The Breitling Watch Source Forums

MFSerg, your pics have completely thrown my gameplan into a tailspin, and after some serious thought I have settled on the next addition. I m thinking Spring 2011. I really like the croc look on this with the white stitching setting off the white batons and wings logo.

I was only mildly interested in the BB but was thinking that with 2 black dials it was a bit repetitive. but after seeing your pics of the BEB, i was sold. keep up the good work.

Glad you enjoyed the photos! I love the BEB Bird. I have a 22mm Brown Croc, i'll throw that on my bird and take some shots...I think I may like that as well.

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

The bracelet aint half bad either, but I figured that is a no-brainer when you are talking BB.

The black croc flows really well with the sub dials, and the brow or gold seems like it would really make the gunny blue shine on a sunny day

i dont like the combo of brown/blue...doesnt feel right for me.
the black croco looks cool thugh.
but after all...the best way to go is with the bb bracelet.its a winner!

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Breitling Blackbird, Breitling Superocean Heritage 38

That is a pretty sharp looking dial. Does the blue actually have a luster to it, or is that an effect of the lighting? Also, does anyone know if the BEB dial for the Chronomat has the same appearance?

The blue in the dial has metalic flecks you can see under a loop. It has a great shimmer to it.

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SHARKMAN

That does sound nice. If the Chronomat BEB is the same, I may have just found a new top contender for a replacement dial.

I totally agree with CometMan, since the watch was originally a tribute to the SR-71, the original brushed Blackbird on the pilot bracelet is the only way to go for me. However, one thing Breitling tends to do is change up a model and call is a LE (Blackbird blacksteel), or even change the entire color of a watch which contradicts the name of the watch (referring to the blue face Blackbird). Apparently a successful marketing strategy, which is obvious reading the previous posts on this thread. To each their own.



Yeah, if you're not a pilot. Breitling's are modern day luxury watches but are still aviation based. Navitimer's can calculate time, fuel, and distance, which I'm sure you think is "pretty damn useless" also, but the Navi, along with most other Breitlings, have aviation features which pay tribute to it's aviation heritage.

Cheers!

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Nick


Rolex Datejust 18K + SS

Navitimer 01 L.E.

Nick, how would one use the bezel on the BB? I'm guessing there's a way, but I haven't figured it out. I don't see what good compass points do on a bezel that doesn't track with the magnetic pull of the north pole, but I'm open to being enlightened.

Jackson,

Not that it will help you navigate if you're totally lost, but it can be used as an aid for navigation when flying. For example, ATC tells you "Callsign N89032 turn left heading 270 to intercept the 030 radial from the ABC VOR", I guess you could turn your compass to follow those directions if you lack a pen and paper, haha. The compass bezel is also helpful in determining radial reciprocals in calculating various aviation complications.

I hope you're enlightened.

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Nick


Rolex Datejust 18K + SS

Navitimer 01 L.E.

Dunno what happened my original post!! It disappeared

Anyhow, I can't resist sticking my oar in!! Its funny how strongly people feel about things like this!! For the record- I prefer the chronomat- much prefer the chronomat bezel, prefer the sub dial outline and arrangement etc....but that doesnt mean I don't like the BB, just prefer the chronomat!!!

Got to say though- at the end of the day they are very similar watches!!! Even on here people have to appreciate that!!

Both are awesome->

JS,

In addition to the wealth of aviation knowledge that Nick has shared with us, there is a more practical application for this bezel. The bezel can be used as a solar compass. This procedure will vary slightly between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but for a watch with a 12-hour dial, you would point the hour hand (the 12 o´clock mark in the Southern Hemisphere) towards the direction of the sun and then you can determine South (North), which is half-way between the hour hand and the 12 o´clock mark. This concept rests on the fact that at noon the sun will be more or less exactly South (North).

Brushed please

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

That's true of any analogue watch though (and it's in the Breitling manuals), the compass bezel simply makes it easier to read degrees.