The Breitling Watch Source Forums

posted a ton of wrist shots from Basel here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=57363

suggest we continue discussing/commenting in this thread

some - to me - look better in the metal than I had expected (that blue/black Navi comes to mind), some VERY disappointing, like the Chronoliner or the AOPA Navitimer ....

trying hard to remain positive, Matt.

Fred, I do like pretty much all of the wrist shots you have posted in the other thread.
Most of the real life shots look much better than the artistic renderings we have seen so far.
The biggest surprise for me was the "blue eye black" Navi. I honestly thought that looked hideous but the real life wrist shot does not look so bad after all. I may even like it once I see it on my own wrist.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

Definitely good to see the wrist shots as the watches look a lot more 'real'. My thoughts:

- The Chronoliner looks really dark, too dark for me, although the contrast with the sub dials and bezel numbers looks good;
- I still don't like the navi blue but it is much better in this photo;
- This photo reaffirms that I really do like the SOII. I just think it is a well balanced watch that looks kind of like the old steelfish, although I wish it had the old bezel and rider tabs;
- The colt auto looks really really good, definitely one of my favorites.

Having said all that, I've been thinking of what models I could see myself actually buying (price and size aside), and there aren't a lot although I'm holding off judgement until I try some on in person. Still a good Basel all around for me so far.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

After seeing the real life shots (thanks for posting WatchFred) :

- black and blue doesn't look as bad, still like the white outer slide rule scale though.
- Colt chrono Auto and SO II still look great
- like the AOPA Navitimer with touch of red
- Unitime looks a little better

As for purchase interest, Colt Chrono Auto would have topped the list except for price - so will pass on it. One of the SO's is still a big contender, color and size TBD.

Main problem for me on the DLC EVO's is the lack of bracelet to match, one of the only models I wear the bracelet.

Still, overall, pretty good Basel.

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

After seeing the wrist shots, I like the Chronoliner on the Navi bracelet but not enough to go out and place an order anytime soon. The Unitime looks nice as well. The blackeye blue Navitimer didn't look as bad as I thought it would be, but I think in different lighting with the blue a little more pronounced, it would look worse.

I did like the shot of the Transocean 1915, but I would still prefer that model on either a brown leather strap.



This was my thought as well. I think this would be great on a rubber strap, but I would still prefer a bracelet option.

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Justin
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Nothing I'm tempted to throw money at to be honest. The bezel on the Chronoliner looks borderline dangerous!

That's EXACTLY what I thought! I still quite like it though....

The others -

- I like the AOPA, BUT it would be so much better without that god-damn white date wheel at that god-damn 4:30 spot!!!!

- The B55 wifi logo still looks massive, still out of place, still hideous, and generally ruining an otherwise very nice looking watch.

- The Aerospace Night Mission looks good....but that's because it's got that (modern) classic Breitling look.

- The Colt Auto is also very nice IMO for pretty much the same reasons as I like the Aerospace Night Mission : a classic (modern) Breitling.

- The Unitime looks far too busy in the flesh for me.

- The new SOII looks OK-ish, but the busy late 90's style dial (which I really like.... apart from the cut off 15) looks at odds with the relatively new-style rubber bezel. It just looks a bit like a parts bin construct to me.

- And yes, that black-eye-blue Navi looks better than in the promo pictures..... but I'd still NEVER buy it.

And the rest? Naaaaah.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Excellent contribution from Fred! viewtopic.php?f=1&t=57363

I love the AOPA. (Cal.23, does this mean it'll be cheaper than B01?) love the old school look of it. That and the silver dial Colt chrono auto.....can also see the reduced thickness from the wrist shot.

As for the B55 being a prototype, well let's hope they get that logo down to an acceptable size.

And what's with the cheap laser etching on the case backs? Surely this isn't the future. It just looks like an after thought in the rush to get the watches out for the show.

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Oyster Date '78, Blackbird chrono DLC '10, Blackbird chrono' 02, Navitimer Fighters '02, Aerospace Evo , Seamaster Chrono Diver 300' 02, Carrera cbm2110

Not a big fan either, pretty much all look very bling, liked the Chronliner in the pre release but looks huge in the wrist shot. Very disappointed. Agree with the above too, the AOPA case back is horrendous, looks so cheap.

There just seems a lack of elegance/class in the modern lineup. All but 1 of my collection are Breitlings, and I don't have any Omegas but would like to see something more like this (although admittedly haven't seen a wrist shot), a modern take but still classy watch that they have showcased at Basel as a concept, not everything has to look like it's aimed at blingy Football players imo.




Of the wrist shots I like the B55 the best, and never expected to say that!

I'm very sad to say that if I was to buy a brand new watch in the coming year non of the watches in these wrist shots would even get a try on my wrist which is a real shame as I consider myself to be a 'Breitling Man'

A little off topic, but I have to say that's the best shot yet of the new vintage DSotM. I still prefer the original DSotM with the clean white markings and red accents, but this is very nice IMO.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Can't take any credit for the photo, just borrowed it off Swisswatches Instagram, and don't really want to take this off topic, just wanted to show a modern take doesn't have to look cheap and blingy, you don't even need to know there was an 'original', its just a lovely classy looking watch in its own right imo, the design just works

As you might've seen, Fred posted a number of shots I took when trying on the novelties at the Breitling booth in Basel.. so I think it's only fair I post a few of my thoughts on the watches posted. Disclaimer - I work at a Breitling AD, but I'm foremost a watchgeek - I'll try to make an honest assessment;

B55

I see most of you guys are not impressed, but I love the watch. The concept to me is great. Most other smart watch introductions have been about the watch being an extension to the phone. Breitling does it the other way around and make the phone a tool to facilitate an easier operation of the watch. I like that. The fact that it won't be commercially available in t his form is a huge turndown though. Somewhat disturbing is that when I passed the Soprod booth, the B50/B55 was displayed, so now I'm not that sure of the in-house part of the B50 story.

Chronoliner

Could've done with a few less mm's. Ceramic bezel is a nice step forward. We were not allowed to order it on leather, while I think that might be one of the best looks.

Navi Blue Edition

Cool. The blue is not as bright as on the rendered images.

Navi AOPA

Stellar. I love it. Logo could've been a bit smaller but still - stunning. Not sure what the story is though - it was previously released as an AOPA-members-only piece to be engraved with the owners name and AOPA registration number, yet now we could order it? Not complaining though.. bring them!

SuperOcean II collection

I love the throwback dial but to each his own I guess.

Chronomat 38 SleekT

Love the classic look but IMHO it doesn't come cheap. The size is great and it reminds me of my early nineties Chronomat. To aim it exclusively at women can easily considered a miss.

Galactic Unitime

I love worldtimers, but this one would've worked better in a Transocean case IMHO - shaving off a few mm's in the process.

Colt Chronograph Automatic

Love it. It's like the old SO chrono.

1915 Monopusher

Stellar watch. Beautiful, cool. I however forgot to ask if they built in a stop for the manual winding this time - the lack of it on the Cosmo I always found to be a bit strange (and perhaps lazy).

Aerospace Night Mission

Sign me up. To me this is one of the best Aero's to date. The yellow one is a nice anniversary piece as to me, the yellow dials are a signature Breitling feature. I love them.

Cheers guys - I'll be keeping an eye out to your thoughts.

well.... Yes, but did you hear the prices ? CHF 12k plus taxes, so around €14k

and the same amount buys you that white abomination, it looked bad in the rendering, worse "in the ...... ceramics" - or that same thing with a MOP dial and some puny diamonds for CHF 25k plus, so a bit below €30k or so....

No I didn't hear the price, love the watch but certainly wouldn't pay that for it, imagined it would have been more like the price of a Navitimer /Cosmonaute. White is horrendous, wouldn't buy that at any price.

Thanks for that review, Dale -- not to mention the photos!

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Cheers,
Jim