The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello everyone,
I'm a newbie here at breitlingsource forum. I've read the posts once in a while to this forum to get info or just keep my passion about watchs alive as I read many of your posts. I currently own 2 Aerospaces and one limited edition CF-18 Airwolf. I did have an issued RCAF 1962ish Chronograph, which unfortunately was stolen in 1991 or so.

After this introduction, I have a simple question for all of you. Are the non AD in the US trust worthy? I see the dealers like swissluxury, authenticwatches etc. are they up and up?

Why am I asking? Well, pretty simple, I am wanting to buy the new Transocean with silver white face, brown croc bracelet. The current price of $7900ish is problematic, while the online non AD seems more reasonable.

I'm sure lot's of you have crossed this bridge before, therefore I would appreciate your help, please.

Thanks
Brez

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Cheers
Brez

Aerospace
Airwolf CF-18 Limited Edition
TrancOcean Chronograph LE (mercury silver dial, brown croc, folding clasp)

Authenticwatches and Jomashop selling authentic watches but they're considered grey market and Breitling doesn't honor the warranty. In the event that you need a warranty repair you would have to send the watch back to these guys and have their 'watch makers' service the watch. Not exactly the best route in my opinion.

Contact member FEAR at Provident Jewelers, an authorized AD and a forum sponsor. He might be able to get you into a TO within your budget.

Good Luck!

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

Like every business it's a case by case basis and you have to check out any seller before you make the purchase.

I bought my first two Breitlings from grey market sellers, but my last from an AD (forum sponsor) because his price was damn near a match, and of course included the Breitling warranty. along with the peace of mind.

Those deals can be matched no problem by ad's. Not worth the risk

I would assume Breitling's increase in dealer cost ultimately resulted in increased prices for the gray market. Without a doubt, the prices I've seen on the big gray market sites, and I've used them a lot to look at models and get retail pricing info, can be matched or bettered through a reasonable AD.

18 months or so ago it was somewhat different. I cannot think of a reason today to buy gray market unless it is a model on double-special or something. The routine model pricing doesn't justify getting a watch without a brand warranty. And there is always the risk of the serial # being removed which means Breitling will never touch it for service.

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SHARKMAN

A little over two years ago I had a gr seller match Authentic watches price on a Blackbird at $4,200. Their price now is $5,625, so there's definitely some truth to what you're saying. Their currently Bentley price on my watch is more than I paid from an AD just a couple months ago!

The bigger issue for me would be how the grey market is getting TransOceans this quickly. Typically a model would have been out for a year or more before it started showing up at ADs and all indications are that the TO is a good seller so no reason to dump on the grey market.

To me this means one of two things:

1) Advertising watches that they can't actually get or
2) Selling customer returns!

You can find same or better prices from an AD as you could from an after market source, but without any of the after market risks.
Furthermore, developing a relationship with an AD has an added value down the road.

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B4B GMT Midnight Carbon LE
IWC Vintage Ingenieur RG

I'm pretty sure it's the former. If you look at the gray market sites you will see "2-8 weeks" expected for shipment fro some models. That means thet do NOT have it in stock. They will take your money and then try to get one.

Driver8, I think it was, wrote about this with a rather expensive watch he tried to buy. They took his money, they couldn't get it, and he ended up getting a different watch from them. Unless it says "In stock and ready to ship" assume they do not have it and will try to source it.

Bottom line - they don't just list what they have. They list most every model. Given that, the discounts being no better than a good AD (especially out of state with no sales tax), and lack of a real warranty, I would never buy from the online gray market.

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SHARKMAN

I recently bought a TO LE chronograph through my local AD. Paid the same amount as advertised on swissluxury. It came in less than 3 weeks after I ordered it. So I would definitely go to an AD--and perhaps use sites like swissluxury to get an idea of what price the AD should match or beat. If the AD can't do it, find another.

Unless I'm going totally tonto (which is always a distinct possibility), I don't think this was me......

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Driver8

Site Moderator