The Breitling Watch Source Forums

We have a family owned jewelry store (30 years now), we do not sell watches, just high end jewelry and specialize in custom designing, Ive had my chrono evo (2007) mop dial, diamond tabs as markers, for almost 2 years now and after a recent trip to NYC with my father, walked in a store, and saw my watch in the case for $8700 then saw one with the bezel on for $14,800, and we just could not believe the rip off that they charge for bezels thru factory, so being that the jewelers we are, my pops goes "when we go home were gon make one that looks identical to this for yours", so we got to it, and for our first bezel, think it came out fantastic, drilled into the OEM bezel, and set the same amount of stones, identical size and color/clarity to one from breitling, IMO came out sharp and much better than others ive seen out there for aftermarket, feedback is greatly appreciated, hope ya like...........CHEERS

o yea and of course i ended up buying a new OEM bezel just incase i have to send the watch to factory lol

more....

Good post...

Not my taste, but hey....glad you love it!!!

Davey

ps I may have poor judgment

Nice!!!

How much did you end up paying for the bezel total? Stones and all that, if i may ask of course.

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I'm not a fan of diamonds on watches, prefer them to look more functional.

That however, is a very nice job you guys have made of the bezel. Just looks factory to me

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"Nice from a far, but far from nice"


Breitling "pre" Chrono-Matic 1969
Omega Seamaster 300 1969
Rolex Submariner 16800 1982 (birthyear watch)
IWC Aquatimer 3548 2008

+Misc

Great work.

I must say that's the best looking aftermarket job I've ever seen. Most have pretty nasty "over-cut" issues in the corners of the areas the jeweller cuts into, but this one seems really clean. Very nice work.

I think you could make quite a nice sideline in aftermarket bezels there.

Hmmmmm, just thinking, but I bet there'll be a few people who might consider a new B01 if they could get rid of those 70's computer style numbers on the bezel......... perhaps by adding a few diamonds? Hmmmm........

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Driver8

Site Moderator

whahahahaaha your to funny!!!!

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thanks guys for the feedback, and i really appreciate the kind comments about the workmanship, yea im very pleased the way it came out, pictures dont do justice to how this looks like in person, skies the limit now haha

Sick watch! Love the crusty bezel. Absolutely looks factory. Nice work. Start selling them. Although most of the Breitling Police on here tend to "hate" on aftermarket work I think you could find some interested parties.
GREAT WATCH

-LOUIE

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SUPER AVENGER Arabic # White Dial
SUPER AVENGER Baton White Dial
SkyRacer Slate Dial
Avenger Seawolf Blk Dial
SuperOcean Blk Dial
HUBLOT BIG BANG KING
ROLEX:SS Datejust White Dial Dia. Bez
PANERAI:Ferrari Scuderia GMT

It does indeed look very nice although I'm not sure it looks "factory"... The "Breitling Police" on here would likely mention that for the stones to be "identical size and color/clarity to one from breitling" they would need to be Top Wesseltons, 1.14 tcw, E-F color, VVS clarity. If accurate, that grading makes them as close to "flawless" as you are likely to see on any piece of jewelry worn in public. It would be interesting to be able to hold in hand an OEM bezel right next to the beauty on the OP's watch for comparison. Since that isn't practical, below are a few shots of a factory bezel for comparison to the MOP watch pics...
Best,
Ron

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"The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea"...

Click to view: 500px Photo Gallery "Flow" or... 500px Photo Gallery or... Breitling Pics Slideshow

I STILL say that's the best looking diamond-Breitling I've ever seen Ron. It just works so well with that dial colour.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

It does indeed look very nice although I'm not sure it looks "factory"... The "Breitling Police" on here would likely mention that for the stones to be "identical size and color/clarity to one from breitling" they would need to be Top Wesseltons, 1.14 tcw, E-F color, VVS clarity. If accurate, that grading makes them as close to "flawless" as you are likely to see on any piece of jewelry worn in public. It would be interesting to be able to hold in hand an OEM bezel right next to the beauty on the OP's watch for comparison. Since that isn't practical, below are a few shots of a factory bezel for comparison to the MOP watch pics...
Best,
Ron


very nice pics Ron, i agree there are some imperfections, but ive seen alot of bezels, OEM and aftermarket but as far as the diamonds, my fam has been in the jewerly industry for 30 years, and im personally a graduate gemologist, and i have never heard of the term "Top Wesseltons, (then again could be a term thru breit). as far as the stones, they are all 1.8 mm (apprx .04ct each) i know this cause we tried 2.0 mm diamonds and were too big...as far as color we used all F colored goods, which is colorless, and for clarity used VS stones (all very high grade diamonds).....personally if breit is using VVS stones what a waste, like i said the pictures dont do justice to the watch in person, as my pics were jus done with a norm digital cam, and if i had used a much better the quality wouldve been shown better, theres nothing like an OEM bezel ill agree with that, but keep this in mind, they make those by machine, (holes and setting stones) and we did ours by hand lol

Hi, Jon. I think you did a fantastic job on the bezel and I definitely agree it looks much nicer than other aftermarket work such as that by Liori. I also agree that technology these days can provide a very slightly better uniformity to that type work although it certainly does not instill the pride of completion that all handwork can provide. Your family's work is truly amazing and brings out even more beauty in your MOP Evo. As for the term "Top Wesselton", I'm a little surprised that you hadn't heard of it during your studies to become a graduate gemologist. It is a diamond color grade in an obsolescent mainly Scandinavian system referring to a diamond of a colour at the top end of what could be expected from the Wesselton Mine. The Wesselton mine is in Kimberley, Northern Cape Province, South Africa.
It is a diamond mine in a kimberlite pipe. The Wesselton mine was the last of the Kimberley mines to be started in 1890. In 1891, the mine was taken over by DeBeers. When it was closed in 2005, the deepest level was at 995 meters below surface, making it the deepest diamond mine in the world. I know, probably TMI but perhaps of interest to some...
Best,
Ron

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"The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea"...

Click to view: 500px Photo Gallery "Flow" or... 500px Photo Gallery or... Breitling Pics Slideshow