The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I haven't really had much to do with the brand for the last couple of years outside of one Navi 47 purchase and recently made my way into the boutique on 57th street here in Manhattan last week to see what was shaking -

Observations:

1) The staff are very friendly to a fault and don't question anything you want to try on. Personally I only go to the case when and if I think I'm genuinely interested, but I did try on the 'solid' gold Unitime just for kicks and there was absolutely zero static; quite the opposite - enthusiasm. Interestingly the rep that I worked with was fascinated with my Crosswind TT LE. Did not recognize the watch and wanted to know how old it was and commented several times that it was 'beautiful', and they 'didn't know that Breitling made bezels like that.' I found that highly amusing.

One gripe: The security personnel at the door really need to reconsider their profiling skills.....fridays are casual at my office and thus jeans/sneakers got me the staredown/stinkeye when I walked in the door.

2) Those multi - color rubber bezels HAVE GOT TO GO. THEY ARE AWFUL. Yeah, I know it's been said a zillion times before and Breitling doesn't appear to be listening. But they're just plain awful....seriously, SERIOUSLY bad. Look at it this way - would Rolex ever contemplate something like that? I mean, I thought that was supposed to be the market segment that Breitling was shooting for.....not my teenage niece!

3) Those Bentleys with the multi - colored faces.......ohhhhhhh.......almost went blind.

4) I tried on a Chronomat B01 when it was first released and just couldn't get into it. I purposefully stayed away from the model for over two years, and then tried a couple on again during my visit, one with a rose gold bezel and one stainless steel. Rose gold had romans, SS sticks. Still nothing. That bezel just ain't working for me. And I'm also not crazy about the bracelet....the Evo/Crosswind fit so much better, at least me.

5) Bentley line. I would like to see Breitling produce a Bentley model without the 'Breitling for Bentley' language inscribed on the dial. I'll accept the dial size, but the wording just kills the watch in my eyes. Also that diamond dial pattern....agghhhhh.....when did that happen????

6) From here on out, barring any design shifts, my focus as far as the Breitling brand is concerned will be on the Navitimer line as it's really all that still appeals to me.

Lots of other thoughts but these were my top 6. Nothing that hasn't been said before, but my personal takeaway is that I will likely be staying away from the brand a while longer, notwithstanding something in the Navi line that totally blows me away.

Well, I guess it all comes down to personal taste and what floats your boat. Can’t say I agree with much of what you have said, but there again, I am not you. I am pleased thought to hear your honest opinion on the brand at the moment. So thanks for that.

You are right of course on the bezel issue, but here is where I have thought about it carefully and have come up with another point of view. See, I assume Breitling know what they are doing, and that they have confidence in their brand to withstand the level of dismay they seem to be getting on this issue at the moment. What the driver is and why they have gone down this path is a mystery to me, but they certainly did not take a predictable path and have not just tipped a toe in the water doing it. I know I recently selected a slightly older SkyRacer just to get the stainless steel bezel instead of the rubber version. But, I am confident there is point of difference here that Breitling feel will be an important contribution to the brand later on.

There seems to be (from what I have anecdotally assessed) a need to have Bling Lings to attract certain buying sector in the market. They do seem to be popular with certain types of people. Good luck to them, as that’s their choice and although Breitling don’t seem to be that keen, there are a number of models that sport diamonds in order to meet a customer need. Keep in mind, the diamonds are usually an option. You don’t have to buy them like that, and if you don’t like them with diamonds, then don’t buy them.

Security aside, glad you got good AD service when trying on a few Lings ‘instore’. There is always someone or something though that spoils the experience, right. Glad it was not the sales staff.

Summing up your observations though, it sounds like your best bet at the moment is to buy another brand. Unless you want a Navi.

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Jim

"You have Control".

I'm totally with you on points 2 and 3, and there's definitely elements of points 4, 5 and 6 that I agree with too. The only one I can't speak for is point 1, having never been there!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Yep,
Pretty much sums up my thoughts too.