The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Dear friends

It has been for some time now that I got stuck: I just cannot get Superocean Steelfish and Colt Quartz out of my mind. Sounds familiar, I suppose.
Apart from my Montbrillant, my next Breitling is going to be one of these two. Even though I am still not able to make a final decision, one thing is settled: dial colour shall be silver ! Blue dial has that glamorous and shiny glitz that I am not fond of, while black colour makes the dial smaller than it really is, and provides for a contrast a bit too strong for my liking.
So, fellows, please help me solve that dilemma. Tell me what you think of the models in question. Even better, show me both of them in some real world action. Silver dial, please !
Your advice and suggestion are most welcome. As well as your pictures !
Thank you everybody !


PS. Just one word of caution: I chose Montbrillant instead of Navitimer because I have rather small wrists. Thus, I am afraid that Steelfish is too big for me ? I tried Colt Quartz and it was perfectly acceptable. Sure, it was heavy and sturdy, but it’s 41mm somehow looked quite nice on my small wrist. Though, truth to be said, it looked as on the limit of the acceptable size.

Kind regards

_________________
„I have the simplest tastes. I’m always satisfied with the best.” - Oscar Wilde

Steelfish all the way. It wears smaller than you would think. I chose the blue dial. I also like the silver and thought about getting another one with silver dial.

R/

There's the older model of SF A17360, which is 42mm.

Steelfish -- but I'm biased....had one for two years now.

_________________
Superocean Steelfish
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust
Omega Seamaster Cosmic

Steelfish all the way!!! It is not to large for my 6 1/2" wrist. I'll say it again - it is the best watch buy for the money - period.



Mine on gold(light brown) croco -
http://breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17645

_________________
SHARKMAN

I would pick the steelfish for myself, but it sounds like you may be better off with the colt. I find my navi to be small, and you say that you went with the monty over it because size was an issue. The Steelfish will almost certainly be too large based on that logic. I thought my steelfish was the perfect size for me, but we obviously have differing opinions on that.

BTW, have you considered the Colt GMT? Its got the look of the quartz, but with applied numerals and an auto movement.

_________________
-RJ

These are both great choices. For a great pic of my silver dial Steelfish, see this post: http://breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8864

One thing I will say about the silver dial is it does not look that great on the bracelet, IMHO. It might look OK on a polished one (I am actually thinking about getting it polished), but the brushed finish for this particular dial color just kind of makes everything seem to flat. But, as you can see in the picture, it looks fantastic on a strap!

The other thing I have noticed about the Steelfish is that it actually seems smaller in diameter than it is. On the other hand, it is very thick. So you might want to really see how you can handle the thickness...I'm not sure the diameter would be as big of a concern as you might think.

Another thing to pay attention to is that the Steelfish, and the bracelet, is brushed whereas the Colt is polished. Everyone has their preferences. If you like one over the other this might be a factor.

Also, have you thought about a Colt GMT? They just went out of production, but you can still find them. The Colt GMT is one of my favorites. I have the blue dial (in fact, it was my first Breitling).

///M

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

Colt Auto and GMT are polished, OP is considering a Colt Quartz which is brushed like SF.

i have a colt quartz chron, pics here
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10318
Silver with Blue subs, now added a blue leather strap, size is ideal for smaller wrists.

_________________
Chrono Colt II - White Dial Blue Subs
SuperOcean Heritage

Definitely the steelfish. It does wear a bit smaller.

Really? Wow...I never noticed. Is the Chrono Colt also bushed?

///M

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

I´de go with the Steelfish. The case on the SF wraps around your writs in a way which makes it wear smaller and it fits for smaller wrists too even if it is a big watch. It´s A LOT of watch for the price. Most will warm up to the size in a short time wearing it.

Still... considering the size maybe the Colt is the safer choise for you. Check out the SO too which is just slightly bigger compared to the Colt in the same price range.

Chrono Colt is all polished.

The only all brushed steel parts in the Breitling range are:
- Avenger Seawolf
- Avenger Seawolf Chrono
- Blackbird (although now there's a polished version as well)
- Colt II Quartz
- SuperOcean Steelfish

For a small wrist I'd definitely get a Colt II Quartz. Actually, I already did last year

BTW, what's your wrist size? When it comes to large watches, do you have a problem with heft (weight), or you're more concerned about size (diameter) ? Keep in mind that on bracelet the Steelfish is quite a heavy watch, approx. 50% heavier than a Colt II Quartz on bracelet. If you're planning to put it on a strap, then the weight difference is less significant.

BTW #2, I wouldn't buy a Colt II Quartz with the silver dial. It looks too flat, and legibility could be a problem, due to white arabics are not contrasted well enough with a creamy dial. Steelfish is slightly better due to the applied arabics, but IMHO the best silver dial in the Colt range is the GMT. It looks smashing on both the polished Pro II bracelet and a brown leather strap.

_________________
Ingenieur - Speedmaster - Submariner

Dear Friends

First of all – Thank you everybody for your remarks and suggestions. They are appreciated !

In order to clarify my position I will mention a few details that I should have told you in my first post.

My wrists are rather small: 14,5 cm. Converting it to British money it would be about 5,7''. I am sure it makes pretty obvious that physically I am not a kind of person that Breitling envisaged its watches for.

As I said in my first post, I have been thinking about buying Superocean or Colt II Quartz. Both with silver dial on leather strap. Both watches received your approval. Just as I ecpected. Some of you mentioned that their dimension could prove to be decisive. Here they are:

Superocean: 44mm diameter, 16,1mm height, 122.5g weight
Colt II Quartz: 41,1mm diameter, 13,3mm height, 87,7g weight.


The above stated dimensions compared with the size of my wrist – 5,7’’ – shows that, however beautiful, Superocean is just simply too big watch for me, whatever measure you consider. I tried it on at my AD yesterday and its height and especially its weight were too much of good thing. I just could not bear it. Even my wife, who usually tolerates many of my whims, frowned with objection.
After that Colt II Quartz (silver dial) came as a relief. Even though it is bigger and heavier than my Montbrillant, with leather strap (tang clasp) it looked quite nice on my wrist. Truth to be said, it did look serious. Not exactly heavy or too large, but firm and serious. Slightly big with its mass and diameter, but on my wrist it was quite acceptable in general look and appearance. Especially after Superocean.

I tried yet another Colt II Quartz – one with black dial. That one was easier to read, no question, but, somehow, it appeared smallish on my wrist. It seemed to me as it was too small. And with too strong a contrast between dial and numerals. Much more like a typical diver’s watch. The one with silver dial is not as easy to read, I admit, but it has its charm and a certain understatement that I am particularly fond of. I like its brushed bezel too. My wife gave her nod to silver dial and that was it. All thing being equal, wife acceptance factor is to be concerned

Last, but certainly not least, I decided to go for Colt II Quartz was the fact that it was Quartz. In these times when life speeds up constantly I just want to have a good looking watch that I can take off and put back on without ever thinking of winding it and setting the right time. Apart from its precision, Quartz mechanism gives us that luxury of nonchalance that is not to be taken light-heartedly.


Once again: Thank you for your comments and advices.


Kind regards to everybody

_________________
„I have the simplest tastes. I’m always satisfied with the best.” - Oscar Wilde

That's what's made me buy the Colt II Quartz. I just love it has a very long battery life, and that I can put it on quickly when I'm in a hurry. No need to hassle with getting off the winder head, no need to check if it's running or is it properly set.

Your wrist is definitely not for Breitlings, but fortunately there're quite a few watches at or below 41mm in the range. The Colts would all suit you well, so as the Cockpit or the new Galactic 41, and of course there's the SOH in 38mm. Have fun with your new watch, and make sure to post some pictures, incl. a wrist shot. There aren't many owners with silver dial Colts on this forum -- yet