The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I went with not too bad. Does not offend me, but I will certainly NOT be parting with my current Chronomat to make room.

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Chronomat, Steel/Gold, MOP Dial, 2-tone band (2008)
Super Avenger Black Baton Dial (2009)
Bentley B04 GMT Silver Dial (2013)
Avenger Blacksteel Baton Dial (2014)

omg, why must they make the dial almost similar to blackbird dial and i really like the way they did with the old dial , 6/9/12 better than the new one with 3/6/9
guys we need to protest this stupid design and the bezel really sucks looking

I think it's stunning!

I personally think it looks great! Having said that, I am not rushing out to buy one. I like my Seawolf 09 SS better anyway. They finally got the date right, though. It looks like they have now got white lettering on a background that matches the dial. The dial itself now really takes on a Blackbird layout, the dials and batons look great! I have always been a big fan of the Blackbird over the Chronomat, but now I would be hard pressed to decide.
Up until now, the Blackbird was the only Breitling that had the date background matching the dial. Small, detail, but one that always has annoyed me on the Breitlings. I like the bezel. The whole thing really does look polished. Having said they got the date right, must say I never did like the date between 4 and 5 o'clock. Not a big deal really, and it definitely looks better in that position now that the backbround matches the dial.
I still remember that I did not like the 09 Seawolf in the pics. As soon as I saw one in person, I had to have it!
Anyway, I am wondering what lug width. It is hard to tell in the pics, but it looks about like the old Chronomat. Would be nice to see 24mm.
I wonder if they are going to give the Blackbird the same case treatment. I really do like the big date.
Wonderful selection of dial colours! Can't wait to see some pics of those.
I have a feeling this will be a winner for Breitling. I can see it doing even better than the older model.
Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

i dont mind it, i wish it was 45mm. but its not horrible looking. whats the retail if its posted yet.

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Emergency
Bentley GT
Chrono Colt
Avenger Skyland Blacksteel
Steinhart LE#9/15

very simple math calculation:

take the size in mm and multiply by 100 Franklins

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Rolex DeepSea, GMT Master II TT, Pres 18038, DJ TT 16013
Breitling Chronomat 39mm (bullet+UTC), Starliner SS/MOP (wife)

back with ROLEX

I wish...its gonna be way closer to 200 benjies.

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-RJ

I had hoped to like the new model more than I do. I did warm up to the "square dial" design and will hold off final judgement on this until I see it in person. I do like the attention to texturing on the subdials. But the bezel....UGH! Everything else about the design displays the classiness that one associates with the Chronomat, but the bezel just totally does not belong with the rest of the watch.

Mofongo

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

Not sure if this has been mentioned in the multitude of posts on this (and I apologise if it has), but it's not just the bezel font that's odd : the bezel slopes down to the rider tabs in each quarter section to give enough purchase to twist it given that the rider tabs aren't really riders anymore. It's a clever concept, but I think it's going to look a little odd in person.

I must say Breitling have really lost me over the last two years. In previous years I could guarantee loving more than one of the new releases, but I've not purchased a single model designed in the last 2 years. I've got a horrible feeling that I'm going to be stepping away from Breitling as "my brand of choice" for a while, at least until the B01 filters through into something that I DO like.

I think I'm going to be waiting until Breitling stick the B01 into a Navitimer and only then if it's decent sized (i.e. Navi World size). I for one would assume they aren't going to ruin the Navi design with design changes...... but given the current direction, god knows.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Quite agree with you, D8. The "technical look" of the older Windrider- and Aeromarine-models vanishes step by step, now with the more fashionable design of the B01.
For me, this is a clear trend towards a more fashion-looking model line, the B01 lost a lot of "Breitling-DNA", although I admit, that the Breitling-DNA how I personally understand it (of the Windrider and Aeromarine lines) reflects the 80ies-design approach (which is not a very long time ago, compared to Breitlings total existence). So, my view of the Breitling-DNA is limited of course too. I am quite sure, that the Navitimer-line will incorporate the new movement soon WITHOUT huge design changes of the Navitimer-line (but this is just my guess). The Navitimer-line has even more long-term Breitling-DNA than the other model lines. Therefore Breitling won't compromize too much on this side.

The same happens with IWC. Their new models are designed for a more fashion-oriented target group.
The Chronomat B01 at least does have a new heart inside, the new caliber.

But as always, change doesn't have to attract only existing customers, but also new ones.

And the next economical hype will come, for sure, sooner or later. And I am sure, that Breitling is and will be well-positioned to successfully compete against IWC, Omega, Rolex (which represent the upper middle-tier level of the sports-watch giants in the luxury watch market).

V.

I agree vorollo, that Breitling is going after the fashion market a bit too much for my liking these days. The older style watches had much more emphasis on function which is what attracted me to the brand in the first place. Things like this new bezel without the graduated minute markers would have limited functional use. But I guess they need to offset the R&D cost somehow and if that means pandering to a more fashion style, then I guess that's how it has to be. It just means that I probably won't buy into it myself.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

At the risk of being called an old fogie and offending some people......

I think Breitling is paying insufficient attention to people like me that love the traditional look. I am really happy that Breitling is appealing to a younger / trendier crowd, but I now feel that it is at the expense of people like me who are more Navitimer than SA. I know they want to bring people to the brand early, but I fear that they are now driving existing loyal fans away, and that's sad.

Maybe I am just behind the times, but I am finding it harder and harder to find a Breitling to long for. I could give you a long list of discontinued and vintage Breitlings that I would love to acquire, but not too much of today's offerings.

It hurts to say it, but couldn't agree more with the last few posts.

Maybe all this is a little premature? I mean this was B:s first step in introducing their new pride and joy movement. They made a statement with the new design and forced people to notice. Which they did. Now others who before couldn´t be bothered with Lings are suddenly intrested. That´s not a bad thing.

In the next step, for sure we´ll find it in more classic Breitling designs and then all is well again. Just a thought.

You may be right - but I don't want to be taken for granted like that. Breitling has made a lot of money off of me, and I have a quality product in return. I am also 37 with hopefully at least 30 watch buying years in front of me - that's a lot of Breitlings.

If Breitling are doing what you implied it's pretty easy to interpret that as 'we've already got those buyers, let's go after some new ones and not worry too much about them. We'll get around to them later - they'll still be here'.

Harsh? Maybe, but I don't know how much longer I'm prepared to wait. Maybe I'll get my B01 Navitimer before the end of Basel, but at the moment the Navitimer range has one piece that celebrates the 125th anniversary, and that didn't get an in house movement - oh and some dial makeovers.