Yes, Breitling gets little respect. And on the surface of it I can see why. The use of slightly modified ETA movements in many models has certainly contributed the most to this lack of respect among serious watch aficionados. But there's still a certain appeal for me. It's simple, really...I just li
Yes, Breitling gets little respect. And on the surface of it I can see why. The use of slightly modified ETA movements in many models has certainly contributed the most to this lack of respect among serious watch aficionados.
But there's still a certain appeal for me. It's simple, really...I just like them.
I truly appreciate a well made movement. Based on that, most would say Breitling doesn't fit. But durability and timekeeping are a big part of being considered a well made movement. And here I can only speak from personal experience.
I've had this Navitimer since new, purchased in 2002. It has never been serviced. I don't consider it more than a good daily watch and it has been used regularly as such. It has not only held up extremely well as far as general ware to the case, crystal, crown and pushers due specifically to the design of the case, it has also maintained it's timekeeping accuracy far better than my AP or Rolexes...without any service! My current Rolex has been serviced twice in this same time period due to losing accuracy and my AP isn't as accurate as it was a year ago.
The ETA based movements have proven to be reliable and accurate over time and are easily serviced. They're fitting workhorses for many reliable daily-ware watches. Even my Fortis B42, another good daily beater, keeps better time than my higher end watches.
I think it comes down to this--there's a place for watches at this level and just because a watch may have an in-house movement, that doesn't automatically mean it's a better watch at keeping time.
Emil
