The Breitling Watch Source Forums

As our first wedding anniversary fast approaching, we gifted each other with a Breitling. My wife got her first 'ling, a 2009 model Cockpit Lady with silver dial; while I got my 3rd Breitling, but my first in the Navitimer line, a NOS 44mm Chrono-Matic with black dial. They're both stunning watches, but excuse me for the quality of the pictures. I was in a hurry, because I wanted to post pictures to earn myself the right to ask silly questions Also, it was dark and cloudy out there. Sometimes I wonder why I even try to photograph watches, it's soooo hard without the proper lighting equipment, and also I'm terribly bad at it

Anyway, I'm an all-bracelet guy, I wear all my watches on their respective factory bracelet. But since the Chrono-Matic was a NOS model, I didn't have a chance to shop around, so I'm now kinda stuck with the leather. Even though the watch originally came on a bracelet, but I guess the AD already sold the bracelet with another Chrono-Matic...

So now I'm thinking about picking up a bracelet for the Chrono-Matic, and wondering:

1) Is it possible to order a brand new Navitimer bracelet from a Breitling service center for an already discontinued watch? I've called one of the local service center and asked about it, but the guy was quite sleepy or just generally not really caring, and just asked me to bring the watch in, and talk about things face-to-face. He was kind enough to quote me a price of almost EUR 1000 incl. 25% VAT. But he kept just referring to the bracelet as "a Navitimer bracelet", so I guess he wasn't specifically talking about the 433A at all.

2) Out of all Breitling bracelets, is 433A the only one suitable for my watch? (ref.no. A4136012)

3) Does a 22mm lug width Breitling mesh bracelet exist?

4) I'm planning to buy a 22mm Ocean Racer rubber strap as well, I'm getting more and more intrigued by the rubber concept. I think it would go well with a rubber coated bezel watch like a Chrono-Matic. It would be great if I could change the bracelet on my own. Is there an online place inside the EU where I can order a bracelet removal tool? Maybe a Bergeon 6767 could do the job?

BTW: I don't really like how Breitling uses the same colour designation for very different dial shades. The silver on the Cockpit Lady looks nothing like the silver on the Colt GMT or Steelfish...

BTW #2: I got a Pure Breitling catalog from the salesman. It features no B01 (as another user already pointed out), which is weird. My AD got a few of the new models already, e.g. the brushed bezel B01, the Chrono Galactic, the Colt GMT+ on rubber, and a Galactic 41 as well. No trace of the SuperOcean II and the Cosmonaute 125th Anniversary so far.

BTW #3: I never realized the Chrono-Matic has the side of the bezel PVD'd (or DLC'd?) to black. It always makes me smile to discover such tiny details after I unbox a new Breitling


Thanks,
Fiery

_________________
Ingenieur - Speedmaster - Submariner

Nice pickups, congratulations (and congrats on the anniversary).

All of the Navitimer bracelets are effectively the same, it's just the end links that are different, which is why the guy probably referred to it that way. 433A is what you want, and you should be able to order one through an AD. I don't think that there is a 22mm aero classic or ocean classic (mesh) bracelet, but not 100% on that.

The preferred bracelet change tool is the Bergeon 6767F and you can get one from www.watchtool.co.uk.

Thank you. I've checked a couple of Chrono-Matic pictures with the Navitimer bracelet fitted, and to my surprise it looks like this bracelet (433A) has no solid end-link. Is it normal? I've checked Breitling's website to see whether the current Navitimer range models have this anomaly, but it looks like they all have solid end-links on their Navi bracelets.

Would the 433A bracelet on the Chrono-Matic feel less solid due to the lack of solid end-links? Would it wobble more than e.g. a Cosmonaute or Navi World on bracelet?

_________________
Ingenieur - Speedmaster - Submariner

Never noticed that.

I have some watches with similar bracelets and have never noticed any significant difference. The only time that I have noticed any difference at all is when changing them - much easier on the straight ends.

Thanks. I've ordered the bracelet today, they said it will take about a month to arrive. It'll be a long month

_________________
Ingenieur - Speedmaster - Submariner