The Breitling Watch Source Forums

when / who will be the first to post a pic of the new chronomat?

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2011 SKYLAND AVENGER
2011 AVENGER CODE YELLOW
2010 STEELFISH

Can always count on bsource for a good laugh.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Basel is Sergio's Spring Break.

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SHARKMAN

Maybe it's me, but how can abandoning a design that's not selling in favour of a design that no one has yet seen be considered 'abandoning consistency', and yet the shift to that design five years ago wasn't seen as a lack of consistency by those who like the current design more than the old one?

That argument would appear to be, dare I say, inconsistent.

Dare I say finally I have a chance of actually wanting a modern Breitling now?

The only thing tempting about the Buck Rogers pieces were the second hand prices. (Yes, sometimes I buy with my wallet, not my head )

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

My point is not whether the old school or the current Chronomat is better. IMO before they even launched the Chronomat 01, a piece so important in Breitling history, they should have considered the consequences with a new polarizing design. It's either they go ahead with it, and maintain that as their new image, or keep to their old school look right from the start. If they can make that "mistake" with such important milestone, I don't see how they can move on.... Imagine in the history of Breitling Book in future, when mentioned about their in-house...."Breitling crossed an important milestone in year 2009 but they launched their first in-house, in their Chronomat 01. However, Breitling made a serious mistake in their design of the Chronomat 01 as they moved away for the old school design to a new polarizing design. Never did they forsee the result was disastrous as sales drooped drastically until Breitling had to discontinue it and return to the previous Chronomat Evolution design". As indeed, a "milestone"... The most failed invention ever by Breitling..." LOL....

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Breitling Chronomat 01 Limited Edition
Breitling Navitimer 01 46mm

A little perspective - it's only a bezel. Granted many here, including me, felt it was polarizing and a departure. But put it in context - Breitling was "blacksteeling" everything and going rubber crazy. Most of us here are clear that Breitling's design team went a bubble off level. It happens. (Unless you are Rolex and effectively never change. My goodness, the Rolex faithful were mortified when the Sub C and GMT C came out, let alone the larger Date Just.) Breitling is a company that changes fairly substantially. The 40mm, or is it 39mm, Chronomat gave way to the 44mm Evo overnight. The 01 may still be 44mm but looks and wears like a 46mm watch because of the elongated case and lugs.

For those who love the current 01, who cares what anyone else thinks?

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SHARKMAN

To the above posts, I COMPLETELY agree. I see merit in BOTH bezels and aesthetics are truly a personal choice. However, my point is that I really like Breitling, it's an outstanding brand-I just believe it does itself and its customers a huge disservice when it flip flops. My comparison to Rolex was not to say that I wish it were Rolex but that it should, at the very least, aspire to attain its proud, rich, and historic history. I wonder if Customers pushed back hard on the supercase SubC etc., would Rolex have reverted back to the old case after a mere five years? My knowledge of the brand says "no." I just wish Breitling would just be consistent period.

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ROLEX Sea-Dweller (116600)
ROLEX Submariner (116610LV)
HAMILTON Stanley c. 1932 (19 jewels/grade 401 movement)

Scr** the chronomat and its bezel whether new or old design

I want an all black AVI re-edition with an in-house movement , and a 1765 Unitime with an in house.. And an all black navitimer with an house ,, and and and......

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

just to clarify, when René says "all black", he's talking about dials; not another DLCed behemoth.

Hmmmm. ... All black dialed DLC 42mm re issue of the early 765 AVI ?

I wouldnt mind seeing one before saying yes / no

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Ya I am one of the very few to completely agree with you. To spend a premium on our watches, of course we hope that the brand on our wrist is something that we will be proud to wear. I also fully understand your meaning of the "Rolex status", hoping Breitling can one day achieve the same respect that the Rolex brand has gained. Anyway I also believe that it is the consistently obvious aesthetics changes that are depreciating the resale value of Breitling pieces, whether past or present. Brands that seem to hold values better like PP, Rolex and PAMs have that common characteristics of consistency in their aesthetics. Well...as I have mentioned, Breitling does retain their DNAs, but the changes are more obvious, such that even an average joe on the street can easily identify the changes and differentiate old and new models. Whether old or new models, so far I have to say that I really love the look of Breitling models in general, even though I will never get certain types. Just hope that they can create a stronger identity and consistency to their pieces. Oh and also, I also don't understand why they are trying hard to over mass produce their watches when the demand is not really there.

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Breitling Chronomat 01 Limited Edition
Breitling Navitimer 01 46mm

Can we please put this "proud, rich, and historic history" in context.

The Breitling that exists today has existed since 1978 / 79 and has been producing watches since 1984. It has absolutely nothing to do with the company that has a proud and rich history, it simply bought the name.

Many companies have design faux pas in their history, but I cannot remember one that seems to generate so much passion. I love the Defys, but I completely get that they were a radical and contentious departure for Zenith and I certainly understand why they were discontinued. As I said in another thread a couple of weeks ago, and as Tom said here, it's just a bezel!

What Breitling reveals in a couple of weeks has no bearing on any watch currently in existence.

when are we going to actually see a pic? enough people know about it, will this be at basel?

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2011 SKYLAND AVENGER
2011 AVENGER CODE YELLOW
2010 STEELFISH

Of course, the new releases will be announced on day 1, potentially with a few sneak previews. Until then the pictures are going to be locked, the news is leaking out because despite being sworn to secrecy the significance of the change is causing insiders to talk - assuming that it's true of course, and with multiple sources having the same general news that would appear to be the case.