The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello,

First let me say this site has a wealth of information and a lot of very knowledgeable people. In the last couple of days I must have read over 50 threads.

Here is my dilemma - I want to buy a Superocean Steelfish, but I can't decide between the silver (white) dial and the blue dial. I have seen both in person at my local AD, but I like both. Buying both is not an option. This will be my primary watch, the only other watch I have is a running watch that I was previously wearing on a daily basis. I will be wearing the Steelfish to work, in casual settings, and when required with a suit.

Any opinions would be very helpful.

Thanks - Charlie

Not so keen on the blue dial myself. I prefer a flatter blue like some of the Avengers.

Had a black dial Steelfish which looked great with the bracelet and on rubber. If I was to buy another I would really consider the cream dial as IMO it just goes so well with brown leather straps.

There really is no right or wrong, but I think strap choice could influence a decision

I think the silver is more neutral and would go better when you have a need to dress more formal...especially if you put it on a brown croco with deployment. I would suggest getting the Pro II bracelet as well as the brown croco. This way you can get 2 totally different looks from 1 watch.

Good luck!!

I think the silver (white) dial is much more versatile and will be able to be used in more situations. Changing the strap or bracelet will give you a completely different watch. The blue is nice also, but just seems more casual to me, while the white can be both casual and formal(ish).

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

Personally, I think the blue dial Fish is one of the most handsome sports watches ever created. For me it was the only option. You can check my '06 model here:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=20683

Good luck (whatever you choose)!

I'm not sure that blue is the best choice for an only watch - if you are only going to have one 'proper' watch then I think white (silver) or black are safer choices - blue can look odd with some clothing colours.

As the owner of a balck and white (cream) Steelfish I would suggest the white one over the blue just for the better options with any situation. With a bracelet or rubber strap the white one (and the blue and black one) will look like a fantastic sports/casual watch. The blue one fails to "dress up" with the leather straps (IMO). I think the white Steelfish with a leather strap looks very classy and instantly dressy.

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

I've had a couple of blue dial Breitlings in the past and I must be honest but I find them to be the least versatile of the usual blue, black or white(silver) dial options.

I've owned two silver dial Steelfishes and one black dial one, and I actually preferred the black dial as it's more traditionally associated with dive watches, and is more legible. The concentric rings on the silver dial make it a little harder to read in certain lights. Having said that the silver is great looking watch and definitely a versatile piece.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

This is my main concern with the sliver/white dial. For some reason, watches with black dials just don't appeal to me.

Thanks for all the opinions.

I only buy watches with white dials. You will get used to reading the time on it. I vote white.

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SA-Baton White Dial/ProII
Tissot Le Locle

I've had every color in the Steelfish, two different times. The only one I have now (and the keeper) is the white dial. I wear it on the ProII and brown croc about 50/50. This is absolutely my favorite Breitling.

The white(silver) dial is does look good on brown croco or calf. I prefer it on the light brown(“gold”) croco. It really brings out the dial. My personal opinion is the white dial gets a bit lost on a Pro II. The blue dial looks best on the Pro II and would make a fine all around watch. It looks good on rubber as well, but I haven’t found a leather strap option I like with the blue dial.

If I had to pick just one – it would be the blue dial – it’s just the classic Steelfish IMO.

But then………………….

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SHARKMAN

I own a blue Colt GMT and a white Steelfish. Let me first say that I absolutely positively loooove blue dials. I have actually been surprised that I can pretty much wear my Colt with anything and it seems to work. I think the same way you can wear blue jeans with practically any outfit, you can wear a blue watch with anything. So while it is technically true that white is more versatile than blue, I can say that from a practical standpoint that blue can still work with almost anything. If you really like the blue but decide to go with white because you are worried about blue not matching all of your outfits, every time you look at your watch you will wonder if you should have gotten blue instead. Blue works much better on a bracelet, though, than a strap IMHO.

I also think that the white Steelfish looks a little bland on a bracelet. I have mine on a brown leather strap, which looks fantastic (as does Shark's croc strap ).

Therefore, I would base part of my decision on whether you want to wear it on a strap or a bracelet. If you really want the bracelet, then get blue. If you want a strap then get white.

///M

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

For what it's worth in my opinion, the white/silver is more versatile with Bracelets/Straps & whatever you wear then a Blue dial. If you use it in the situations you described, you can switch from Bracelet to a Strap or vise versa with a white dial very easy and never have it look bad. Picture a green suit with a blue dial, I've seen it and it's not pretty! No matter what color you wear, I think the white shows well.

Following up on what Roff said, the general rule is "a blue dial is your second watch color. If you have just one - get a black dial." Something you may want to consider is the black dial Steelfish.

But 99.9% of the watch wearing public thinks "a watch is a watch," and doesn't consider the style cues we do. You can get away with a blue dial as you only watch.

Ultimately it's up to you Chainsaw. I will say though, seeing mboverst's pic of the white dial on the Pro II has me about to put mine for the first time on the Pro II it came with and reassess my dislike for the white dial on the Pro II bracelet. His looks quite stunning. I simply never take it off the light brown croco.

I had told my AD about the white dial on brown and she never had seen one. Wore it in one day and she was amazed. Funny how the right strap can change the color of a dial. On the Pro II the dial looks far more white. On a brown strap the cream color really pops.

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SHARKMAN