The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and I have a few questions about an Aerospace 1999 model that I may buy from a former colleague of mine. It has a titanium band and a dark gray face, and it is in good condition but it has been worn regularly and has some wear on the band. It has just been sent to Breitling for a new battery/restoration which I believe includes a full cleaning, polishing of the band, new gaskets and a new crown.

Will the polishing of the band significantly reduce the wear on it? I like the watch but I would like it far more if it was in like-new condition. Also, do watches usually come back from Breitling's refurbishing looking like new? Regarding price, he says his best is $1,500. Is this fair (factoring in the refurbishing which he says costs roughly $500)?

Also, I went into my local Tourneau store and saw an Aerospace that looked very similar to my colleagues' for $1,495 and in like-new condition. The only weird thing was that it had the italic numbers on the face like the 1999 model but I believe the salesman said it was a 1990 model? Does this make sense? Also, is it acceptable for one to negotiate prices for pre-owned watches in Tourneau? This will be my first high end watch so I am unaware of the rules/etiquette in this situation.

Anyway, thanks very much and any advice or help that you can provide is hugely appreciated.

Others may disagree but IMHO, walk away from this.

You will find many instances in the help section of people with old Aerospaces with problems. The old quartz movements are failing so it is only a matter of time before this one does. When they fail, they can't be repaired, only replaced with a new Breitling SQ movement at your expense (unless you find a doner movement).

If you want an Aerospace, my advise is to buy a post 2000 SQ model with the ref# 75362 or 79362. I will save you money in the long run.


As for your other questions...

A full service at Breitling will restore a watch to an "as new" condition.

There were several models produced with italics dials between 1998 and 2005 but not around 1990.

In this day and age, everything is negotiable!

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For more information on identifying Breitling replicas, please visit my web site
http://f4buz.com/watches/breitling/fakes/fakes.html

Thank you very much for that information. I hugely apprciate it. I had no idea that late 90s models had that issue. If anyone has more info/personal experience with this it would be a big help.

Also, does $1,500 seem like a fair price? I thought they were selling for $1,250 or less a couple years ago but I could be wrong.

Thanks again!

Not so much. 1. if Tourneau is selling one for that price, you can get one cheaper form an individual and 2. not if you will have to spend a few hundred any day to put a SQ movement in.

The issue isn't a movement problem, just that ETA stopped making the particular movement.

Go for one of the SQ models as Sharkmouth suggested. They are easy to find on the forums with a little patience.

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SHARKMAN

Thanks for the info. I will certainly look at the for sale section of the forum.

Also, if anyone else can help me determine a fair price for the 99 Aerospace that I am considering (given its full service at Breitling and that Tourneau is selling a similar one for $1,495) it would be a huge help. $1,500 seems high. Does $1,250 sound fair or can I push for lower. I will likely go for a new model given the information from the posters above but I want to keep this 99 as an option as I would buy it for the right price.

Firstly I don't agree that any particular Aerospace model has any history of being problematic. These are really reliable watches and have been supported by breitling since their inception. Breitling routinely replaces the older movements with the newer superquartz movements during servicing if they need it. That usually get you a slightly updated back cover with the "SQ" on it. Even the earliest quartz Aerospace movements are still available aftermarket if you look around a bit. The only issue I have with the Aerospace is the crown doing everything function. I still have to break out the manual whenever setting the watch or changing a function. Not really easy to use in my opinion. As for price, my experience is you can usually get a very nice used piece with all the original paperwork and boxes in the $900-$1200 range. I would be hesitant to pay more unless there was a warranty of some sort included or the watch was a limited edition that had some appeal to me.

Thanks for your opinion. I really liked the watch that my colleague is selling so that is reassuring if I decide to go through with it. I'm thinking about offering $1,100 if I decide to buy it. That seems about fair (if not a little generous) given the price range you told me.

Also, what other places are good for finding Aerospaces for sale (besides this forum and eBay)? I did a search and could not find anything for some reason. Thanks again everyone.

http://www.chrono24.com/en/breitling/aerospace--mod24.htm?dosearch=true&goal_suggest=1&query=Breitling+aerospace&sortorder=1

These are asking prices and subject to negotiation.

As always, buy the seller, then buy the watch.

_________________

For more information on identifying Breitling replicas, please visit my web site
http://f4buz.com/watches/breitling/fakes/fakes.html

Agree completely. Love the watch, hate the setting/functioning of the single crown. I travel quite a bit and if I'm going to a different time zone, the Aerospace stays home.



LL

So, a little update on my search......I was in the Natick Mall (big mall outside of Boston where Tourneau is located) and I went back in there and sure enough, the 1999 Aerospace that I looked at before is still there. It is in mint condition, has a gray face/titanium band/and four 18k gold pieces on the bezel (I think it is a gray face...the sales guy thought it was green but we couldn't tell for sure in the light), and still has the same asking price of $1,495. That is a lot but the salesman explained to me that the watch was refurbished in their New York center with genuine Breitling parts when they took it in, comes with a two year warranty, and all watches purchased at Tourneau get free batteries for life (he said a Breitling battery is normally $80).

He said the watch comes with a box although it is unclear if it is the exact Breitling box that it was sold new with (not sure if this matters). Also, correct me if I am wrong, but even though this watch does not have papers, does having the receipt/paperwork that states it was a Certified Pre-Owned Torneau watch make the same case that it is a genuine Breitling?

I offered him between $1,100 and $1,200 and told him to see if the manager will agree to this price. He said that usually they only give 5% or slightly more off the advertised price, but I told him still to check the with the manager and then we will go from there. I said I like the watch but I am not going to pay above market value for it. Does my offered price seem fair or would it make sense to pay more for it given that it is covered for two years and has free batteries from Tourneau for life?

I am still going to consider my friend's watch but he would have to lower it considerably from $1,500 as his obviously doesn't come with a warranty and free batteries for life. I like that his is getting a full $500+ refurbishment at Breitling but the one at Tourneau looked brand new and I am pretty sure they make sure their Certified Pre-Owned watches are in top shape (is this true??).

Anyway, if any of you could answer the questions I have in here that would be fantastic. Thanks again for all the help thus far and hopefully if the deal is good I will be able to pick up an Aerospace soon.

Anyone have any opinion regarding this watch given the circumstances? Would any of you pay over $1,200 for it. Ideally I'd like to pick it up in the next few days as long as it is a fair deal.

Thanks again.

A couple more questions....the Tourneau watch comes with the titanium "professional" band while my friend's aerospace comes with the more formal looking (imo) titanium band. Is one generally worth more than the other? Also, do you all think the one with the professional band looks appropriate as a formal watch. I want to use this watch most days and with most types of attire. I think it will look good as a formal watch as well but I always appreciate multiple opinions. Thanks!

Which kind of defeats the idea of having a multi-function watch like the Aerospace then Vintage - that's a shame.

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TAG Professional (Silver/Gold) 2000 - still going strong and kept as spare when Wolf is away.
Breitling B1 (Blue) 2003 - 2008.
Breitling Airwolf (Black Sunburst) 2008 - Date.

To be honest Aerospace - I think that whichever piece you choose will double equally well as day or formal wear. I had a B1 before my Airwolf and I have worn both in formal and day to day wear - they are Breitlings after all .

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TAG Professional (Silver/Gold) 2000 - still going strong and kept as spare when Wolf is away.
Breitling B1 (Blue) 2003 - 2008.
Breitling Airwolf (Black Sunburst) 2008 - Date.