The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi all, I am currently deciding on buying my first Ling and have narrowed it down to either the Chrono Superocean or the Skyracer in blue or black.

I am wondering if anyone knows whether the Skyracer is worth the £700-800 difference.(I am from the UK). Is the mechanism better in the Skyracer??

Also my other concern is the size of the watch as I have fairly small wrists 7 inches in diameter and am used to a Tag Heuer Kirium chronometer.

Also my local AD has both these watches in blue dials and will give me them at with discount at the old RRP but if I wanted them in black then he would do 15% off the new RRP. Does anyone have any advise on what do go for.

Thanks JP

JP
I have reached a similar shortlist. My local AD had the Skyracer in stock and I really liked it. My main concern is whether it is robust enough to take the day to day stuff and also whether it will be ok for my annual beach/sailing type holidays.
I really want to try a CSO before I decide on my first Breitling. I currently wear a titanium Citizen EcoDrive which has proved to be very reliable and pretty robust. Initally I was looking for a titamium Breitling but since I started looking titanium has virtually disappeared from the line-up. I want a mechanical not a quartz movement but that just leaves the soon-to-be-discontinued Avenger Seawolf. And the more I look the more I actually want a steel Breitling anyhow!
I'll be very interested in the advice from the forum.

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Chris

Skyracer is a great looking watch - almost bought one this spring, but ended up with the Blacksteel instead. It is expensive relative to what most consumers would view as comparable Breitlings because it is positioned as part of the Professional range of 'leading edge', innovative pieces. It has a unique subdial at 9 o'clock that shows elapsed chronograph time on a single subdial.

It's obviously not the CSO in terms of water resistance, but is still rated to 200m so no practical problems for most people.

If you can spring for the Sky-racer you will not be disappointed. The Chrono Super Ocean is also very good. Either way you can not go wrong.

They both have the THICK case look and deep inset dials with unbelievable detail. Either way your wrist will be happy!

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This is a Rochefoucauld, the thinnest water-resistant watch in the world. Singularly unique, sculptured in design,hand-crafted in Switzerland.
In Philadelphia it's worth Fifty bucks.

Thanks to you both.

I did like the way the grey face Skyracer looked on my wrist, and the way of showing elapsed hours and minutes on the chronograph. The screw-in crown is obviously good but I was slightly concerned about the non-locking pushpieces. However, if it ever gets close to 200m down I'll already be a goner so it probably doesn't matter!

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Chris

Just remember as you are sinking that you shouldn't operate the pushers underwater and you'll be fine. Or at least, the watch will be fine.

The grey is my favourite colour for the Skyracer.

Grey looked great, with the steel bracelet. It is a more expensive watch than some but I am buying it to wear for a long time, so that price will soon be forgotten!

The black Skyland looks very cool but I have no idea if they are even still obtainable here in the UK.

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Chris

Last I spoke to my AD (last week) the Blacksteel was becoming pretty much impossible to find. I think there's one on the Bay right now, but I don't think an AD is going to have one unless you are really lucky.

Two good choices. You won't be disappointed with either.



Only you can decide what something is worth to you.



This could open up a can of worms! IMHO, no. The Calibre 27 movement used in the Skyracer is (afaik) a modified ETA 2892-A2, which is NOT a chronograph movement, with a Dubois-Depraz chronograph movement added on top. This does not make it a bad movement. Other fine watches such as the Omega Speedmaster Reduced and the 50th Anniversary Navitimer have used the same type of movement. However, it is not an inclusive chronograph movement like the Calibre 13 (a modified ETA 7750) used on the CSO.



That's a pretty small watch by today's standards (36mm) but larger watches are not a problem - you'll soon get used to the size. Just don't go straight to a 49mm Super Avenger or Bentley Motors in one leap!



I think it is a mistake to buy a particular colour because it's a bit cheaper. It's going to sit on your wrist for maybe 10/20 years so if it's not absolutely 100% the one you want, don't get it! Get the one you can least bear to take off your wrist.

If it was my money, I would get the blue CSO. Slightly smaller size, 7750, day/date, 500m, better looking (to me) and significantly cheaper. But that's just what I like. You get what you like. Have fun choosing!

Ready for a solution? The seawolf is NOT being discontinued--it is being replaced with a steel version (that looks great btw). I would go for that, or the CSO. I like the CSO, but find it a bit on the small side. If you like the size, that is a terrific looking watch. And I used to lust for the skyracer, but its appeal to me is fading fast (not to mention how much more it costs that similar models).

Thanks everyone for your comments. I am being swayed to go for the skyracer but not sure what colour dial. I am planning to go to my local AD this weekend to decide. Wish me luck.

Chris to my knowledge the black dial in the skyracer is available in the Uk.

Thanks everyone. I am going to go back and look at the Skyracer again, and see if I can find a CSO to try on too. I am passing through LGW the week after next and there is an AD airside there. I shall look there too. A friend of mine who is very into watches (though he was a bit sniffy about Breitling versus his preferred Rolex!) also made the comment about being sure that I really liked it because I would be looking at it for the next 30 years! Wise words from all of you who have said that!

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Chris

I'd say that's discontinuing the titanium model he was interested in...

Regarding the CSO/Skyracer, i much more like the CSO and I also think the Skyracer is a bit overpriced for what it is (or isn't). I'd have gone the CSO path.

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Nut he said he actually wants a steel watch.

"Initally I was looking for a titamium Breitling but since I started looking titanium has virtually disappeared from the line-up. I want a mechanical not a quartz movement but that just leaves the soon-to-be-discontinued Avenger Seawolf."

I'd say that line gives me partly right...



"And the more I look the more I actually want a steel Breitling anyhow!"
And the continuation gives you right...

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