Skyland vs Brushed Blackbird...now I'm torn...

Legmaker72 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:34 pm

So I went to the local AD today to check out the Skyland and see the thickness of it again..the Black dialed one has been interested me with it's stenciled numbers...they only had the Blue on SS and Grey on Leather, but at least I could see how thick it was...
The AD knows me by now as I visit somewhat often to drool...and he pulled out the brushed Blackbird again for me...so I had to try it on. I have to say, I love so many things on this watch. The bracelet is to die for, love the dial setup with lower positioned subdials (but would still love to see what they look like in a contrast color), Love the Big Date complication and 12 O'Clock position...
I gave up on the BB a while ago as it is out of my price range...even second hand...hoping it will drop a little over time..it does seem high not being a LE model..
So, I have had my eye on the Skyland...mostly through photos...now after trying the BB on again right after the Skyland...the Skyland almost seemed cheap looking in a way...kind of young looking...where before, I liked the stenciled numbers.
I'm torn now...It makes me think I should save my pennies and try to find a deal on a BB for the future! I've even liked the brushed BB on a distressed leather strap another member had posted...
How does this happen? How can my view on a watch change suddenly after trying on another watch! It's crazy...I think maybe I'm crazy! :roll:

jnelson3097 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 6:37 pm

What about this one?

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8795

chmre · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:37 pm

The BB all the way. It's worth it. I will never get tired of looking at it.

Driver8 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:25 am

Legmaker72 wrote:

How does this happen? How can my view on a watch change suddenly after trying on another watch!

It's easy done! My opinion of a number of models has changed over time.... but that's just all part of the fun! :thumbsup:

g-star · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:01 pm

Same thing happened to me! I had my eye on a Chronomat Evolution for months. I went to my AD to try it on again and I noticed the Blackbird. I tried the Blackbird on and I knew that it was the watch for me. My advice? Save up and get the watch you love the most. You will have to live with it for a long time. You don't want to get second best. You will regret it. Good luck.

JaVa · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:05 am

Did you notice, that the Skyland is a little bigger, which gives it a more sturdier look and feel on your wrist. I´ve had a Skyland for a month now and when I was looking for my favourite piece, I noticed that the blue and grey colour made the dial look more plasticky. The black dial boosts the sharp contrast with the white stencil numbers. It makes the whole piece look more valuable. So try it in black before you make up your mind.

I also think the stencil numbers give it a youthful and fresh presence, not cheap, but more discreet compared with the BB. The BB is quite a lot more showy and looks more expensive. It´s a very handsome watch with the chrome detailing and the very cool bracelet. It will draw more attencion than the AS.

In my mind the Skyland is a better everyday wear and allrounder, but the BB is a superrior dress watch of the two. So think of what you want and what you use it for. Enjoy the lovely pain of that wonderful problem!

carlhaluss · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:38 am

Same thing with me, only the other way around. When I had my SuperOcean of 10 years, I started looking for another Breitling. The Cockpit first caught my eye, then I advanced to the Blackbird. For the longest time, that was THE watch for me. At that time, things were only at the looking stage, though, and I could not afford a new watch at the time.
Then I decided I would get a Steelfish, and save for a couple of years for a Blackbird. Along came the AS Blacksteel. It really caught my eye and was a LE, so I HAD to have it. Took some money out of my pension fund to do it. Then along came the Seawolf. Now that is pretty much on my wrist 24/7. I still admire the Blackbird so much, but it really is the Aeromarine line that does it for me. It's not a price thing, because I know that if I had wanted the BB so much, I would now have one. It is just one model that went from No.1 down the line, because there are really others that I prefer. Like any of the Skyland models.
If I had to sell everything, and could still only afford the least expensive Breitling, I would be very happy with the Colt Quartz II. I still look at them every time I am by an AD. A simple black dial with a Diver Pro strap. Just like my first Breitling, that I had for 7 years. Not with a Diver Pro, of course, this was late 80's, but a rubber strap nevertheless.
Cheers,
Carl

MarkJnk · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:35 pm

Clearly, most of us here are not "one watch" types. And I am confident that most of us have evolved and changed our tastes over the years. I know i have... which is why I've owned close to 120 watches over the last 3 years of this insanity. The only advice I can give you is to go with your gut. If the BB is speaking to you and you buy the Skyland instead... then the future is already written and you will end up buying the BB at some point. It is a good exercise to try them on and think hard about it... then go with the watch that speaks to you.

Then in a month or two, you sell it and start all over again LOL!

For me... the BB wins easily over the Skyland... but as i told you in the PM, I can't stand those stenciled numbers :shock:

carlhaluss · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:21 pm

Just had a thought...and believe me, those are few and far between!: Have you seen the Polished Blackbird yet? There may be something to the polished quality of the Skyland that the brushed BB does not have, that pulls you toward the Skyland. The pics do not do the polished BB justice. It is truly one of the most polished looking watches I have ever seen, even the bezel is polished. And with the bevelled edges on that Pilot bracelet - wow! You owe it to yourself to at least see one of those, before you decide. Just a thought.
Cheers,
Carl

MarkJnk · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:27 pm

Damn Carl, the green of your signature graphic just pops! Catches my eye everytime. Nicely done.

Legmaker72 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:48 pm

Maybe I will have to see the Skyland in Black as mentioned...since that is the photo that I always look at. But I do think Mark is correct in saying the future is already written when it comes to the Blackbird for me. Now it's just a matter of the prices coming down..they are just way to hogh right now for that watch. It was they same way for the Omega PO's last year...way to high..now they have come down so much lower...so I may have to hold my breath and wait it out for the BB. I am not a fan of the polished stuff though...I actualy would prefer if the Skyland was all brushed like the Seawolf for me.
I really appreciate your view on this..it does help out alot!

carlhaluss wrote:

Just had a thought...and believe me, those are few and far between!: Have you seen the Polished Blackbird yet? There may be something to the polished quality of the Skyland that the brushed BB does not have, that pulls you toward the Skyland. The pics do not do the polished BB justice. It is truly one of the most polished looking watches I have ever seen, even the bezel is polished. And with the bevelled edges on that Pilot bracelet - wow! You owe it to yourself to at least see one of those, before you decide. Just a thought.
Cheers,
Carl

carlhaluss · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:58 pm

Yes. You should see the Skyland in black. I know a fellow at my AD who ordered one with the grey dial, and he has now changed it to the black dial. Also, someone I know has seen the blue dial and has ordered the black as well. It is kind of like the Seawolf I have. The dials all make the watch appear entirely different. For example, I love the PRO II on the grey dial, but on the black like mine it really does not do any justice at all to the dial. As a matter of fact, in certain lighting the Seawolf with black dial and brushed PRO II almost looks like a blue dial. Since you have waited this long, I would wait to see the Skyland with black dial. If you do want to save money, the Diver Pro looks awesome with the black dial. It is just a simply black rubber strap, but it brings out the black on the dial beautifully. It is also nice and thick (about 4mm), and because it is so simple, you really don't notice much of a taper (it tapers from 22mm, which is the lug width, to 20mm). Obviously, I am a great fan of the Diver Pro, and I feel it is a great strap for the money. I have it on my Seawolf with black dial now, and I have to say that it is my favourite so far, even over the Ocean Racer and the brown leather.
Hope all this is not confusing you rather than helping.
Cheers,
Carl

By the way, I assume you really want a chronograph, but have you seen a Seawolf? Best of both worlds: brushed and polished, and it works very well.

carlhaluss · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:04 pm

MarkJnk wrote:

Damn Carl, the green of your signature graphic just pops! Catches my eye everytime. Nicely done.

Thanks very much for the compliment, and your previous one as well! I actually had the font for quite a while, and I was able to create the logo, then bring the whole jpeg file into Photobucket and do the colour editing with their software. I have some good software on my Mac, unfortunately not a lot of experience and the hard drive crashed, so now on my laptop PC I have to do everything. I was actually quite impressed with the built in software that Photobucket has.
Cheers,
Carl

carlhaluss · **Posted:** Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:27 pm

I'm sure you have seen JaVa's postings. If not, I am sure that his photos will be a great help in making your decision! I have never seen more beautiful pics of the Skyland with the black dial, and they are very realistic!
I, too, had a thing about the Blackbird for the longest time. However, my real love is for the Aeromarine line, actually all of the models. The money issue was a thing for me, too, but I know that if I really had wanted the Blackbird badly enough I would have waited, and would now have one. I can't afford a large collection, but maybe one day.
I know you like brushed, but it is hard to resist the temptation of polished when you see these photos!
Anyway, here is the link to JaVa's second set of photos:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8613&p=71573#p71573
Cheers,
Carl

g-star · **Posted:** Sun Mar 22, 2009 5:56 am

Again, just adding my $ .02.
I love the Skyland and now the Seawolf, both having the 'stenciled' numbers. What I would suggest is putting some pics of the watches on your desktop or wall to view in the next few months (if you can wait that long). The watch you really want bad enough will 'sing' to you. I agree with carlhaluss in that you really have to see in person the 'polished' blackbird. A friend of mine has one and I must say, I was very impressed with it. I would even go further and say I was jealous! So take your time, view all your options and decide. You can't go wrong with a Breitling either way.

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