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.

11 collectors discussing this on the WatchProSite forumJoin the Conversation →

... 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 Discussion

Marcus Hanke

Aug 11, 2016

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

KMII

Aug 11, 2016

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

Bill

Aug 11, 2016

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

Marcus Hanke

Aug 11, 2016

The "fire" are rests of the bbq igniter that fell through the grating, in safe distance of the watch. It was a rather lucky shot with longer exposure time. Marcus

MTF

Aug 11, 2016

Marcus, So you punished your "Raven" Breitling for bad behaviour by Fire? I think Breitling makes nice watches but the company owners are a little strange...a Black Hole....no relationships. No invites to the Baselworld Breitling Palace. No watch specialist media allowed one year! Only luxury lifestyle journalists or VIP clients. PuristS official personnel were specifically banned but I got in as a "serial buyer". I buy them but not for myself; all were bought as gifts. oops. that may be not 100

Marcus Hanke

Aug 12, 2016

I just collected several other experiences of dealers with flaws in the manufacture movement, which would further underline the advantages of going with an industry standard, movement-wise. Marcus

Continue the conversation

This thread is active on the Horological Meandering forum with 11 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.

Join the Discussion →

Breitling Chronomaster 44 Raven & SuperOcean Heritage

Key Points from the Discussion

Continue the conversation

More from this Forum