The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I've been thinking about this for a while, but I'm not sure I can explain what I mean. Here goes:

How do you refer to the price range of your Breitlings and similar watches? Do you call them mid-range? High end? As in, "the Steelfish is one of the best values in (insert range) watches."

If you say mid-range, and the person you are talking to finds out your watch costs $2,000, $3,000 or more, they might think you are a snob, referring to a watch that probably costs 10 times what he or she would comfortably spend on a watch, as a mid range product.

On the other hand, most of us know that there are dozens upon dozens of watches that cost $50,000 or more and a fairly large number that are in the 6 figure range - so, actually, my Steelfish is a low mid-range watch.

I think the confusion stems from the fact that the average person does not know about the really high end watches and would assume that a $15,000 Rolex is as high as things get. If we were discussing something more commonplace, like cars, I think it's easier to be on common ground when discussing price (without actually saying the price) as most people know that $25,000 is average and that there are a few cars that cost a half million dollars or more.

I just feel it's sometimes tacky to say the actual price, like I'm trying to show off, but I don't know how else to do it. Any thoughts? Am I thinking too hard about this?

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NRA Life Member
NJKCA Honorary Member
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Chrono Avenger, Grey Dial, Pro II
Steelfish, Black Dial, Ocean Racer
Super Avenger, White Dial, Pro II
Casio GWG-1000-1A3 Mudmaster
Sinn UX

I refer to everything in term of what it costs in my income per week. Example: "Yes dear I spent some money but it was only three weeks worth of pay" :p

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This is an interesting question, but nearly impossible to answer.

I think it entirely depends who you are speaking to, and your own personal knowledge. To the average person (i.e. someone not into watches) anything over a couple of hundred pounds for a watch may seem like a lot to them. But as you rightly say, we all know there are watches out there costing six (and sometimes seven) figures.

It's all relative.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

you by a watch...

you don't buy something that costs a lot of money.

( i'm still a student and for many people it's plain ridicoulus to by a watch that's costs me all my savings. but it's a hobby/passion.)

i want to say . It's something for you not for somebody else. and 90% of the people don't know what a nice watch costs... so only you know and you know what you can spend...

I ll not say that a decent watch doesn't give you status...

Yes - a tricky one but here goes:

I think of my collection as "High End".

This is not because I'm unaware that there are more expensives brands available but probably because I couldn't/wouldn't consider paying £10k plus for a watch.

Maybe if I won the lottery (£10m plus) I would recalibrate my perception but unless that happens I will always think of my Breitlings (which range from retail prices of £1400 to £3k plus) as high end. Anything above that (getting up to £10k and beyond) is "pie in the sky".

If someone asks about my watch(es) I say "Yes, Breitling" "Yes, it's real!" "Yes, a fair bit (of money)" & something like "Yeah, similar quality/price as Rolex"

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Aerospace Titanium & Gold - Grey Face
B-1 on Fighter/Blue Shark - Blue Face
Emergency on Pro - Yellow Face

To complete the collection:
Navi 01 46/Black leather - Black/white
Montbrillant Datora/Navi - White face


LEARNING.......EVERY DAY

Interesting question.

Yes, I certainly define Breitling as a high end watch. Partly because of the price, it's difficult not to, but probably mostly because of the craftmanship and artwork of the watch. It is, as you say, not the most expensive watch to buy, but it's likely way above what Average Joe would ever consider spending on a watch.

When it comes to discussing prices, it depends on the person I talk to. For colleagues and most friends, "a (fair) bit of money" is all information they need. If they would persist I'd point out the nearest dealer and they can see for themselves. A few friends are into watches and are well aware of the cost. For them, if they would ask the question it is more out of interest to hear if the deal was good or very good.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

Hmm.

I think of and describe my watches as "high quality". In my work I deal with very varied income levels - negotiating consulting engagements with C-level leaders of major public companies, and then working with people who may only be a year or so out of school on the delivery of those engagements. That and the fact that it isn't anyone else's business leads me away from pure value discussions - Google is out there for anyone that interested.

I think terms like high end are a little too subjective to be meaningful so tend to stay away from that.

Hmmmm this is a good thread.

Well, I've loved watches since I was a kid, I used to look into the windows of the jewellers and drool.....

Finally bought my 1st Breitling for my 40th Birthday, just as a gift to myself for actually making that far........I got a chronolog read it back to front...and then left it open by my bed with the picture of the B1 facing me. I saved for a year.

I felt like it might have well as cost 1.3m instead of the £1300 I paid for it. Because that's how much it felt like I was wearing.

3 days after I'd purchased it I was on holiday in the USA and heard a guy remark to his wife...."That guy is wearing a 35 hundred dollar watch." Amazed anyone would notice it let alone know the price....must admit I felt pretty cool.

As for high end.....I think its all to do with your expendable income as well as taste. Breitling in reality are amazing quality, mid range cost.

A friend has around 18 watches, his beater is an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak which cost over 10k. But he is a millionaire. He cannot remember when he last wore his 18k White Gold Daytona.

Me, I'm spending a vast amount of time trying to choose my next Breitling, I have a budget I intend to stick within. I LIKE the fact that when I go in and buy whichever one I finally choose, it will feel like a BIG expenditure because it's a reasonable chunk of my income.

But for that reason alone I love each of my collection, I don't tell people how much they cost, they can all look into the window of the local AD.

All I know is I value mine in so many ways more than just their cost.

Davey

i avoid giving exact numbers for watches that i own. i typically describe them as 'sorta high end' and will explain how much an 'actual high end' watch would cost.

I could not put it better.

I'm not buying watches, I'm buying something that makes me happy - puts a bit more of a spring in my step, makes me walk a little taller.

If other people don't understand it, that's OK, there are things that make them happy that I don't understand - that's the joy of us all being individuals.

I can't put a price on the feeling I get when I sit on my deck overlooking the lake at the end of a long day, and I can't put a price on the feeling I get when I strap a Breitling on. That to me is what matters - and if another watch doesn't make me feel that way it doesn't matter whether it costs $10 or $100,000.

Im 26 and surprised ive even made it this far lol..


Usually when people ask me though, ill say something like "ah, not too much..." and they usually leave it at that. If they keep insisting on more, ill just tel them it cost a couple grand. It generally doesnt get any farther than that.

Hmmmmm we're getting all very esoteric here ...... but obviously I can completely relate to it as well! Well said Davey and Roff! Like we have said on here before - buy watches for you and you alone.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I concider anything Breitling makes as high end. Something along Oris to be lower high end. Beyond the $10,000 price tag on a wristwatch, I concider ultra-high end and really unavailable to all but the few who are in the highest income levels.

For the few people who ask about my watches the coversation goes something like this:

What kinda watch is that?

Its a Breitling (or _________).

Oh. (not knowing anything about watches) Are they expensive?

Depends on what you concider expensive.

How much do they cost?

They vary in price but are around the same price as Rolex's.

(many friends) Holy S%$#. You must be making a whole lot more money than I am.

Not nessesarily, I saved for 9 months to buy my first Breitling.

You mean you have more than one?

(oh crap, I opened up this can of worms) Yes, several.

Why?

Because, just like someone is into coin collecting.. I am into collecting luxury time pieces and wearing them. I work very hard and I deserve to treat myself to anything I dont have to finance in order to purchase.

That usually shut them up.


Scott

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

Yes - totally agree - I get them for me and me alone.

Lets face it if you have a long sleeve shirt on (which I wear 90% of the time) no one really knows what you have on your wrist. The odd glimpse here and there! Tease tease.

I'm usually fairly scruffy out of work so anyone realising I had a $3k to $5k watch on, out doing the weekly shop in the supermarket, would think ............well I don't know what they'd think really - probably that it was a fake.

Who cares anyway - I LOVE 'EM

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Aerospace Titanium & Gold - Grey Face
B-1 on Fighter/Blue Shark - Blue Face
Emergency on Pro - Yellow Face

To complete the collection:
Navi 01 46/Black leather - Black/white
Montbrillant Datora/Navi - White face


LEARNING.......EVERY DAY

I think the basis of this question is weather or not someone will think of you as a snob.

The watch you wear, the car you drive, the hotel's you stay in.... It's all the same thing.

If you worked hard and got the watch or someone else worked hard and provided you the watch what's the difference?

If someone thinks of you as a snob, F em, they are not your friend.

If they give a crap about you they will be happy that you earned the money to buy the watch and it's a reflection of your success.

What's the point in working hard if you can't enjoy the fruits of your labor?
The only time I would not wear a watch that was expensive is if it became a security risk that I could not reasonably deal with.

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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.