The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have always been a Breitling guy but the new Planet Ocean 8500 xl has me drooling. It looks so clean and perfect on the bracelet. The wife would kill me if she knew I want to spend $4500 on it.

Anyone else own this or thinking about getting it?

I've always liked the Seamaster, and the current Planet Ocean just screams awesomeness. I just wish they weren't quite as expensive. The previous Seamaster, IIRC, was a good amount less (while it didnt have the 8500, IIRC it was significantly more affordable)

The price is high, I suppose the 4 yr warranty adds a couple hundred bucks to the price but still 1k too high. Price's of these watches have doubled since the "recession". Go figure.

The 42mm PO 8500 was on my list but I ended up with the Breitling SuperOcean 44 Abyss white. I like the polished and beveled lugs on the Omega but overall I like the look of the Breitling more (integrated HEV, italicized numbers, bracelet). The PO still catches my attention when other people wear it. It's a great looking watch.

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Breitling SuperOcean 44 Abyss White A1739102|BA77|134A

The cal 8500 PO is quite a bit more expensive than the cal 2500 but, you're getting a lot more watch. The Submariner vs. PO arguments could go on for weeks but, you're getting an in-house three hand movement, ceramic bezel insert, and arguably more attractive blue Superluminova at a price point well under the Sub. As a guy who wears a cal 2500 PO every day, I'd jump on the cal 8500 if it weren't too thick for my preferences. The cal 8500 is a thick three-hand movement and thickness of the sapphire caseback needed to maintain a 600m WR rating makes for a thick watch.

There are two or three members here that own a cal 8500 PO who I'm sure will respond.

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Steelfish GMT LE (white)

Had mine for about a month now and love it. I had the 2500 version previously and loved it too, but the 8500 is in a different league.

If you're only judging it on looks and don't know or care about the 8500 movement, then sure it seems like a steep price increase over the last version. But I can't really think of many watches with an in-house movement of this quality at this price point.

The PO 8500 is certainly a beauty.
It has been on my shopping list for a few months but a Montbrillant came up that I had to have.
Meanwhile I've spent my next 10 years watch budget this year alone so the PO might have to wait until next year at least.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

It is my understanding that the D movement in the 2500 is fairly solid as well. Looks and feel are more important to me then the movement but I do like the idea of a 4 year warranty and of course I prefer to own the latest and greatest. Just from a look perspective, how do you feel about the 8500 vs 2500? I know some have complained that the 8500 is too thick or is heavy on the wrist with the bracelet. I love the see through case-back and the bezel color on the 8500, but the 2500 may be a more "classic" look. Price being equal I would take the 8500, not sure 42 or 45.5 though.

I've almost pulled the trigger on the 2500D model a couple of times, just never happened. The new 8500 got too thick and bulky for my tastes. I think the more I looked at the PO the less it excited me. But as far the two goes, I'd go for comfort and wearability (2500) over an in-house (8500) movement.

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

The PO8500 is way too thick and sits weird on the wrist.

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Jaeger Lecoultre Master Eight Days Perpetual 40, Rolex Daytona 116520, Rolex Explorer I 114270 - Calibre 3130, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15300 - Calibre 3120, Zenith Striking 10th - Calibre 4052 B, ​Bremont MBII, Panerai 00390 SE.

Here are some shots of the thickness.

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

I used to have the 2500 for about 2 years and loved it. I never completely warmed up to the curved links of the bracelet ,though, which was it's only aesthetic flaw, in my opinion. Once I saw the photos leaking out of the 8500, I had to have it. I went from the 2500 XL with white arabics to the 8500 XL with orange arabics. A week later I traded it in for the 42mm version. Even though it's the same watch, there are a few differences between the 2 sizes. The XL version has a slightly more domed crystal, a beveled date opening, and a slightly darker bezel. In dim lighting it turned completely black whereas the 42mm version always stays gray. Those features are all better but I wanted a smaller watch.

The bracelet on the 8500 is much nicer because the center links are flat but the older style clasp was better looking.

Both the new and old version are very versatile and look great on the bracelet, rubber strap, and NATO.

Even though the price is higher on the 8500, you're getting getting a beautiful in-house movement with a longer power reserve, a display back, a ceramic bezel versus an aluminum one, raised applied arabics and raised omega writing under the omega symbol, a beautiful blue lume, and a nicer bracelet. The 8500 doesn't have a quick set date though. It works like a GMT watch instead. In the 2nd crown position, as the crown is turned, instead of the date advancing, the hour hand jumps in 1 hour increments, which is great for traveling between different timezone, but is a little tedious when changing the date more than a couple of days. One good feature is that the date can be advanced both forward and backwards.

Compared to other brands, $4600, the price new ones are selling for, is a relative bargain. The SubC sells for $2500 to $3000 more.

Here are some more photos.
The crystal disappears at certain angles, just like Breitlings.



Here's the 2500.

The 2500 was a bit thinner

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

Great pics, thanks guys.

Damn that is an awesome looking watch. I've read a lot of people who are long-time owners complain about the direction of Omega in that prices went up sharply, but it seems that the Planet Ocean improves itself so much on previous Seamaster models...not that the older Seamasters were lacking on quality as they weren't by any means, but the new Planet Ocean just radiates quality and design in every single sense and they improved upon previous versions in every imaginable way. They really put some time into designing that watch.

Yes, nothing wrong with the movement in the 2500 version. I believe earlier 2500 movements had some issues but they weren't in POs. It's not a true in-house movement, despite Omega's modifications, and that by itself goes a long way towards explaining the price difference.

Both versions look great to me but the 8500 has a bit more depth, not just in terms of thickness but also visually. It does sit higher on the wrist than the 2500. The extra thickness doesn't bother me, I bought it for weekends and after work, and I don't wear it with a suit (it replaced a Bell & Ross BR02 in my small rotation).