new group of people, with whom you might not have as much in common. People, by nature tend to be xenophobic. It's also a symptom of old age

Roff, your feelings of being overun by nameless newbies is a common one for someone who's been in a community long enough - especially one that has grown as much as BreitlingSource has. I think this feeling is compounded by the influx of a new sect of Breitling-Nation (the B01-ers).

As for the people arguing so fervently for the B01...

I truly believe that if someone makes the commitment to purchase a B01 they must be truly happy with their decision. The part that must have been jarring for these (most often) Breitling newbies is that they are smacked in the face with a largely negative assessment of the B01 by a large number of people here. I feel that someone new to Breitling would like to be "welcomed to the club" but more often find that the door is closed. I know that if that happened to me, and I was truly happy with my purchase, I would be inclined to proclaim my satisfaction with just an added bit of verve. Ultimately, a watch is for no one but you.

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

I completely understand your comments Roff.

I have been one of those anti-B01 people for one reason only, the bezel. I dont pretend to like the model because of the bezel design and have vocalized it on occasion. Now having said that, the bezel is the ONLY thing I dont like about it and if they, Breitling, would offer a hash marker style bezel for the B01, I would strongly concider buying one. I like the remodeled rider tabs and the dial appeals to me as well. Not to meantion the in house movement.

In regards to the negativity that the newbies might experience from the " I just bought a new B01" threads, I guess I dont see all that much "extreme" negative comments to them or thier new watch. But I can see a less than overwhelming welcome just becuase of the shear volume of people that are more experienced with the previous models and with the brand itself and the die hard fans disapproval of the B01.

I think there is room for all Breitling owners, here at Breitlingsource, and that the newbie with his B01 might stumble upon a love affair with a different model because of thier wondering around this site. I just hope that we (the long time forum members and die hard Breitling fans) dont inadvertantly make them feel unwelcome.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

Let's talk about the new Superocean

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Panerai PAM212 | Panerai Diver Strap
Panerai PAM111 | Black Croc Strap
Omega Planet Ocean | SS Bracelet
Rolex Submariner | SS Bracelet (Sold, Awaiting Funds)
Breitling Navitimer Olympus | Brown Croc Strap (Arriving)

Just for starters, I am neither anti nor pro-b01. I think it is a beautifully designed watch, but its just not for me.
I am rather new to the forum, not because I am a 'b01 recruit', but rather because I am young and previously didn't have the means to own a Breitling (thus I shied away from the forum).

Where I have a problem is that I believe myself to be a very passionate fanatic of both breitling and swiss watches in general, yet I can't wrap my head around people becoming heated over a design of watch. Did the introduction of the b01 compromise the integrity of breitling as a whole? I personally dont think so. (Maybe the Galactic did! )

Yes the B01 attracts a new crowd, but that is what it was designed to do. In a period of falling sales, a company needs to entice a new demographic to join their following, and that is exactly what the b01 did. I think that owning a breitling puts you in a category of people that deserve to be respected amongst themselves for their appreciation of a truly fine timepiece, no matter what the model.

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Breitling Emergency Mission-- Breitling B01--
Chronomatic 24H-- Skyland Blacksteel-- Navitimer World--
Emergency Ti-- Chronomat Evo-- Airwolf-- Skyracer Raven
Bentley GMT-- Motors Speed

Well said, Roff. I can see your points.

I have my opinions, and I openly state them, however I have never been one to try and force my opinion on others, and make them agree with me. I believe this is often the problem on forums and what leads to argument. People have trouble agreeing to disagree - live and let live. Not everyone is going to share your opinion! At least we can all agree that we all love Breitling!

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BreitlingSource Admin
http://www.breitlingsource.com - http://blog.breitlingsource.com

This debate is entertaining. I am currently on the fence with the B01. While I do not like the way it looks in pictures and truly prefer the rider tab bezel, it does look nice in person. In fact, I would probably get one if the economy were better. I do not, however, like the Galactic over the previous models.

R/

I love the b01. Please don't ban me!

I understand people have their own tastes why don't people just discuss their opinions and respect all others? Is that really that hard?

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Current collection: Breitling Superocean Heritage I 46, Rolex Submariner, Swatch X ****** Sistem51

BAN HIM!

hehe

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Breitling Emergency Mission-- Breitling B01--
Chronomatic 24H-- Skyland Blacksteel-- Navitimer World--
Emergency Ti-- Chronomat Evo-- Airwolf-- Skyracer Raven
Bentley GMT-- Motors Speed

I am a Breitling Newbie. I am a nice watch newbie. My entrance to this forum coincided with my first Breitling - SOC.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the level of knowledge and relative tolerance of the vast majority of those here. I don't know much yet, but a whole lot more than I did 4 months ago. Most of what I've learned has been the result of being corrected. And corrected. And corrected. And that's fine - it's a great way to learn.

My watch palette is yet unrefined. When I look at a watch it is difficult to mentally articulate what moves me about it. I either like it or I don't - and the reaction is pretty much immediate. Not entirely unlike my reaction to different women in my most superficial moments.

I do not personally favor the B01/Galactic bezel. I don't comprehend the whole black steel allure.

Wouldn't it be boring if we all agreed? We would have to rename this site - "StepfordWivesSource.com"

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SHARKMAN

I think this has more to do with forum size than difference between watch models. Back at the time where we had Full Ling vs PCACBORC the forum was much smaller and the same thing when ASBS entered.

The member count may not have been that different compared to now with the B01, but at least from my own point of view the forum felt a lot smaller. At that time, as a frequent poster, you got to know the others quite well. Also, the posts had that friendly tone in them, so you knew that when someone started to write in capitals only or came with an accusation it wasn't too serious - just friendly mocking.

When the number of posting members grows you lose some of the overall connection and tolerance. As new posts flushes the forum you lose track, especially if you're less frequent than you were. Everything starts to be taken more seriously as you don't know the posters as well and jokes, friendly mocking and irony (which is extremely difficult in written form even if you know each other well) is easily mistaken for something else. Same goes the other way - even if you're a forum veteran, if you haven't been very active lately the newer posters doesn't know you or your way of posting. I'm not saying it was better before, just that this is typical forum evolution.

Also, as a veteran it's easy to become less frequent. After a while you lose the interest in replying to posts about watchwinders or quickdate mechanism. Either you stop replying to those or you're replies get less enthusiastic than they were.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

i completely agree! the bezel design sucks...

d

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Breitling Antares B10047
Breitling Chronomat B13050
Breitling Chronomat A13050.1 - pilot bracelet
Breitling Chronomat Blackbird A13050.1 - serie spéciale
Breitling Avenger Seawolf E17370
Breitling Chronomat EVO A13356 - pilot bracelet

I´ve been hanging around here a little over year now. I found this great place after getting my first "real" watch.

I think there are probably two most common ways to find this place. You might be planning to pull the trigger and trying to find info that would hopefully support your initial choise. Or you just pulled the trigger and you are looking for similar minded people with whom you can share your enthusism.

I was lucky enough that when I desided which is my favourite model and searched the AS, I found it enjoyed decent respect. So I bought it with a piece of mind.

Now if look at your own collection and most importantly the one you treasure and value the most. If you had bought it yesterday, departed with a considorable stack of green to get it. Then think for a moment it´s called B01: Marketed everywhere to be the most important Breitling model to date??? Then use the forums search feature and write B01. Horrible, ruined the brand, What are B thinking, Sacrilidge, etc...
What would be your first feeling?

Sure, we buy these beauties for us. But if you just bought a brand spanking Alfa Romeo (wasn´t it the Ling of cars ) which you always dreamed of. Then all the people you respect the most when it comes to cars tell you it´s crap, crap, crap. Actually it´s the model that ruined the whole brand and this revolutionary model will make you buy Beemers and Audis from now on. Alfa just doesn´t deserve you as a customer anymore. There would be a strong defensive reaction by the new buyers who just found the brand. Wouldn´t there?

I really like the B01. IMO the smartest thing "B" ever did and it seems to work the way intended. On the other I don´t like SOH models. Less Breitlingy of the bunch IMO with the least Breitlingy bezel. WHO CARES! it´s still a handsome piece and offers more variaty and makes my brand of choise stronger. Nothing away from me.

No offense intended on anyone, just few thoughts.

Hmmmm...I think the stresses of being an admin are wearing your down. Or rather, if your job is to police bad behavior, the bad behavior tends to be what you remember most.

I have only been a member for a little over a year, but during that time I don't think I have noticed things get too much worse (then again, maybe my joining marked the pinnacle of degeneration ). In general, I think nearly everyone is respectful of everyone else. Sure there are exceptions, but I have not noticed any more of these exceptions surrounding the B01 than any other topic (just IMHO).

I do think that the B01 has probably polarized people more than any other new model in the last few years. I think part of the reason for this is that those of us who pre-dated the B01 on this forum had such high hopes for the model. We were all really jazzed up for it, only to get very disappointed over the bezel. I think part of the "edge" that might be detectable in those discussions results from the annoyance many of us feel with Breitling regarding their design decisions. So maybe B01 owners pick up on that and defend themselves more? Seems natural.

Although I personally do not like the B01 bezel design (I have to admit the rest of it has grown on me), I still think it's great when a happy new B01 owner posts their new purchase on the forum. It's the fact that we all like something different, and then learning about why somebody else prefers a different watch, that makes this forum so interesting.

///M

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