The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Bozman, same with me, breaking the strap in off the watch sounds brillant but mines already on so I'll just wait it out this time around. It's coming along but still sits weird on the wrist and the wrist bone.

Dang fellas, you do know that you can remove the strap very easily....don't you?

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

Bronco, how do you do this exactly? Do you mean rolling it in a ball?

I have a Croc tang strap for my Bentley and think it's way too stiff so I went back to the bracelet. The bracelet is so much more comfortable to the point that I'm thinking of selling the croc.

I have a calf on deployant for my Navitimer 01 and I think it's a lot more comfortable compared to the the croc. I'm not sure if it's because it a calf instead of croc, or 22mm vs 24mm, or because it's on a deployant, or because the navitimer is a smaller watch, or a combination of all these factors.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in a 24mm brown croc I'm considering selling mine.

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

I have a Bergeon 6767-F, but I don't think that works for straps. What is the correct tool?

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

While off the watch, gently fold the strap onto itself (wrist side touching). Start at one end and "roll" the strap against itself. Be carefull to not bend the strap "flat" as the stress on the outside of the leather might cause a rip or tear. I usually do this in graduating steps, limbering up the leather. Think of breaking in a leather belt, by folding it in half and moving the fold mark across the entire lenth of the belt. After a few (20 or so) of these movements the leather will start to obtain a curve. Once my straps start to take on a curve, I stop the break in and start wearing them.

This works very well for me, but be carefull if you do this. I wouldn't want you to screw up you new straps. Take it easy and remember that the new leather isnt going to want to be folded very tightly. Nor do you have to fold it tightly.

I did this in the AD before straping on my Navi 01 and driving home 2 1/2 hours (and then wearing it another 3-4 hours before bed). Very comfortable, the whole day. Now, after wearing it a lot, its formed quite nicely to my wrist. I figure my break in took about 3 weeks off the natural breaking in period.

Craig, that IS the correct tool. If you aren't super familiar with strap removal, I would place some tape on the lugs to prevent scratching and look at the strap removal videos that the admin has on youtube.

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

Well that's interesting. There is a nice little groove on my Pilot bracelet that makes it pretty obvious how the tool works. With the strap, I'm assuming I just slide the tool in between the lug and strap and apply some pressure . . . ? If I have to ask such questions, I think taping the lugs is a necessity.

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

Craig this video by Admin can explain it a lot better than I can type it out. Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhsVGYlJ8QA

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

Thanks Bronco, It took me a minute to try to conceptualize this but I think I got it.

_________________
Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

Err - Bergeon 6767F!

Here's mine. Picked it up on t he 23rd. Opened it on Christmas. Finally "wore" it for the first time today. Actually my wife picked it up for me and the AD kept the warranty info at the store w/o filling it out just incase I wanted to return it. I went there today to make sure I didn't love something else more. I was tempted by a green bezel SOHC LE on a brown rubber strap. It had a unique/retro look and color combination. I wound up keeping this but will get back to the AD soon to pick up the SOHC also.

Just to keep things exciting, I also ordered a brown croc for the navitimer in addition to the black calf. I'll post some more pics when the new strap comes in.

_________________
Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

Pete, I can't believe it's taken you this long to wear it! Aside from sleep and showers, I haven't taken mine off.

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

I'd put it on and off and play with it often during that time. One thing I discovered that was really cool was that the minute counter is a jumping one. I was blown away when I first saw that. As the second chronograph hand passes the 60 second mark the minute counter jumps to the next position, where as, it's a smooth flow on my Motors T. This just adds a bit of excitement to the watch. I'm sure it's something that caliber 01 owners knew about for quite some time but it's new to me.

Anyway, I just wanted to make sure it was THE watch before I started breaking it in especially since I had an opportunity to exchange it. I normally would have been at the AD the Monday after Christmas but this is what we had to deal with here on the east coast:


It's hard to tell, but one mound is a sedan and the other is my SUV. We had 30 inches of snow here starting the day after Christmas. It took 2 days for the plow to clear my street just so that I could get to work. Anyway, that was no way to start off with my Navitimer. My Omega PO had to get me through the tough times.

It was worth the wait. The Navitimer 01 is a beautiful watch. I compared it today to the standard Navitimer. The 1 mm difference is pretty obvious as is the applied wings logo and the red second hand. The 01 has more presence and looks like a step above the standard one. The best is the little surprise of the display back every time I take off the watch. I have to say that I was a little disappointed in the color of the date font. It looks more black than red. It's only slightly maroon looking in just the right lighting conditions the rest of the time it looks black. Also, from the descriptions, I thought the subdials would be a raw silver but they look like they were painted a silver finish. Does anyone know if that's t he case?

This watch seems like it's the perfect work watch for me. Not to flashy but at the same time it has the presence of a high quality time piece. I ordered a brown croc to spice thing up every so often.

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

Pete, the minute subdial hand does indeed jump. As my first Breitling was the Chronomat B01, I didn't know any different. However, I can tell you the half hour subdial slowly sweeps.

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the piece.

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

Nice photos Pete, both of that special watch and of your street, similar to what we saw in the Chelsea district in NYC.

I need to arrange to get mine back to Breitling UK today so they can get it sorted.

Stef

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Good luck with that. Hope it's a quick turn around.

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3