The Breitling Watch Source Forums

http://www.breitling.com/en/news/detail ... steel-4301

when u thought they couldn't eff up one of the most iconic Breitling designs even more ...

But Fred, it's a "technical and elegant uniform for the authentic flight captain’s watch."

I actually think it looks cool

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

Live and let live


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I used to look at the Brietling lineup and want them all - or most - in my collection. Good old days.

_________________
Collection
GMTIIc
Daytona
Nautilus 5711
Deep Sea D-Blue
Submariner Hulk
Tudor BB - FOR SALE
SOLD
Aerospace
Navitimer World
Bentley GT Racing
Cockpit
Navitimer 01 LE 788/2000

Wallet is safe, again.
Maybe I'm getting too old and it's time to step aside and make room for the younger enthusiasts who are obviously finding these attractive otherwise Breitling would not be making them.

_________________
"It is just a matter of time!"

I'm with you on that one Wessa.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

I like this version better than the regular issue Chronoliner


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was really let down when I saw the Chronoliner in person the first time. I'm not a fan of this version either.

_________________
Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

See I actually quite like the standard steel Chronoliner, although I think it would've been a good idea for Breitling to put the B01 inside it. But this Blacksteel version doesn't do a thing for me. I feel the whole Blacksteel thing has been done to death.... then dug up, and redone to death all over again!

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

Since the Swiss watch industry is not going through the best of times, they are trying to keep themselves relevant by offering watches and trends that they feel the market will best respond to. I was never a huge fan of PVD or DLC treated cases before but since getting my B50 Night Mission my opinion has changed greatly. I really like the dark look that gives the piece a cool vibe. The watch is more understated but has more presence if you will. Just something different that I understand it will not be to everyone's liking or approval.

Polished and brushed silver steel/Ti cases have also been done to death and can get a bit monotonous, but heck what do I know as I recently had an all mirror polished Airwolf, have a brushed Aerospace and have own many a watch with brushed and polished finishes. To me the carbon treated Night Mission Ti case is a welcome change from the predictable but time will only tell if a year or 5 years from now I will still be in love with it.

Hey wasn't it that long ago when Breitling critics chastised the company for their obsession with high polished steel cases and bracelets? Now that they are steering away from that trend into the Blacksteel realm they still get criticized. Hey it is hard to please everyone all the time!

My dislike of the standard Chronoliner is the glossy black bezel set against a polished case and white/silver sub-dials, but it is a minor irritant vs it not having the movement it truly deserves. The Blacksteel case helps the bezel blend it better imo.

Blacksteel is also a profit center not only for Breitling but other brands that offer similarly treated cases. They can charge more for watches thus increasing the profit margin. And it must not be such a passing fad since there are aftermarket companies converting Rolexes and other expensive pieces to the darkened treatment.

Choice is a good thing and we can always vote with our hard earned wallets if we don't like what they offer us.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Never liked titanium, was tempted by the exospace blue on black though. Just looks too informal for me. The chronoliner mesh with white subs I though looked just ok to me. Tried one on the other day while out at the airport. Wow! It looked great. I had my black jacket on, and it truely looked amazing. Could be a new addition soon! I was contemplating the navi gmt white on gold leather, but the chronoliner looks so slick. Blacksteel I think would dilute the chronoliner's identity a bit.

I don't mind the black color of the DLC/PVD cases, in fact I think it looks good on a lot of watches (as do black ceramic and carbon cases). The part that I have trouble with is the wear the DLC/PVD coatings show, and on an expensive piece it is hard to accept for me. If it was a watch I knew I was going to keep for a long time I won't worry about it, but it really hurts resale short term.

I like the look of this all black Chronoliner with the black sub-dials, but at 46mm and it's price, not for me. I like the full length lumed hour markers, wish they would make an 01 Navitimer with these or fully lumed arabics like they did on the A23322 (still hoping).

_________________
Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

I don't think the margins on these are any better than any of their other watches. I'm also not sure how big of sellers they are once they reach ADs.

_________________
Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

Unfortunately no matter how tough DLC is, it does inevitably show wear over time, and as you say that's not something I'm personally happy to accept on an expensive watch.

A little while back I had a full DLC watch (not a Breitling incidentally), and I'd owned it all of 10 mins before I managed to scratch the DLC on the buckle while attempting to remove it to use on a different strap. Considering how careful I am with my watches, it wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement of DLC for me.

To me the performance of surface coatings like this are extremely hit and miss in the real world despite what watchmakers "laboratory tests" may say : sometimes people report massive impacts leaving no trace of damage, whereas others (like myself) manage to damage the coating with relative ease. So many variables come into play with surface coatings though - the type of impact (glancing or head-on), the softness of the underlying metal, the material of the impacting object, the shape of the impacting object, etc - so IMO if you buy DLC you must be prepared to accept that damage (while being less likely to occur than on uncoated SS) will almost inevitably happen at some point. And if/when it does you see the underlying metal through the coating, and you can't polish it out. This is what I dislike about DLC.

To me, (expensive) black watches need to be made of ceramic or forged carbon to be able to withstand the test of time, or at least remain black if scratches occur.

But as will everything in life it's each to their own.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator