Breitling Chronomaster 44 Raven & SuperOcean Heritage

Marcus Hanke · 2016-08-11T04:23:04Z

Marcus Hanke reviews his Breitling Chronomaster 44 Raven and SuperOcean Heritage, discussing B01 movement issues, ETA 2824 reliability, and Breitling's design.

Marcus Hanke

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

11 replies1586 views8 photos

Marcus Hanke shares his experiences with two Breitling watches, the Chronomaster 44 "Raven" and the SuperOcean Heritage. His post offers a candid look at the ownership experience, highlighting both the aesthetic appeal and the practical realities of mechanical watch reliability. This discussion provides valuable insights for collectors considering Breitling's diverse offerings.

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... I grasp the opportunity to show a few pictures of my most conspicious watch: Chronomaster 44 "Raven":

Its B01 movement experienced several problems, unfortunately, and needed repair twice within a bit more than a year of ownership. It returned from a major overhaul (replacement of many parts) just recently, and I am still testing it. However, I really love its bold looks and good legibility, and I am even thinking about adding another, with Italian context:

Then there is this beautiful SuperOcean Heritage with its copper-brwon lacquered dial: absolutely striking!

I still love that watch, despite its oversized diameter of 46mm. It has an ETA 2824 in it, COSC certified, which performs reliably and accurately since years.

Marcus

Key Points from the Discussion

Breitling's corporate strategy, as a family-owned mono-brand, often prioritizes volume and trendiness, which can lead to both excellent customer service and conservative movement choices like reliable ETA calibers.
The 'fire' in the photo was actually remnants of a BBQ igniter, safely distanced from the watch, captured with a longer exposure time for a dramatic effect.
The author expressed disappointment that the orange substance on the numerals of a different watch (implied to be an AP) was lacquer, not lume, making it unreadable in the dark and thus not a viable sports watch option.
Experiences with flaws in manufacture movements from other dealers further underscore the advantages of using industry-standard, proven movements for reliability.
One contributor noted that Breitling's company owners have a 'strange' approach to media and relationships, sometimes banning watch specialists from events like Baselworld in favor of luxury lifestyle journalists or VIP clients.
Despite the Chronomaster 44 'Raven' experiencing multiple issues with its B01 movement, its bold looks and legibility are still highly appreciated by the owner.
The SuperOcean Heritage, despite its 46mm diameter, is praised for its striking copper-brown lacquered dial and the reliable, accurate performance of its COSC-certified ETA 2824 movement over several years.

The Discussion

Alkiro1

Aug 11, 2016

An AP RO Offshore Volcano could become the best friend of your Breitling ;-)

Best wishes Alkiro

Marcus Hanke

Aug 11, 2016

No luminosity on the Volcano ...

I was massively disappointed to learn that the orange substance on the numerals is but lacquer. A sports watch that cannot be read in the dark is no option for me. Otherwise, this would have been my first AP. Marcus

Alkiro1

Aug 11, 2016

What a shame! :-(

Best wishes Alkiro

KMII

Aug 11, 2016

That Raven...

Over the coals is one of the signature shots of the forum In many ways your experience demonstrates an interesting point. Breitling is AFAIK still a family owned company and they are a mono brand operation. As such they probably require a certain volume to succeed and as a result need to follow the volume more than the \'Purist\'. This leads to some great results (in my experience an excellent customer service, which is still fairly priced), some conservative decisions (using reliable ETA moveme

amanico

Aug 11, 2016

I well remember your first picture! [nt]

Bill

Aug 11, 2016

Your Chronomaster 44 "Raven" is a very cool looking watch.

I am a little worried about the heat behind it but the environment suits it. But being a sea lover the SuperOcean is simply super. Thanks for sharing. Bill