The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hey all, I was wondering if I can get some opinions or reviews on the submariner and what you think of it. All help is welcome.

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"Don't Touch The Watch." - Patrick Bateman

New version Sub or the older traditional model?

On this forum you will receive drastically different opinions based on this. In most members minds the updated version has a much better fit/finish on the bracelet and case. Also the weight and feel is much more substantial since they are no longer using the tinfoil bracelet and clasp.

It's still a classic, I've owned many over the years and sold all but my LV. For now I am keeping the 'old style' LV and will be seriously considering the new style once they are out to the AD's and more available for me to test drive.

You shouldn't have any trouble finding opinions about this watch. Practically every watch lover has owned one at one time or another. The question you need to ask yourself is this - would you buy this watch if it didn't say "Rolex" on the dial? Most of them are simply uninteresting to me. On the other hand, they have great resale value and when you get bored with them, they are easy to sell and you might actually make money. Also, they are very good quality and reliable and tough cases. Probably the only watch i would feel confident in wearing in the water. Personally I don't think they are worth what they get for them, but then again, that can be said about Breitling and many others. They just don't pass the "interesting" test with me.

You wouldn't feel comfortable wearing a Breitling in the water?

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I dont understand this either. I can understand that you would be confortable wearing one in the water since that was Rolex's intentions with the piece. But it being the ONLY? What about a steelfish? It is 5000 feet more water resistant than the sub. To be honest with you, the more expensive the watch is, the more UNcomfortable I get taking it into the water. Regardless of Water Resistance levels. There is always room for error. I would rather take a seiko into the water than a ling or a rollie.

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"Don't Touch The Watch." - Patrick Bateman

I WOULDNT FEEL COMFORTABLE WEARING ANY6-10 000 $ WATCH IN WATER...

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Keepin' Time...

That's kinda like, "I wouldn't feel comfortable taking a two billion dollar sub in the water." It's designed to go in the water.

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As others have said, finding reviews and opinions on Submariners is pretty easy on the net, and depending on where you look you will find varying degrees of objectivity! In other words, if you go to a Rolex forum, they'll be the best thing since sliced bread. Certain other watch forums dedicated to other brands may be less blinkered, or may end up berating them for some reason, which is equally bad IMO unless it's properly justified.

On here people tend to be a little more open minded about other brands, so I think generally you'll get reasonable views.

My own take is that the old Subbie is iconic (to Rolex afficionadoes anyway) but new Subbie is streets ahead in many ways. I had an old-style Subbie LV for a while, but the cheap-feeling hollow centre links of the bracelet and the pressed "tin foil" clasp turned me off to the point that I sold it. It was like something from the 1960's IMO. That said, the head was immaculately put together - great fit and finish, and would no doubt last for ever.

However the new Subbie addresses all the bracelet and clasp issues, and reprofiles the case a little around the lugs to make it look a little more chunky (even if the dimensions are the same at 41mm or so). A lot of Rolex guys moan about it spoiling the traditional lines, etc, etc (probably like us Breitling folk moaned about the lack or rider-tabs on the new Breitlings! ) but I think that most non-hardcore Rolex-o-philes seem to like the new model a lot. The new model also benefits from a ceramic bezel insert, which again is a great step forward over the old annodised version.

A lot of people also talk about people only wanting one because of the name on the dial. This is generally true for 99% of non-WIS buyers as Joe Public generally believes that Rolex is THE pinnacle of watchmaking. Most WIS know better of course and it's to Rolex's brand image's credit that people still think that way, but that's not to say that Rolex don't make superb watches. On the contrary, they make very good watches - just not in Patek or Lange's league.

Personally I really want to buy a SDDS as it's a better size for me than the Subbie, but to be honest any of the new models are very fine watches indeed. Sure, they may be common(ish) and probably everyone will think your genuine model is a fake, but who cares? I only ever buy watches for me and me alone, so all I can say is if you like the Subbie, get one as there are a million worse watches and brands you could buy!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

With regards to my comment about being comfortable with a Rolex Sub diving, let me just say I don't have much confidence in Breitling watches from a quality standpoiint. I have had issues with all three that I have owned and they were all service and factory made issues. Not exactly confidence building. I admit, however, at being ignorant about their dive watches and just exactly how they achieve these unbelievable depths of water resistance. It seems like a lot of hype to me. And it drives other watch companies to claim ever deeper resistance, which I am skepticle of as well, not to mention the usufulness of such claims. Multible thousands of people have worn Subs diving, including me and so there is a lot of confidence building in what a watch company claims and what users actually experience. Personally, 20 - 30 atm is enough for me if the resistance is reliable. By reliable, I mean you should be able to wear the watch daily and not feel like you need to have it tested to see if you can go diving with it. And I stand by my comment that it is the only (expensive) watch I would feel comfortable or confident in, but that is an opinion and you are entiltle to yours.

Wow...

I'm really surprised to hear that.

I'm pretty sure I've owned somewhere between 15 to 20 Breitlings over the years and apart from the odd regulation being required, I've personally never had a single issue with any of them. I can only guess that you've just been exceptionally unlucky.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

This post has multiple issues:



You doubt Breitling based on your sole experience, yet claim statistics (and I use that term loosely) when evaluating the Rolex Submariner. This is an obvious evidentiary bias.



It's an engineering feat. There are numerous examples of people and organizations setting arbitrary challenges for themselves, then achieving them, in the 20th century.

Questions:
What's your basis for skepticism, as you claim ignorance in the same paragraph?
If I read your post literally, you're also saying that you question the usefulness of the claims about water resistance. Do you mean you're questioning the claims, or are you questioning the usefulness of deep diving watches?



Any piece of equipment used in a hostile environment should be inspected prior to use. You're asking for something here that doesn't exist.



You can feel however you please, but if you state rationale for your feelings in public, and that rationale is inconsistent, expect to be questioned.

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I don't care to question his rationale, I was just blown away by the statement. If he truly felt that way, why does he keep spending a couple thousand on them and continue to post for two years on a Breitling enthusiast forum

You asked for opinions about the Rolex Submariner. I gave mine so there you have it. I own and have owned lots of other brands. I do like Breitling because they(at least the ones I have purchased) are interesting and reasonable quality. All watch companies hype their watches and develop useless features to make them more collectible or whatever. That includes the super duper deep diver watches that lots of companies make trying to outdo the other watch companies. A totally useless feature , period.

why do a large percentage of threads that i start begin with a simple question and then end in controversy?

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"Don't Touch The Watch." - Patrick Bateman