The Breitling Watch Source Forums

is it a "real" watch or does it lack soul because it isn't an automatic?

Always need to see it first, but before I even get to the quartz issue, my knee-jerk impressions are that I don't see any visual identity with Breitling, and I don't see it as unique. Take the name and the wings off it and could just as well be a $600 good indie quartz. Sorry to be so blunt and I hope seeing one changes my opinion. There's no sin in offering a different look, but in the present market full of good established watchmakers and improving "indie" companies, the new look needs to be really good. At first glance, nothing special.

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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

It seems that most members here agree that a mechanical watch is a much more desirable timepiece than a quartz...

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sco
Breitling Chrono Superocean
Omega Aqua Terra 8500
Rolex Submariner Date Ceramic

Talk B1 then see the response
....

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

I was growing tired of resetting automatic watches every several days. I realize many folks feel that a qaurtz watch has no "soul" compared to an automatic, but this baby is rated to run at +/- 10 seconds per year!!

Breitling SUPERQUARTZ is no regular quartz watch. I love my chronospace.

I agree. Most of my watches have been and are autos. But i like to have one quartz in the bunch to just pick up and go with.

I set my others by my B1.

That's it.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

What's the difference between superquartz and a regular quartz?

Thermocompensation.

Basically the movement adjusts it's own rate to compensate for temperature difficulties that can affect the rate. Superquartz is Breitling's name for the movements, but they are all modified ETA thermoline movements.

Good. Thank you. But if the SuperQuartz is the more accurate, why is automatic movement so much more expensive? It doesn't sound as reliable to me.

Well it isn't always much more expensive in Breitlings unless you go in house or high complication.

Mechanical watches are considered to be more 'pure' - they are mechanical machines that are often described as having 'soul' rather than just a battery operated mini computer. After all iff accuracy was all a watch was about then buy a cell phone or an atomic clock driven Casio.

Additionally, a well looked after mechanical watch will be good for literally hundreds of years while a quartz will inevitably become obsolete much sooner - Breitling's commitment is to support current quartz movements for 20 years after they stop using them, their early quartz pieces are already non repairable.

Thank you for your explanation. Really helpful, but makes me wonder if I really should go for a quartz Avenger Seawolf, instead of mechanical

It entirely depends what you want from a watch. For me high-end watches are all about mechanical movements : quartz has no place there as far as my collection is concerned. Yes it's a fairly esoteric thing, but if merely "telling the time" was what it was all about then I'd buy a £10 quartz from a street market. It would tell the time perfectly adequately, and if you're lucky, more accurately than the vast majority of mechanical watch.

Which leads me onto another point which won't be popular with a number of you here (but here goes anyway! ) - I personally don't see the point of paying big money for quartz watches. I've owned a quartz M1, a B-1 (for about 2 days) and two quartz Omega SMP's over the years, and they've all been sold because (IMO) they're just circuit-boards in expensive fancy dress. High-end quartz is a niche that I have no desire to get involved in.

That said, I do own a few G-Shocks now, and I actually really enjoy them - far more than I ever thought I would - but I own them for a reason : they're cost effective and they're hardy. With Atomic timekeeping they even outperform SQ over time because they are updated multiple times a day from the atomic radio uplink, and Tough Solar means there's never any battery changes required. IMHO that's better technology than what's offered by Breitling's quartz models, and at 1/100th of the price.

So for me (and remember this is just my personal view), the cold and robotic elements of quartz and technology has a place in my watch collection, but it's made by Casio and sits in hardy (semi)throwaway watches. The real "soul" of watchmaking IMO sits in mechnical watches, and for me specifically, in in-house movements.

But hey, that's just me, and this take on it gives me what I want from this hobby/obsession of ours. Ultimately there's no right or wrong way to enjoy watches, so whatever your poison just enjoy it!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

The one and only reason I want a quartz watch, is because I've fallen in love with the Avenger Seawolf blacksteel. I've always wanted a mechnical watch and therefor I've been looking for a Avenger Seawolf, with mechanical movement. But ever I've seen the Seawolf blacksteel I'm in doubt. Watch with an awesome movement? Or gorgeous looks? I'm stil not sure about what to choose.