The Breitling Watch Source Forums

AMJ often get asked why the new models that incorporate the Calibre 01 are more expensive than the standard outgoing models.

So, I have dutifully put together a quick comparison guide.

I would very much appreciate your input on this new article if you have any.

http://www.andrewmichaels.co.uk/amj/sta ... -01-models

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Thanks again for the article, Ricardo. I had a few thoughts when reading it.

- What is a "clean" start chronograph? I'm not familiar with that term. Also, does the 01 movement not have an accurate reset to zero?

- Similarly, you say the 01 has a safety feature whereby the reset button is not operable when the stopwatch is running. Isn't that also true of the B13? On both my Evo and my CSO, I couldn't reset the chrono unless it was stopped.

- You list a bigger diameter case on the Navi 01 as an improvement. There are two problems with this. One, it's really a subjective call whether a bigger case is an improvement or not. Some people might prefer the smaller case. Even if the bigger case is an improvement, though, that's not due to the inclusion of the 01 movement. Breitling could have increased the size of the case and left the old movement in there. Therefore, the bigger case can't be seen as warranting the higher price for the new movement.

- Higher WR is technically an improvement, yes. However, is it a practical improvement for most people? How many people are really going to find an WR of 300m inadequate, such that 500m is seen as a substantially better? Also, once again, that's not an improvement attributable to the inclusion of the 01 movement. That's a product of case modification. So, again, the higher WR doesn't warrant the higher price tag for the new movement.

- Higher power reserve: definite improvement. Safe date set: definite improvement. Quicker service periods: theoretically an improvement, but does that actually bear out in the "real world"? How much quicker is the service turnaround for an 01 servicing relative to a non-01 servicing?

Thank You very much for your feedback Mr JacksonStone.

I put together this comparison to highlight what you get extra for your money with respects to the B01 and N01. I said that the price increases were "mainly" down to the new in-house movements, not all of the reasons. I mentioned the larger case was an improvement simply due to legibility. I appreciate this is subjective. It is more expensive to create a larger diameter watch so this is a reason for the higher price. It may be irrelevant to some but was still worth mentioning.

I totally agree that 99% of all B01 users will not be bothered if they had 300m WR or 500m WR. However, it is, once again, an upgrade over the original. Whether the buyer of the B01 is paying for this upgrade I'm not sure but the more WR the merrier, as far as I'm concerned.

I believe "clean" start refers to an almost instantaneous start of the chronograph which is a result of the use of a column wheel. The column wheel also stops the possibility of damage occuring if the restart push button was forcefully pressed whilst the chronograph is running. You could force the restart button of your Cal 13 if you tried hard enough and it would cause a lot of damage. Almost an irrelevant point I suppose because you would have to pretty stupid to try this.

Whether or not it is worth spending the extra for any of these features is up to the buyer but these are the reasons why the B01 and N01 are more expensive, whether we like it or not.

With the facts in front of us I would like this thread to become a debate on whether these "upgrades" are worth the extra over the original timepieces they are replacing. You never know Breitling may be listening.

Once again thank you for taking the time to give this useful feedback. I hope I have answered your questions fully.

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Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

The "clean start" chrono soconds hand is quite noticable on my Navo 01. It starts without a hint of a jump or hesitation. Certainly not unique in the watch world, but a pleasant addition to Breitling.

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SHARKMAN

Thanks for the info, guys. I didn't realize you could damage a B13 by forcing the reset while the chrono is running. I've never tried to force it; however, I have pressed the reset while it was running, and it just felt like nothing engaged. I just assumed the button didn't function unless the chrono was stopped. Good to know I shouldn't try harder. I don't know why I would, but it's still good to know I shouldn't.

Ricardo, I thought your article was addressing the common question, "Why does the 01 model cost more than its non-01 counterpart," specific to the benefits of the in-house movement. In looking at the question again, I can see how you were discussing the watches as a whole, and not just the movement itself. I tried to go back and read it again, but I keep getting a page on the AM website saying it cannot be found.

Andrew Michaels are currently upgrading their website. We hope to make an announcement about this soon.

This work may have affected the access to the blog page. It is available again now. Apologies for the inconvenience.

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Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

Yep, same here.

EDIT: read ricardo's comment after posting

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

same here!

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Breitling Antares B10047
Breitling Chronomat B13050
Breitling Chronomat A13050.1 - pilot bracelet
Breitling Chronomat Blackbird A13050.1 - serie spéciale
Breitling Avenger Seawolf E17370
Breitling Chronomat EVO A13356 - pilot bracelet

AMJ have been performing some upgrades to their website. It seems they have lost the most recent of my blogs that I have posted.

Apologies for the inconvenience. I'll let you know when everything it available again.

_________________
Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****