The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I think it just has to do with the rest of the industry. If the entire Swiss watch industry follows this pattern, all watches will be expensive so you we will be limited to either paying the high prices or not buying a watch at all, regardless of manufacturer.

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-RJ

interesting reply's...

+1. the only reason i hold on to my breitlings is im too cheap to take the hit. if i could recover most of the dough i would have dumped them long time ago.

You can't appeal to everyone. Pick a direction, go balls to the wall, and be the best you can be at it. Breitling has no direction, they're very unappealing right now, and they have cheapened the look of their watches considerably. As said earlier, hopefully they can learn from Zenith and find themselves again one day.

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

All of this makes me wonder if I need to take a look at any more of the last new Steelfish or CSOs out there. My present blue Steelfish and silver Navi Heritage are going nowhere and don't stay off my wrist very long--I've actually been wearing my Panerai the last couple of days out of principle because I hadn't been wearing it enough. Other than those, I'm definintely looking used market for the future.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

I should also add that my Navi Heritage draws the most favorable comments and looks of any watch I have owned. I'm not stirred by the new ones but that shouldn't detract from some of the great watches Breitling has made over the past several years.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

You can have my 3 month old CSO. PM me an offer.

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

Sadly, I've already stopped buying or even considering Breitlings for myself. The most I've had was 3 Breitlings, but now I'm down to only one, my first: the Colt II Quartz. I've had a wonderful time owning all of them, but after losing a considerable amount of weight, my wrist got a lot thinner, and the once comfortable 'lings became less than optimal for my new tiny wrist. I had to let the bigger ones go, but I stick to the Colt. It's the right size for me, it's not shiny, and it still has the proper rider tab "DNA" in it. I would buy the Colt again, although definitely not for $4000 or more. I'd still buy more Breitlings, but less and less of them are made in the sub-42mm size. And the ones that may fit me well are either too expensive, too dressy or too shiny. And I don't trust the B01 movement anymore, due to the bad press it got on this forum.

But all is not lost: my wife recently fell in love with Breitling, so as long as Breitling produce some handsome, shiny pieces in the 36 to 40mm range, she could be well catered in the future too.

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Ingenieur - Speedmaster - Submariner

While there are still Breitlings that I do like, Breitling lost me when I saw the retail prices on the new Chrono Superoceans, one of the only new models that I actually like. Even with a friendly discount from my AD, I could never justify spending that.

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

I've always bought second hand or vintage. Not much of what Breitling have released recently thrills me and certainly none thrill me enough to buy new for their price. I'd love to buy the new TransOcean but i think i can wait a few years for a second hand one.

i never bought a new one...!!!!! simply because the second hand prices are sometimes very nice for a hardly worn watch...

I have to tell You, that the US pricing is not in the hands of Breitling anymore. For the last year, the swiss franc has increased in comparison to the Euro by about 20%. The Dollar has lost to the Euro for about 20%. That would men, the dollar has lost about 40% to the swiss franc. As the cost for the watches from switzerland is still calculated in swiss franc (they pay their workers and buy their raw materials in sfr), they have to increase prices in the US, as they would otherwise sell below cost. At the same time, prices for raw materials have increased considerably: Copper, steel, gold, even electric power have gone to levels, which are considered all time highs. So, the price policy has gone out of the hands of the producers.

BG
Thomas

p.s.: It is the economic policy of our governements, which is mostly responsible for weakness or strenght of a currency.

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http://www.ellert.at

My reply is still the same. In the first instance it's entirely dependent on how much a like a thing. If I like something a lot, I'd be prepared to pay more for it..... and then it comes down to whether I can afford it. To use your example, I personally wouldn't pay even $1000 for a Colt because I just don't like them enough. That doesn't mean it's not a good watch or wouldn't be good value, it just means that I don't like it enough. It's all down to personal perception of worth for each model.

That said I completely agree that by increasing the prices to the levels they have (and are still doing), Breitling are inevitably pricing a lot of people out of the market. For some, they will still like the models and think they are worth the price, but won't be able to afford to buy them, while others will think that they simply don't like them enough for the prices being asked. Either way, if they lose sales numbers in any great amount, it's a lose/lose situation for Breitling, and also a lose/lose for consumers.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Well I don't totally agree with your statement, but there is something more important that you are leaving out of the equation here. The list prices on Breitling's new (or updated) models puts them in very close if not in the same arena as JLC, IWC, GO, Panerai, Rolex...etc. Now I understand that all of those manufacturers have many higher end pieces, but they also have some really attractive watches with in-house movements at the entry level (especially JLC and GO).

To me Breitling WAS a very logical next step from say a Tag Heuer into nicer timepieces..(I think of Omega the same way). I think that Breitling HAD a great niche in the industry, but it appears that with their recent strategy they are going to end up in the same price league with the "bigger boys" that I listed above. IMO this is a big mistake...they WERE hands down the best option at in their price point a couple of years ago, but that is rapidly changing. Add to that that their recent designs are less than attractive, and seem to focus more on color than having an "instruments for professionals" feel to them, and I think that they are going to have some serious issues over the next 24 months or so.


As far as what you mentioned above about Breitling not having any control about the pricing...I just have one question. If this is true.........then why have all the other manufacturers not gone up by close to if not the same % on their watches over the past 12-24 months? If that were the case...then Breitling would still be a relative bargin in comparision to the other guys, and would still be in that "sweet spot" that I think has made them the success that they were in the past.

After my much publised 50 yr wait for the one watch brand i had always wanted....then eventually buying it, i really went in blind as far as different marques, models,were concerned Breitling were the one i lusted after. since i achieved my goal,i have found my particular piece to still be what i wanted as far as appeal is concerned. It still gives me the buzz i bought it for.....but the other aspects since buying the SA have tarnished the image for me, the subject of Breitling models, all on sale at a high price as far as watches are concerned are subject to water ingress,service pricing and length of time while servicing ect....and other faults you would not expect from a brand with the reputation of Breitling.
So while i still would not name any other watch as one i would rather have,i will stick with the one i have,but no more watches demanding the high price of Breitling, Rolex, Panerai, ect. will come into my ownership......so enough has been reached in answer to the question.

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SUPER AVENGER 563 AIRFORCE BLUE
WHITE SUBS, PRO11 BRACELET