The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have the option to buy one of the three watches pictured below. I've been after a Superocean for a while and now three come along at once! I've placed a deposit to hold all three so I can decide finally when I see them for real but already in my mind I'm having trouble choosing so I thought I'd get some opinions.



Both coral watches are brand new old stock and will come with a two year warranty.
The black is currently being refurbed at Breitling so will be almost new condition (hopefully perfect but won't know until it's back) and will come with a one year warranty.
All are pretty much the same price.

So which would you choose? Black is a safe option and will go with a variety of straps (I'll hardly ever wear it on a bracelet, mainly rubber), it could be a watch for all occassions with the right strap. But I could buy a million and one other black dial watches so should I be brave and go coral?
Coral is stunning and it was a yellow seawolf that made me notice the Breitling brand so I'm a fan of Breitlings brighter colours. I like the fact that it will get noticed, last summer in the park I spotted a yellow seawolf across the park and like the idea that it won't just be another black dial. I dress in jeans and tees for work so the colour will go with my casual wardrobe. For rare posh nights out I could always buy a cheaper black dial watch of another brand? And it's kind of cool to not play safe and get an expensive watch in a classic dive colour. And if I did go coral which dial, the classic all lumed version or the newer arrow hand model?

I don't have the funds to finance two at the moment and it's unlikely I'll spend this much again on a watch for a long time. I'd like it to be a long term keeper too as it's taken me ages to locate these ones.
Anyone regretted being brave in their dial colour choice or do you wish you had been brave rather than play safe with black? Ultimately I hope when I see all three for real one will jump out at me and scream 'buy me' but until then what would you choose and why?

I would choose no. 3; indeed I already did, buying one last year.

That design (ie nos. 2 and 3 above) is a classic for me, the short-lived final incarnation of the old SO with the newer hands. I would love one in black as well, but around that time Ricardo's and Lowrance's shots respectively @

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=48791
&
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=48900

- blew me away. I have it on a Pro III rubber strap and it's a fantastic weekend / leisure watch, adding a splash of colour to jeans etc.

Congrats on your near purchase!. I owned the earlier (far left in your picture) version of the coral dial SO, also bought it NOS at the time. I put it on an Ocean Racer and it looked great. The only gripe I have on this dial style is it is a little busy with all the tick marks around it. I would definitely go with coral since it is harder to find and should be an easy sell if you decide to let it go. With that said I like the hands and cleaner dial on the newer 2009 model, just loose a little lume on the stenciled arabics.

Tough choice between the two coral dials, can't lose either way, good luck with your decision!

_________________
Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

Do you have any pics to tempt me? I've already ordered a pro III for which ever watch I get.

Pics are beyond me I'm afraid but it's essentially as in the first of the two links I posted, though with the minor differences between the Pro II and III.

If your only watch I'd reluctantly go black, but if you already have a blue/black watch then Coral for sure and I personally like the left, earlier version better.

Good luck with decision.

My other watches are a G-shock for the gym/garden/car work.

And a citizen aqualand classic that either lives on a rubber or leather strap. Though I may add a mesh to dress it up at some point.

I'm not adverse to buying another watch such a Longines Hydroconquest or Glycine combat one day if I need something a tiny bit dressier, but the superocean will be my expensive watch, though it will get worn often.

My aqualand is my daily wear which I love, if I had a black superocean which would I choose in the morning, tough call... or would a different coral add variety and so get used more.

_________________
SHARKMAN

I've got the black version and I love it, although if the coral had come up at a similarly irresistible price at the time I would have found it difficult to choose between them. I always used to prefer the earlier dial with the solid lumed numerals, but I have to concede that my preference now favours the final version with the skeletonised numerals except for the solid 6, 9 & 12. I agree with with Kodiak that the dial looks less cluttered without all the superfluous tick marks (I've never understood the purpose of the ones half-way between the 5 minute markers), and I prefer the handset with the arrow hour hand to the earlier design. The only thing I would have changed on it would have been to use C1 SL on the 6, 9 & 12 numerals, rather than leave the dial totally unlumed.

Ultimately, however, it is a decision only you can make by comparing each of them side by side.

_________________
Breitling Shark Auto A17605 (black)
Breitling Superocean A1736006/B909
Damasko DA36
Precista PRS-22 Speedbird III
Sinn 856 UTC

My choice would be the the coral on the left...with the white numerals. But as others have said, you can't go wrong with any of the three.
Mike

I have got the Coral one on the right with the ghost numbers. Mr TomP already linked to the topic with some nice shots of it.

Next to the dial the bezel on this model is also different on the previous models, don't forget that.
The numbers on the bezel with the "ghost dial" are not painted plack, just engraved. All the previous SO models had black enamel numbers in the bezel. I prefer the unpainted bezel, much cleaner look !!!
There is also a slight disadvantage of the newer model. The ghost numbers are not lumed, just white paint so there is a difference in colour between the dial numbers and hands. The hands because of the lume are a little greenisch, the markings and numbers on the dial are plain white. I would have preferred all being the same colour !

The Coral is just a very special dial colour, but i'm a little biased, also got the Coral emergency (with UTC...) .

But if you are a one man watch i would certainly pick black or blue, the yellow and coral versions of the SO need to be worn in rotation with other watches to maintain their coolness !!

I will try to post some pics later this week.

I guess i like Coral....