The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Ask any one who don't know about watches and get them to name top watch brands, I guess Rolex and Tag Heuer but not Breitling will pop up ... On a recent tread here, "Popular watch brands you dislike" I think I counted a lot, to many IMO, that listed Tag Heuer as a major dislike. Certainly it was up there in the top brands listed as disliked. Even called a near fashion brand. So as a Tag owner and one who generally likes the brand and their collections I was wondering what was the major dislike to the brand? I recently read a Jeremy Clarkson book and he stated that "there is only one thing worse that a fake Rolex and that is a real one" Funny but I believe it not to be true. I can see why as when I see a 20$ Rolex fake I get sick but is this the same with Tag? I don't think so. I love my Tag Indy 500 and I kind of use it as my beater. I also feel I kind of need the token Tag...That said it wares well, I don't feel to worried about it, and most importantly I like it..

So Again why the Tag Heuer Hate?

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

i cant speak for anyone else about the Tag hate. I for one do not hate the brand. But personally the brand is just not for me. My decision is purely based on looks and to me the watch just doesnt appel to me.

as for top watch brands I do believe that Breitling would pop up in conversation. As a general brand that people would know. I live in Vancouver BC and Breitlings out here are like Honda civics on the street. Alot of people have them.

I noticed a lot of Tag hating in that thread also. As a former owner of a Tag Link and Tag Carrera Day Date I happen to like some of their wathes. As i've developed a taste for in house movements and higher end pieces I drifted away from Tag but I certainly respect them and appreciate their brilliant marketing.

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

It is Tiger Wood's fault.

Seriously, at the AD today picking up a couple seviced watches I was rather attracted to a Grand Carrera PVD on a kevlar strap with red contast stitching to match some red highlights on an otherwise black dial. It was very sharp. But whenever I look at the price on a Tag that interests me, I just sigh. $6K+ for that one full retail.

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SHARKMAN

I have owned 2 Tags myself (an Aquaracer and an Aquagraph which was actually a good watch) and one of the biggest problems I have with the brand is the image. Certainly where I come from in the UK they are generally bought by chavs and wide-boys who can't afford a Rolex. "Alright geezer, got meself me new Tag. Whatdya reck'n to it, mush? Ya better like it or I'll chin ya!"

Sorry if that sounds snobby but that's just the image they have where I'm from.

The other issue I have with them is the price they charge for what they are. They generally use bog standard ETAs and they use tons of quartz movements too, while still charging only just sub-Breitling and Omega prices. I don't hate some of their designs, but they're not for me I'm afraid.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I'm screwed if I ever go to England because that barely made sense to me.

I pretty much agree with everything else you said. I liked TAGs when I was a kid because I didn't know about any other watches other than Rolex. Since I've started to learn more and more about watches I've come to realize that most TAG models are simply average watches, nothing special.

I've had two TAGs, one was stolen and the other was a quartz model that lasted me a very long time. I'm not saying that they're bad watches, and a few of them are very nice, but I feel that you're paying for the name, especially with the numerous quartz models. I suppose that could be said about a lot of other brands, but with watches like Breitling and Omega, who I think are their major competitors, the quality of your average TAG just doesn't stand up to them.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

for me it's the image. I think of some Tag owners as people who put their quartz Tags on watchwinders, just cuz it's cool...

...me either roman.

I think that Tag is good for what they are...an entry into "better" watch brands. They are not on the same level as the brands that we discuss here on a daily basis, but you have to keep in mind that most of the population (regardless of where you live) has never heard of many mid to high end brands. Rolex and Tag have both done a tremendous job of getting the brand name out to the public...and that IMO is why they sell so many watches.

I purchased a Tag years ago as a step up from a lot of really inexpensive watches...in fact I still have it. It has been a great watch for me, but with some other options now it just does not get any wrist time. At the time I purchased it I thought is was a really nice watch because I was not aware of what else was out there. Again, nothing wrong with the brand, but I think that they are largely popular because the average consumer is not aware of what other options are out there.

They have an in-house movement recently released, the Calibre 1887 and it's quite nice actually!!

As Driver said most of their automatic watches are modified ETA's....but keep in mind most Breitling's are modified ETA's as well. I'll agree they are overpriced but some of their watches are really nicely done.

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

Sure the 1887 is an in house movement - but not Tag's house, it's a reworked Seiko (yes, Seiko).

Their true in house movements are the super high end things and they do try to be inoovative - remove the hairspring, use belts, etc, but then you end up having to pay close to $100k for a Tag.

The watches are not my style, but then I'm pretty sure that I am not their target demographic, and I do find them to be generally overpriced for what they are. However, you have to respect them for building the market share that they have.

Nothing wrong with a re-worked Seiko, the Ananta is a beauty. Does Breitling make all of the components in house or do they use suppliers to supply them with their parts and then assemble in-house as Tag has done???

http://www.calibre11.com/1887-calibre/

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

I went to the UK once, let me see if I can translate.

I think the original post is painting a picture of the perceived image of the brand and how it's affected by a specific segment that purchases TAGs. Visualize the typical steroid abusing "frat boy" who purchases a TAG to only boost his already bloated self image. The type of person who in a conflict will most likely point out that he's wearing a $1000 dollar watch which makes him better than you (although they are easily intimidated by reading, writing, or complex mathematics). This type usually has neanderthal-ish features, lower than average intelligence and suffers from an inferiority complex. They believe that all women are their toys and expect attention.

I was going to compare the sterotype to the "Jersey Shore" dudes, but there's already a picture on this forum of Pauly-D sporting an ice-d out Breitling. LOL Let's hope the juiced up guerillas don't wreck the Breitling brand too.

On a personal note, I avoid making assumptions about the person based on the watch on their wrist. Most people usually give a pretty clear indication once they open their mouth.

I think I read some were " It is better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove doubt"!!!!

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

I think he removed all doubt with this paragraph. Tag owners are frat boys with an inferiority complex???

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