The Breitling Watch Source Forums

As some of you know I've just purchased a Skyland! I haven't even tried it on or seen it in the flesh!!!!!!I was interested in a SOH and tried one on but then saw the Skyland in the book and thro some of the pics on here. My mind was made up almost straight away Even not trying it on I know I am going to love it and I don't think I'm taking a risk cos usually if I see something I really like I will buy it even without trying it on or seeing it in the flesh. I have a decent sized wrist so I khnow that the Skyland won't look to big on it. I know some of you guyz will think I'm nuts but I'm 100% sure I will love the watch!

Anyway my question is have any of you done the same as me and what were your thoughts!!

Haha! Welcome to the THUNDERDOME!!!

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Andrew, £20 says you buy at leat 1 more Breitling before Christmas. You'll get the bug!

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Breitling Super Avenger White, Steel
Breitling Superocean Heritage 46 Black, Ocean Racer
Rolex Submariner Bi-Metal, Yellow Gold/Blue
Panerai 112, Black Leather (Soon Hopefully!)

I bought a black skyland without seeing it. I had seen the gray dial and the blue dial, but never the black. I know its not nearly as adventurous as not seeing the watch at all, but still.. If you like the skyland in the pics, youll love it in the flesh. Its an amazing watch. Buying B's without seeing them in person is always okay, since they all look better in person. The only reason to see them in person, is to make sure there isnt a different on that you like even more.

Thats a deal!

Personally I reckon buying without trying is a bit of a gamble!

Some watches "wear" very differently to how you think they will in the pictures. To be honest though, you will probably be OK as the Skyland is not a massive MASSIVE watch - sure it's big, but not SA or CM49 big, so I don't think you'll be in for a huge shock or anything!

Good purchase! (And yeah, you'll have more before the year is out! )

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Oh, living on the edge, are we?

I really hope you'll be satisfied with the AS - it's a great watch and I doubt that you'll dislike it. I would be very careful to buy a watch and not see it / try it on the flesh before putting up the money. You'll never know how you'll percieve it IRL. I know that without trying them on first, I'd bought the Navi World instead of the Legende - now I'm glad I didn't.

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

It's sometimes unavoidable with older pieces, but I'll always try and find something comparable if it's an unfamiliar piece. At least that way the size and fit is less of an unknown.

Yeah, that's good advice. I had to buy my Le Mans without trying one first, but I was hardly going to be in for a shock since I already had a Motors!

I remember when I bought my first Navi World - I had initially gone in with the intention of buying a standard Navitimer, but after trying it on, it was just too small for me whereas the World felt perfect.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I don't think I've taken a gamble with the AS and I know I'll love it but you are right it would be better to try a watch on first but cos of where I live I would have to catch a plane or boat to my nearest dealer but I know the next time on the mainland I will pop into an AD for sure AND make sure I'm wearing my AS at the same time cos I got the distinct impression when I visited a few AD's in Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as one in Gatwick they thought I was just window shopping! They probably noticed my £250 Accurist plus jeans and a t-shirt and thought I was pulling the piss!

Yes the guys are right about some watches "wearing" smaller etc. I ordered my Montbrillant without trying one 1st and visited the AD after it was on it's way. I have small wrists and was sure it would look fine in that case. I'm still loving my Monty but I can confirm that it does look like I could have gone alot bigger despite my girly wrists and am in fact looking at an SA, a SOH46 and a Navitimer/Datora.

So - try before you buy is the right advice.

The snobby ADs will change their attitude if you're wearing a nice piece but should be happy to fall over themselves if you even seem to know what you're talking about - they surely realise that everyone starts somewhere!

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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

Example 1 : I walked into an AD in Edinburgh I'm 32 but could probably pass for being 26 or 27, so I've been told! The chap that served me was probably mid twenties I could see him looking me up and down as I walked in and u know when someone starts to talk to you, you just think he thinks I'm some moron out just to waste his time! Well I had all the details of the SOH I was looking to buy (colour, bracelet, face size etc, etc). He got in a total flap, didn't have a clue about the watch or the different sizes, straps etc. He was stuttering away and the girl that was working with him looked quite embarrased for him as I was bombarding him with questions that I had learned from you guyz on this site!!! So I was quite happy to tell him I was going to another AD round the corner to see if they could be of more asisstance. I had a good chuckle to myself! But seriously I found that to be quite the norm when I was visiting the AD's and it really pisses me off!! But hay maybe I'm to sensitive.

Its understandable when they dont know EVERYTHING about Breitling, because many ADs like mine, stock like 50 different brands, and cant be expected to know everything about them all. The problem is that some of these guys dont know any specifics at all. Its like they are walking over to the B case for the first time.

Great story!

I find some AD's are far more knowledgeable than others. For example it always seems that the more "high street chain" AD's seem to know the least, while the smaller independent places seem to know their watches far more.

I remember once in a branch of Ernest Jones, I overheard a sales girl telling a guy that the Chronomat he was trying on "was a kinetic watch" ( ) and had been tested "in Switzerland for like, weeks and weeks. I mean, they like even bake them in an oven at hundreds of degrees centigrade and they just keep going". Hmmmm, yeah OK love!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I am generally very impressed with the knowledge at my AD. They don't go out of their way to hire watch experts - the sales person I usually deal with has just been promoted to manage another branch and they are looking for a replacement - focusing on retail experience rather than watch experience.

That said, they really go out of their way to build the knowledge of their staff - after Basel (late April / early May) they had the national reps of their major brands (Breitling / Zenith / etc) come into the store to present all of the new models. The Zenith rep was even testing the staff on current models to make sure that the knowledge level was where it should be.

Now I know that it's Toronto (Canada's largest city) and in the high end part of town, and the store owners are also the Canadian distributors, but to me, that's impressive knowledge. It's just a shame that we can't expect that from all ADs.

As far as perception of 'real' buyer vs time waster, I have never seen it on watches, but definitely with some other products, and I find it extremely short sighted. Post dot com there are a lot more wealthy younger people than ever, and surely that's the time to get the people as your customer. My AD openly says that they'll go out of their way to make me happy because they want to keep me as a customer for the next several decades (I'm 36).