The Breitling Watch Source Forums

So later this year I turn 40 and it seems to be a bigger birthday to me than 30 or 18 or whatever. I'm looking for a watch that will acknowledge the event, but I'm having a hard time coming up with a shortlist.

As many of you know I have been on a 'different' watch drive for the last little while - looking for watches that are more unusual and bring something distinctly different from what I already have or from what I'm likely to see on a wrist. The problem with that is that it often pushes me into a niche and I'm not sure that's the right watch for a 40th birthday. For example, I can see me adding an Azimuth Mr. Roboto and a Pierre Kunz Insanity to my collection in the not too distant future, and I recently said that I like the Bell & Ross Red Radar, but not sure that I want to look in the watch box and see those and think back to my 40th birthday. In my mind at least I want to be able to wear my 40th birthday watch on my 50th, 60th, 70th, birthdays etc and not sure I see Roff at 70 with Mr. Roboto on the wrist

That said, I don't want my 40th birthday watch to be hugely mainstream either - that's not appealing to me right now. There are a lot of very nice popular watches today, but that very popularity turns me away from many of them, they just aren't 'different' enough for me. I've toyed with the idea of a Reverso, a little less popular these days and with the opportunity to personalise it which obviously moves it into unique territory and I've also been thinking about some of the niche brands - Antoine Preziuso (although budget limits options there), Martin Braun, etc, but any ideas from you guys??

I like the idea of rose gold, but not sure that I would go that route because of practicality, so probably we are talking:

* Non precious case
* In house movement preferred but not necessarily required
* A watch that I'm not likely to see on someone else's wrist too often

Size is no issue to me, complications are not an issue, although a 'different' 3 hander obviously becomes harder.

What ideas do you have?????

I dunno about being 70 and seeing a Mr Roboto on your wrist : I personally wouldn't want to be ANY age and see one on my wrist! I can't stand that watch personally..... but then that's the beauty of this watch hobby - not everything appeals to everybody equally.

Anyway, in response to your main question Roff, I'm going to recommend something I mentioned to you the other day - the Louis Moinet Tempograph.

I'd say it fits your parameters to a tee - It's available in both precious and non-precious metals (and a combination of the two), as you know it's currently available for a very good price! , has a nice 10 second retrograde complication, 47mm diameter, a "brand exclusive" (i.e. kind-of-in-house) movement, it's different but not gimmicky so, and you sure as hell won't see one on many people's wrists as there's only 60 of them worldwide.

Plus you wouldn't look a prat wearing it at 40, 50, 60 or 70. Bonus!

Review here -
http://www.ablogtoread.com/louis-moinet ... -hands-on/

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Driver8

Site Moderator

It is semi-mainstream but, the new Glashutte Original Senator Diary in stainless comes to mind as an interesting yet classic looking watch.

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Steelfish GMT LE (white)

I was gonna say the same thing

Only gold cases though.

I like the new charcoal dial that they introduced this year, but not sure how much I would wear a white gold watch. Heck of a lot of bang for the buck though, especially compared with the price of Breitling gold pieces.

Soon as I saw the thread Martin Braun popped into my head, especially the meteorite.

What about a JLC Duometer or Master Toub?? You won't se many of those around town.

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

If the timing is right, I would've think your upcoming Pam Bronzo would've been a nice 40th commemorative watch?

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a few Pams...

Not sure what you currently have in your collection, or your budget for this purchase...but if you are looking for something that commemorates your 40th, then how about something like the Lange 1? That's something that would fit your personal tastes regardless of your age.

As far as something from the "way cool" category that I would love to have...JLC Extreme Lab.

Zenith El Primero Tourbillon Chrono. Available in SS at a retail under $50K. Not sexy or weird, but it would be wearable in any decade. And a Tourbillon at under $50K with good discounts available. Though your recent Customer Service issue with Zenith may be a deal breaker.

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SHARKMAN

But no guarantees that I'll actually get one.



Yeah, Zenith is a tough one for me at the moment.

This one is a no-brainer and I don't think you will run into anyone else wearing it!

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SHARKMAN

Guarantee you, if you put enough quarters in one of those candy machines, this watch is bound to pop out. I tried one on, and it just looked like a childs watch.



You just did an Archie!

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End of Discussion.

It's the most normal of the ones that I listed.










The problem with the Tempograph is that I really like the gold one and the steel / titanium one looks normal relative to it (obviously not realtive to others).

I have a feeling that if I ever walked in to an Azimuth dealer (is there even such a thing in North America?) I would be 100% convinced that I was coming out with Mr. Roboto and then walk out with Gauge Mecha / Chrono Gauge Mecha on my wrist.

Azimuth also has the new 'Urwerk like' SP-1 Twin Barrel Tourbillon, but that's getting to six figures

You haven't said. What kind of budget? It makes all the difference.

Indeed I haven't because I don't know. I'm not about to drop $100,000 on a watch, but I'm trying to be flexible here in finding the 'right' watch for my 40th. If that means that I blow the budget for a year then so be it, if it only costs $500 then that's OK too - I should be so lucky.

On this watch I'm trying not to 'buy to a price'.