The Breitling Watch Source Forums

TAG Heuer introduced its re-tooled Link lineup at Basel this year. Yesterday, I was at the mall and stopped in at a couple TAG dealers to see if they had the Carrera 1887 chronograph. No such luck on the 1887, but I did see one of the new Link Calibre 6 models, with black dial. I was actually pretty impressed with the changes. The current case diameter is 40mm, up from 39mm on the previous model. The larger size gives the watch better wrist presence, without making it oversized. The case edges are rounded and polished, the bracelet is more refined, and the bezel is more contoured. The dial utilizes (or is that rips off?) the "teak concept" texture featured on the Omega Aqua Terra line; it looks very nice, with a nice luster, applied indexes, applied logo, matching date wheel at 6:00, and the small seconds register. About the only thing I found questionable was the need to put numerals on the fixed bezel; I think it might have worked better with a plain bezel. (The model I saw had Arabic numerals on the bezel, as opposed to the Romans shown in the pics below.) The only other reservation I have is the movement; I don't know what base movement TAG is using (Sellita, maybe?), but the Calibre 6 is still not chronometer grade. It seems a shame TAG is upping the ante on the cosmetics of the watch, but leaving the guts the same. At any rate, while the Link line probably won't make the WISs drool, I'm impressed that TAG is making attractive modifications to their designs, while maintaining a somewhat reasonable price point. Listen up, Breitling!

On another note, I'm still astounded by how little jewelry salespeople know about the brands they sell. I asked salespeople at two separate ADs if they had the Carrera 1887 chrono, and they both looked at me like I had asked them to explain the basis of quantum physics. Neither one of them knew about the new Link line, either, despite the fact they already had one of the new models in. I understand salespeople aren't necessarily WISs, and can't be expected to know all about watches, but you'd think they'd at least be up to speed on the brands they sell, especially when TAG is one of the nicer ones they carry.

I agree. Some sales people have no clue. Or they throw up the pitch right out the gate. I do my homework when I want to make a purchase. Most of the time, I ask questions I already know the answer to, just to see if they try to BS me. The good ones know their stuff, and let the product sell itself.

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Rob
Breitling SO Steelfish, silver
Breitling SO Abyss, silver
Rolex Submariner, no date

I know what you mean. Being a WIS is one thing, but being a salesperson and not having the first clue about what you're selling is something else.

But what gets me even more is when you hear sales-staff telling blatant rubbish to customers. Like the time I heard a saleswoman telling a customer that Breitling, "Bake their watches in an oven at hundreds of degrees for literally days on end as part of the Chronometer testing process". OK then.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I've heard some dumb crap from salespeople, but that one takes the cake. The only saving grace is that it's such a ridiculous assertion, only the most gullible or uneducated (in terms of watches) customers might believe it. I once had an Omega salesperson tell me the movement in a Planet Ocean was in-house. (This was before they actually were in-house.) That kind of misinformation is more insidious, because it doesn't sound blatantly wrong, unless you already know it is.

Isn't that what the bakelite box is for?

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Ouch! i like that!

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Pain is only weakness leaving the body.