The Breitling Watch Source Forums

So, I know that some of this may have been covered in Roff's 10,000th post, but I think most of that 8 page thread consisted of Roff defending his position. I'm more interested in what everyone else would like to see them do.

Now, I'm nowhere near a Breitling expert, I still ask a lot of dumb questions, but I enjoy learning from everyone here about all watches, not just our favorite company's. We have pretty good info on the B01 going into the Navi as well as a couple other models, the Chronomat (very cool IMO) and I believe the Montbilliant was mentioned as well.

One thing I would love to see in a non-chrono in-house movement put into at least one model in the Aeromarine line. A new Steelfish with an in-house would be outstanding to me, it's a model that isn't really related to any others now that the Superocean is completely different. It's not like the Colts that are based off one model or the Avenger series. I think that a in-house Steelfish could be the Flagship model of that line. Sure it would be more expensive that the current model, but it would give it something to really stand out from the rest of the line. 44mm is a pretty popular size and with an in-house in it it would be more appealing to people who prefer an in-house movement but would like something simpler and more rugged and that they could use for more than wearing a suit.

Another thing I would like to see is another model with a second time zone function. Right now there's the Colt GMT then the next is the Navi World. That's quite a big gap in style and price. I personally love the GMT function, but I feel the Colt is too small and the World too expensive and not as versatile. I guess we could say that the Professional line has watches with a second time zone, but I'm more interested in a mechanical GMT function.

Style wise I really don't have much of an issue with most models. I think the love/hate of the B01's bezel has been discussed enough, I'm not a big fan, but I think I'd like the brushed version of it better. I think the whole Blacksteel every model thing has gotten a bit ridiculous, but I understand that they're very appealing to a lot of people and are making Breitling a whole bunch of money. I love what they did with the Code Yellow, it's just different enough to be interesting with out being annoying in my opinion.

So, what are your thoughts?

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

I'd like a mechanical watch that actually runs within COSC spec's. That would be a first!!

More appropriate to this thread, I must admit, some of the new models, like the new SuperOcean are growing on me.

More than anything else, I'd just like to see greatly increased use of in house movements

I believe (if rumours are to be believed) Roman, that a non-chronograph in-house movement is in development. I recall Alien on here (who is an AD) saying something along those lines. An in-house Seawolf type of thing would be a great addition as it would probably be a competitor for the Rolex SDDS.

As far as what I'd like to see then like a good many others I'd like to see the B01 rolled out into other watches. The Chronomat B01 has grown on me enormously over the last few months, so I'm not going to swim against the tide anymore by hoping for a more traditional rider-tabbed equiped bezel - it just ain't gonna happen folks!

Additionally, if Martin1884's news of new models comes to fruition, then a B01 equiped Navi with a display back will take care of one big wish of mine! (I just hope it's bigger than the standard 41mm Navi)

Apart from more use of in-house movements (which I think will happen eventually, although I just wish they'd speed up a bit! ), then I'd like to see Breitling start to use more interesting materials for at least one or two models, even if they are just LE's. I'd love to see a ceramic Breitling model, with a matching ceramic bracelet. Imagine a brushed ceramic Seawolf with an in-house movement, or a brushed ceramic navitimer with matching ceramic bracelet. Fantastic! Or maybe something in Tantalum which is a really attractive blue-grey metal. Panerai have used it for a couple of cases, and Omega used it in very small quantities on some of the very small links on their TT Seamaster Chronograph a few years ago. AP are using forged carbon on a couple of their LE's, so something like that would be nice to see. Or even something made in super scratch resistant (and heavy) tungsten would be cool. Basically anything new other than the damned Blacksteel/DLC all the time!

I'm not saying that everything needs to be made in fancy materials, but the odd thing here and there (like Panerai, like IWC, like AP all do) would be a nice touch.

Interesting materials aside (which I think we will struggle to see from Breitling if I'm honest), then I'm quietly hopeful that the future will look quite bright once the in-house side of things ramps up a bit.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

That is good to hear, I must have missed that post. I think it would be great to have some competition for the SDDS or even the GMTII is we could get an in-house GMT function.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

Wow! Just what I was going to recommend!!! Leave the Steelfish at it's price point. Though the Colt models are the entry level Lings, the entry level bad ass Ling is the Steelfish. So long as they can get ETA ebauches or chabrons, keep it priced so a guy can walk home with one for right at $2000 after taxes.

The Seawolf is priced $1000 higher anyway, so give it an in-house. Keep the Fish available for $2000 - there is something meaningful about that number and it is part of what makes the watch so popular.

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SHARKMAN

That's a good point about the Steelfish being a very popular first Breitling. I don't care what they call it, I just think something like that would be very appealing to me and I'm sure quite a few others.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

There are a lot of things that I would like to see from Breitling.

1- I'd like to see the use of Ceramics in the bezel.
2- Please stop making everything in Blacksteel. One or two models is more than Plenty
3- I actually like the idea of different color bezel rings, i.e. SuperOcean II. I'd like to see this concept in other models.
4 - Put the In House Movement in more models, specifically Navitimer and SuperOcean Heritage Chrono and or Non-Chrono. I'm not a big fan of non-chronos, but I can see how this could be a wise move.
5 - Please stop making a minor change to an existing model and calling it a limited edition. Limited editions should be under 500!!! not 1,000 of each color combo. That's just stupid!
6 - I'd like to see a drastic reduction in the number of Bentley Models being produced. 4 or 5 and that's it! Let's use those resources in other ways.
7- I'd really like to see a closed-end leather/rubber strap option.
8- Take the Chrono-Galatic and please make it in a man's size; love the watch but hate the small size.
9- I'd like to see Breitling give Breitling Source a Limited Edition Watch!!!

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

I love this idea, I would definitely buy a SOH if it had an in-house. And the Breitling Source LE of course.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

I know Breitling has a large stock of base movements waiting to be suped up, but does anyone have an idea how long that will last in light of Swatch/ETA's decision to stop selling completed movements, ebauches, or chabrons to companies outside Swatch Group??? At some point won't all Breitling's movements be in-house? If not, where will they get the base movements?

I was also wondering about the smaller and indie companies. What will they likely use? Soprod? Surely we aren't headed to Seagull.

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SHARKMAN

It's the same size as the watch it really is - the Chrono cockpit. Size matters! It kept me from buying the chrono cockpit.

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SHARKMAN

I think you may have it wrong, ETA will stop selling movement kits but will continue to sell full completed movements to competitors.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

This watch would look great on your 4 inch wrist!!

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Hmmm. I thought they were telling the non-Swatch folks to pound salt. So what are Breitling's plans? They son't buy completed movements.

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SHARKMAN

I just been looking at the Japanese Breitling site. If there is a god they will put out the Chronomat Blue Impulse with an inhouse movement, they will also put an inhouse movement into what Breitling Japan calls Avenger Code Yellow. Just beautiful watches, but thats my opinion, and oh yeah if they can also stick an inhouse movement into the navitimers that would be stuff.

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

I note that the first paragraph of this thread specifically said that my views weren't wanted here, so I'll refrain, but to the Swatch movement point.........

By the end of 2010 Swatch has said that they won't provide ebauches, or more accurately in Breitling's case chablons, to companies outside of the Swatch Group. They will still provide completed movements, but to be used as such. In other words, if Breitling wishes to use ETA movements then they need to do so as is. I don't know the details, but I am sure that Swatch will agree to decoration, etc, but they aren't providing base movements for external elaboration and refinement.

That doesn't mean that Breitling has to go completely in house in terms of movements though. The base movements are all a long way past patent protection and there is no reason why other companies can't produce the designs - Sellita have been doing that for years. Part of the tooling up of Breitling for in house production has also included the ability to produce parts of the ETA / Valjoux movements so they can continue to produce parts in house, source parts from other suppliers, etc. They'll still be ETA / Valjoux designs, just not produced by ETA / Valjoux any more. Even if they are completely produced inside Breitling they wouldn't be considered in house movements as they are just copies of existing movements.