The Breitling Watch Source Forums

My friend, Roger, only picked this up two weeks ago. So I feel very honoured that he has allowed me to borrow it. However, the caveat was that I take some pictures of it for him in my light box.



But first a few words about this strikingly beautiful timepiece:

I have always wanted one of these since I was an influential early teen and saw Don Jonson wear one in the first series of Miami Vice. I was aware of Rolex at the time but this really made me go out and find out about this prestige brand.

Some say that Rolex have maintained their position as one of the biggest selling high end watch brands through clever marketing alone. Although Rolex are very clever at pitching their products to the right audience and gaining world wide recognition as a result, you only have to handle and wear this beautifully finished Day Date to realise that it is their products that allow them to remain at the pinnacle of watch sales.

There are so many individual details to this watch that, at first, my thoughts were it was a little bitty and fussy. Almost over designed (and this from someone who loves Graham watches ). However, after being allowed to handle it and inspect it for awhile you realise that the design really works and you are left feeling that this is a very special timepiece indeed. Very well designed, in fact, with nothing superfluous, if I can say that about a solid 18K watch with diamonds. Even at the $25K asking price!

Although the hour markers are diamonds, including baguettes at 6 and 9 O'clock, the feature that draws you in is the dial design. This could easily be considered the "star of the show". It is meticulously finished and made up of a solid gold disc that has been etched with the word ROLEX, over and over again. This may seem a little ostentatious when described but the design has been cleverly done so that it isn't obvious at all that this is what has been etched. The best way I can describe it is that it looks like a fine tapestry made of gold thread. See the pictures below and decide for yourself. It is quite special in my opinion.

I am not a fan of diamonds on watches. I would rather spend my money on acheiving something with a more complicated or highly finished movement. I would not choose to have diamonds on this watch either but at the same time they are not screaming "Look at me, I can afford diamonds" as most studded watches seem to do. Instead these are fairly subtle and seem to be added purely for the wearer's pleasure.

The president bracelet is one of my all time favourite designs. It is solid in feel and has a wonderful and cleverly designed clasp that uses the crown emblem to open it.

My watch aspirations have moved on since my early teens but I have taken great pleasure in handling, inspecting and photographing this classicly designed and beautifully finished and detailed watch.

Thank You must go to Roger, the owner, for his generosity and trust in lending me his new 18K gold Rolex Day Date. I also applaud Roger for buying this watch. He is not a Rock Star or a professional Sportsman with money to waste. He has bought various Rolex's over the past 30 years, cleverly, and has now finally realised his all time dream of owning something that many may believe to be over indulgent but, knowing Roger, I think it is deserved and I congratulate him.

Please be as honest in your appraisals as you wish. Roger appreciates that his Day Date is not to everyone's taste and by the looks of his wide smile, whenever he looks at or talks about this watch, I don't think he gives a damn.

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Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

Could look at it all day!!

SWEET

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

Usually not a fan of gold watches, but damn....

That bracelet looks amazing. Did you say that is the president? Does it comewith any other rolex models?

great looking pics, and tell roger he has a great peice that will be oogled over for many years

The President/Super-President bracelets are only for the Day-Date.

That really is an impressive watch. I've always thought that the Presidents were very classy looking watches. Personally I don't like the diamonds with that dial, I think they look better with the plain dial, but it's still very nice. You did a great job of capturing the detail in the dial, I never really noticed that it said Rolex over and over, I just thought it was a design. Great pics and tell your buddy congrats on a great watch.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

gorgeous watch. as others have said, i'd probably leave the diamonds out, but i wouldn't turn it down!

That dial is outrageous~ very nice...

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

OK, I'll buck the trend.

I can appreciate it for what it is, and I'm glad that your friend picked up a watch that he is very happy with, but.......

I really don't like it - way too over the top for me, but that's the beauty of individual taste.

Fully appreciate it as a piece, but it's not my taste.

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

I don't understand all of the writing on the dial...it makes it look really tacky to me.

My uncle has the same watch but without the "ROLEX" design on the dial. I grew up admiring it, so it will always have a small place in my heart. However, my taste is much different now, and its not something that id consider buying. I certainly appreciate it for what it is though.

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-RJ

Thank You, as always, for your candid opinions Guys. Roger and I appreciate it.

I agree with what most have inferred here: I would never in a millions years buy this watch myself but I can appreciate the craftmanship, materials and quality of the details.

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Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

I'm another that appreciates the watch but wouldn't personally own one. I'm just not into gold watches. Great story though, thank you for sharing!

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

Love the watch it is stunning!


One day I will purchase a day-date president....one day.


-E

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Collection..
2013 Rolex DAY DATE II 18kYG + Champagne Dial.
2009 Breitling CHRONOMAT EVOLUTION - MOP Diamond Dial + Diamond Bezel.
2005 Rolex SUBMARINER 2Tone 18k/SS + Blue Dial.
1984 Rolex DATEJUST 2Tone 18k/SS+Black Sunburst Dial