The Breitling Watch Source Forums

What is the reasoning behind the left handed crown on the Chronomatics?

I really like the 44 mm model from a few years back, but it seems like they never really took off, thus being discontinued. I have seen some really nice C'matics linger on boards for a long time. I am most fond of the non 24 hour dial, but only because I think the Cossie does it better, JMO.

Anyhow that silver dial C'matic would look pretty RAD on a Brown Crocco with a bund strap.

Any thoughts on why this model is so disrespected?

I love them too, hence why I bought my 24hr le. When I got it I asked the same question about the crown, if I remember correctly, Roff said it was due to the dimensions/shape of the movement in the original, a left hook was all they could use. Since then the design has just carried on.
Great, great watch though, id say they are a relative bargain compared to a navi second hand.

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Breitling navitimer super constellation LE
Omega Ploprof 1200m
Bremont supermarine
Rolex milgauss GV
Olivant and Botsford 40mm Gold edition

Facts aside, I've read somewhere else too that they placed the crown on the left to show people that the winding days are over... sort of a novel idea...

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

Also as a left wrist wearer, the big watch's crown won't dig in if I flex my hand.

Yeah, i heard that the original Cal 11 had a LH crown to make them stand out against the manual winding chronographs.

As an inside left wrist wearer doubly so.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

The left hand crown was as a result of there not being room in the movement for the traditional keyless works because of the micro rotor and associated winding gears that the automatic added. The marketing spin about not needing to wind a chronograph any more was just leveraging the solution to the engineering problem.

The modern Breitling's use of the left hand crown was no longer needed, just a nod to tradition and one that they obviously don't care about since the left hand crown has now been discontinued on chrono-matics.

I'm keeping mine (for tradition....)

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

What is the black ring on the bezel made of? Is it rubber? I read that the new C'Matic 49 has a rubber bezel, and this might be a bit of a turnoff.

An an aside....I was in the process of shopping for a white IWC AT 2000, but for the same money I think the CM offers a bit more heritage and longevity. Any thoughts?

The CM49 has a rubber bezel, others are metal.

I never comment on one watch choice over another - that's personal taste, but from a tradition standpoint I think that the CM49 rejects tradition completely with the 'normal' pusher and crown layout.

One more question regarding the finish....

Is the black dial a brushed finish while the white dial a polished?

I think the Navi bracelet is a bit bling for me in polished form. Was the bracelet offered in both brushed/polished finishes?

No difference that I am aware of.

I've had a Chrono-Matic 44mm (now discontinued model), and the bezel itself was metal, with black coating (DLC I guess), but it had a rubber bezel insert. So it wasn't made entirely of metal.

It was a sweet watch, but due to the very long clasp the Navi bracelet cannot be properly adjusted for thin wrists A quite expensive lesson learnt by me...

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Ingenieur - Speedmaster - Submariner

The Chrono Matic 24 bracelet is brushed.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

Does that mean in theory you could use a Brushed bracelet from the 24 hour SE on the standard C'Matic?

Not sure how a brushed bracelet would look on a polished case, but maybe.