The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I was reading an IWC forum when I came across an interesting post. This guy has a Portuguese chrono with a 7750 movement but is lusting after a different Portuguese with an in-house movement. Someone replied that both are nice watches but that one has the same movement as a Navitimer which isn't worthy to be mentioned in the same breath. He then went on to say that IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre are on par.

Everyone has their biases and opinions and I'm not judging his. What I find interesting though is that a week or so ago I saw a message on a JLC forum in which the poster asked opinions on choosing between an IWC and a JLC. Not surprising the consensus was in favor of the JLC with many stating that it was obviously much better than an IWC. Clearly their view was quite different from that of the guy mentioned above just as my opinion of the Navitimer, one of the 20th century's iconic watches, is different than his. It's all a matter of impressions and point of view.

Personally, I prefer to avoid the religious wars and just enjoy watches. Except Rolex, they obviously suck.

[ for the humor impaired]

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David
Je suis désole pour mon mauvais français.

Zenith Pilot Big Date; IWC Vintage Collection Aquatimer; IWC Portuguese 7-day

I owned a few IWCs. I own a few Breitlings. The difference is the tense of the verb.

To say an IWC with a Valjoux based movement is better than a Breitling with the same, is absurd. NOTHING, not even a Harley, is as noisey as an IWC Valjoux variant. The movement in the Aquatimer Chrono is why I got rid of it. The Mark XVI Chrono is equally annoying. And even the $14K Yacht Club with an in-house was like always being in an old, rattling taxi cab it was so loud. The 7 Day, though, was supreme! WhyTF did I sell that, agian?

I can't compare or rate Breitling versus IWC except to note the obvious - IWC was making different in-house movements long before Breitling came out with the caliber B01. But to compare IWC to JLC is one of the dumbest things I've heard. Most all would put JLC in the top 5 or even 3. Not so much IWC. JLC create a new caliber for every new watch model they introduce, for goodness sake!

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SHARKMAN

I think that this community is a lot more balanced in their opinions of different brands than some other places, and certainly more so than might be expected given the name.

IWC and Breitling is probably a fair comparison, and I would probably put IWC ahead of Breitling if forced to compare (which is not to say that I would put a Portuguese 7750 ahead of a Navitimer - 7750 based or otherwise). JLC is clearly in a different league to both.

Bottom line though - who cares. I buy a watch for the presentation, quality and perceived value to me of the piece in question, not because of the name on the front - as evidenced by the fact that many recent pieces have been niche brands.

I only care about the name.

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SHARKMAN

And you are in good company

Yeah, I wasn't all that surprised by the guy's comment about the Navitimer (though I wonder if he's aware that it is available with the 01 movement) -- biases are to be expected. But the comparison to JLC struck me as absurd. I wouldn't mind having an IWC whereas I aspire to own a JLC. I'll never own a VC, PP or AP but a JLC is both exquisite and within reach.

And for now, I'm still enjoying the hell out of my Transocean. Breitling really knows how to make a wonderful watch.

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David
Je suis désole pour mon mauvais français.

Zenith Pilot Big Date; IWC Vintage Collection Aquatimer; IWC Portuguese 7-day

The reason I spend time here is because IMO, this site is far less of a 'fan boy' site than the other brand-identified sites I have seen. Most of us have no delusions about Breitling's place in the watch world, and that of many other makers. We openly pan some Breitlings and openly educate about and lust for other makers' watches. "IWC guy" is exactly why I'm here.

I'd still like to have an IWC someday. Might like it, might not, would still like to try. But it takes me no time at all to consider JLC's position as way above IWC. In terms of movements, I personally think of them as the top two or three. They supply movements to the loose consensus "big 3" (Patek, AP, VC) including the one in my AP, which those three makers jointly commissioned JLC to produce, or so the story goes. Is there a more prodigious in-house manufacture in terms of models and variations? Don't know, but JLC is up there. I may not hold all of their product line in the same regard as the "big 3" but it's pretty close.

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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

I totally agree with the "fan boy" comment... everyone is so diverse here in terms of their tastes... but of course our roots stay true to the namesake of the forum...

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

Invictasource....just not the same ring to it.

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SHARKMAN

This thread is so full of win. OP, go troll IWC guy, tell him an IWC is exactly the same as an Tissot or something. Throw out a bunch of numbers of movements that match from a random google search to get random model names.

I see Breitling and IWC as about even. Maybe a slight edge to IWC with their more "interesting" in-house calibers.

And both brands are miles below JLC. Anybody who thinks otherwise is delusional.

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-RJ

Really, that's all that needs to be said isn't it? Breitling and IWC aren't in the same league as JLC. (Neither photo nor wrist are mine BTW.. if only)

Just love the way you put things.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

F14D_Tomcat - nice to see someone else from the neighborhood.

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David
Je suis désole pour mon mauvais français.

Zenith Pilot Big Date; IWC Vintage Collection Aquatimer; IWC Portuguese 7-day

Likewise my dear co-member.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.