The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Honest to God, I thought I was done for a while. I had my big four, Rolex GMT Pepsi, Navitimer Heritage in silver (white) that I always wanted, stunning new blue Steelfish, and NOS Panerai 48. But for some reason, as I was studying straps for the Panerai, I just wondered, before I start blowing bucks on straps, is everything exactly as I wanted it. So, I logged on, looked around, checked the 'bay and thought, what about a JLC? Looked, looked some more, then was distracted by a Zenith Chronomaster XXT open. Saw a GP WWTC and thought, wow, that's a lot of watch for decent money on the pre-owned market. Also looked at some UN, I kinda missed the one I sold. Then came a local store with a great deal on a Maxi Marine, but also a Breguet that was not cheap, but looked intriguing. I snuck out of the office one late afternoon to take a look. Well, so much for the big 4. The Breguet, a Type XXI, was like nothing I had ever seen. I was blown away.

So, like I always do, I research the price, the watch, all of it. Did the broader scan of things, then thought, maybe someone here owned one. To my utter surprise, both Sharkman and mfserge owned one, a couple of months before I discovered this site. I know Sharkman as he and I are original members of the completely unofficial Phoenix chapter. One of the other watches he vetted before he bought his--the same JCL, a Master Compressor Chrono that I was looking at from afar. We PM'd, he had nothing but great things to say about the Breguet.

I went back, could not take it off my wrist, and so, I have found the grail:

























The one frustrating part of this wonderful timepiece is that no photo I have seen can do it justice. The six (or seven) layers on the dial, the changing hues of the dial with light, the craftsmanship of the bracelet, its' like nothing I have had before. I feel honored and fortunate to have it.

So, probably tomorrow, I have the sad task of putting up for sale two 2-3 month old watches, one of them my beloved blue Steelfish. I'm more guppy than Shark when it comes to this, so at least until I can find some budget for a less-expensive blue dial watch late this year or early next, it is now the big 3. Amazing obsession, this is.

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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

Congrats - every single Breguet is a truly incredible piece.

Nice Scott! Since you played hooky and mentioned that shop, I did the same yesterday. First thing I noticed was the Breguet was gone and they said someone bought it yesterday. I was just waiting for the pics to hit BS.

Well bud, you've just upped the ante'. Hope your wife realizes you are on the threshold of dangerous watch territory.

Enjoy it and if you haven't watched the vid "Breguet at the Louvre," do so.

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SHARKMAN

Yes that is a gorgeous watch....and photos don't do it justice. I wish I had kept mine and put it on a bracelet because the Breguet strap and deploy are sub-par IMO. The dial is just awesome and it kept the most accurate time of any watch I have ever had.

I've had over 50 watches in then past year and that is by far the one that I most regret getting rid of....I shoulda bought shark's!!!

Congrats and enjoy it.

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

And if Scott hadn't bought it Thursday I may have bought it out from under him - it was priced right. Sorry Scott, but all's fair in watches and war.

I still have yet to see a Type XXII in the metal. That would be something to behold.

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SHARKMAN

Congrats Scott! I do like the very clean (for a chrono) and readable dial, nice arabics, looks like it has good lume. What are the dimensions of the case?

See what happens when you play 'hooky' and don't stay in the office to work? Pretty soon you and Shark... will be holding work meetings at the AD .

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

It is a 42, but wears larger. The lume is quite good and the arabics see fully lumed. It is a flyback as well.

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SHARKMAN

Thanks so much everyone:

Kodiak: it wears every bit as large as my Heritage, which is 43 mm and is pretty much all dial. You see more of the XX than you do the XXI, same style but 40 mm instead of 42. The lume is quite a surprise, really good, and I'm a complete sucker for the style of the arabic numerals.

Roff: I understand you collect some really special watches yourself. Much appreciated.

Serge: I wish I was here then to buy Shark's too, but I wouldn't have understood it unless I saw it in person. I started poring over Timezone archives and they don't come up that often, but they do come up.

Shark: I got nervous after I went home and started researching the watch. Thankfully they knew my long-time watch guy downtown and were willing to hold it for a couple of days until I could get back out there. Didn't hurt that the lady I was working with was from the same little town as my wife hails from: Jenks, Oklahoma. She told me a dealer called about it the day I came in to pick it up. The XXII looks nice but I'm also intrigued about the new XXI Titanium. Ablogtoread did a hands-on review about two weeks ago. Dark bezel, black dial availability, and I read that they have unique treatment of the arabic numerals that is really striking. Though a bit of a decorum issue, I suppose I could wear it to the next chapter meeting. We need to round up the other folks who couldn't make it the first time. I saw a still photo reference to Breguet at the Louvre but I'll look for video. My wife is cool about it so far, but she'd really rather go to the Louvre.

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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 can't get into the new XXI, the bezel really doesn't do it for me. I think your XXI is much much nicer!!

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

I do prefer mine, though what Breguet has taught me is to see the watch in the metal first. I did see pics of the new XXII that I think Shark mentioned, and that also looks pretty sharp.

Not saying I'd do it, but has anybody been to one of the mini-Basel shows that Watch Time magazine puts on in about five or six cities?

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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

wow bud what a great piece. congrats and enjoy it

Huge congrats! That's a really sharp piece!

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a few Pams...

Great story Scott and an awesome pick up. I really have to try one of those on one of these days. Looks great on your wrist!

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

Ah, Breguet... is poetry on the wrist. Congratulations!
Ted