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Driver8
PostPosted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:55 am 
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Montexn wrote:
Driver, what do you think about the SOP? Personally IMO I think they missed the boat when they discontinued this model, it would have provided Breitling a true diving watch in all ways don't ya think? All brushed case, amazing depth rating (5000ft/1524m), auto helium release, pearl @ the 12 on the bezel, and good lume...not too mention the yellow dial is supposed to be the best for viewing underwater.

For me this falls into the same camp as the Seawolf : so close, but IMO the lume still lets it down in terms of be the real class leader in terms of a dive watch. Breitling have never been the best on the lume front when compared to a number of other manufacturers. For me, the class leaders on lume are Panerai, Omega, Doxa (on the 5000T only, IMO), and Seiko. In fact Seiko is the best I've ever seen for brightness.

And as I said previously, I like all those watches mentioned above (to varying degrees), but if we're talking about a proper hard-core diver's watch, then I think Breitling always seems to just fractionally miss the mark in some tiny way.

If I was designing a proper divers tool watch, then functionally I'd want it to be -

1. All brushed finish.
2. Have a suitable depth rating.
3. Helium release value (totally unnecessary to all but the most extreme professional saturation divers, but hey, we're making the perfect diver's tool here!)
3. Non-chronograph with centre seconds hand.
4. Flat dial with very contrasting markers and hands. (Personally I'd go with black dial with white hands and markers, even though orange is supposed to be the best for underwater visibility. To me the contrast is more important).
5. Solid, fully lumed hands (no skeleton hands).
6. Uni-directional, easy to grip and turn, countdown bezel with clear minute divisions.
7. Bezel pearl.
8. Seriously amzing lume!

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Montexn
PostPosted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 4:30 am 
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Driver8 wrote:
For me this falls into the same camp as the Seawolf : so close, but IMO the lume still lets it down in terms of be the real class leader in terms of a dive watch. Breitling have never been the best on the lume front when compared to a number of other manufacturers. For me, the class leaders on lume are Panerai, Omega, Doxa (on the 5000T only, IMO), and Seiko. In fact Seiko is the best I've ever seen for brightness.

And as I said previously, I like all those watches mentioned above (to varying degrees), but if we're talking about a proper hard-core diver's watch, then I think Breitling always seems to just fractionally miss the mark in some tiny way.

If I was designing a proper divers tool watch, then functionally I'd want it to be -

1. All brushed finish.
2. Have a suitable depth rating.
3. Helium release value (totally unnecessary to all but the most extreme professional saturation divers, but hey, we're making the perfect diver's tool here!)
3. Non-chronograph with centre seconds hand.
4. Flat dial with very contrasting markers and hands. (Personally I'd go with black dial with white hands and markers, even though orange is supposed to be the best for underwater visibility. To me the contrast is more important).
5. Solid, fully lumed hands (no skeleton hands).
6. Uni-directional, easy to grip and turn, countdown bezel with clear minute divisions.
7. Bezel pearl.
8. Seriously amzing lume!


Yeah I agree that there are better lumes out there and Breitling could improve in that department. I think the SOP and Seawolf are the closest they have come to an actual divers tool watch and with a little improvement they would nail it.

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Drtymrtini
PostPosted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:39 pm 
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I like that SOP a lot, but Driver makes very excellent, and valid, points.

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Otto
PostPosted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:45 am 
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Good list Driver. I'd add good AR coating on the crystal.

The PO ticks a lot of these boxes. :cheer:
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Driver8
PostPosted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 1:20 am 
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Otto wrote:
Good list Driver. I'd add good AR coating on the crystal.

The PO ticks a lot of these boxes. :cheer:

Good spot there Otto! Yep, a good AR is very useful.

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