The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Gentlemen.
I recently bought a Breitling Crosswind (B13055). I now seem to have caught the bug!
I'd now like to buy either a Navitimer or SuperOcean Heritage - hopefully in blue or bronze? I like the 'flash' look of these two models.

Question - I'm aware that none of us are fortune tellers, but what advice could any of you experienced guys give me in terms of what model has the best prospect of either retaining or even increasing in value over the next 5 years or so?
My budget is around the £2000 mark, but would be prepared to go higher if need be.
(I live in Northern Ireland and have quite a limited source of supply here, so would more that likely have to buy via the internet - but not from the USA, as the import duties, VAT etc makes it financially prohibitive?)
Thanks in inticipation.

Navitimer--it's been around for decades, and should keep value. With the exception of the new in-house movement, which seems to have had some depreciation based on recent sales posts (significant price premium with the new movement), the Navis have done pretty well. It's also just about the only model that Breitling has not drastically changed cosmetically in the past year or so. Some would argue that it's now the only Breitling product you can look at and immediately identify as a Breitling.

The SOH hasn't been around that long and given Breitling's latest changes, who knows how long it will remain in its present iteration? Depreciation has been like a lot of other Breitlings, a drop-off early, then some stabilization.

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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

No Breitling will appreciate or retain it's value over the next 5 years.

The Navi is THE iconic Breitling. Guess which one I would suggest??

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SHARKMAN

Thank you Scott.
If YOU were spending about say £2000/£2500 on a pre-owner Navitimer, wtah model (Model number) would you be looking out for?

Hello Sharkman - what would you go for?

Having owned both I will say this....I just sold my SOH and would never consider selling the Navi (well maybe to upgrade to a Navi 01). The dial is just amazing on all iterations of the navitimer. All those digits and markers just hypnotize you. Anyhow, for a watch you can wear anywhere but the water, the Navi is the perfect choice. Comfortable, classic design, and a lot of history.

The SOH is a great watch, but the size made it a little more difficult to wear in all situations. If you have larger wrists this may not be a problem, but it was for me. The all black design is polar opposite to the navitimer, but it is still a very well crafted dial and case.

I would say it all comes down to how you want to compliment the Headwind (sweet pickup by the way...post some pics). If the Headwind is your work watch, than the SOH would really compliment as a weekender.

However, a standard Navi (now-discontinued) will have the same lug width as the Headwind and strap compatibility is a real bonus. If the headwind is on bracelet I would get a navi on leather and spend the extra dough on an extra strap just for fun.

Good luck with the decision

If you want a watch to increase in value buy an 806 Navi from the 50s

Otherwise buy the watch you like and be content that you'll lose just as much as if you had bought the one you didn't like.

Its unlikely either will increase in value in the next five years. Buy one to wear and enjoy, not as an investment As to which one to choose, I would go with the Navi. IMO it is the classic Breitling.

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Alex
Breitling - Navitimer
Breitling - SuperOcean
Breitling - Chrono SuperOcean

Looks like the concensus of opinion is that a Navitimer is the one to go for. That's what I was originally looking for but I then saw a couple of very nice SuperOceans. A Navitimer it is then!

Johnnie: There are enough varieties of Navi that it's really a matter of personal taste and watch size. The classic Navi is 41 or 41.5 mm. I got the Heritage because it was 43mm, but typically it costs more. It had an integrated bracelet, meaning that you can't switch to a leather band, but that hasn't bothered me, at least yet. The Datora, also 43mm, is the one I thought I wanted for years but ultimately decided the dial was a little too busy. There are special edition versions like the Fighters which can come on brushed as opposed to polished steel. And of course the World, at 46 mm, has been around for several years. Lots of people here love it, but I think it's just a bit big.

I suppose the true traditional Navi would be the 41 mm on leather band, which is probably the least expensive. I do love the pilot bracelet, though.

I think you are at a good price point for a good condition used standard Navi. Some, like the Datora, my Heritage, or the special editions, go higher, but it seems like the 3000 range is a common settling point. Some more expensive versions, like the World, seem to be taking a bigger resale beating and heading for the low-mid 3s. I'm afraid that the new in-house movement model will, too. Shark is, of course, right--no Breitling will hold original value, and even pre-owneds will lose value. That said, I think among pre-owned Breitlings, the Navi holds value the best. The old rule of thumb always holds-- you have to try some on and decide which size and style you like best.

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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

Except that it now has an in house movement making it the most expensive. It also comes on the Navitimer braceleet, not the pilot bracelet.

Once again Scott, thank you very much. I'm trying my very best to hold fire untilo the one that I really want comes along - problem is that at the minute I dont know what one that is???
I'll hopefully know it when I sse it?

Scott - there's a Navitimer Montbrillant A30030.2 currently on ebay at present - asking £1795 (seller is chrono_collectors_corner). Its pretty much what I'm looking for - what's your thoughts?

Roff--He's asking used-- for new you're right, of course.

Johnnie--I don't have the savvy to look up a listing by number, but the Montbrilliant is smaller, about 38mm. There are special versions of this, too. I think the Montbrilliant 1903 was either 41 or 43mm, and the new Legende is huge.

Some people love Montbrilliants, especially those with smaller wrists and for whom 38-40mm is the ideal size case. I think it has become a bit of a unisex watch, again due to the size. The chrono can be hard to read, though, at that size. It's quite a bit smaller than a standard Navitimer.

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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

Sure Andrew Michaels could help its worth a phone call to their brilliant staff