Horological Meandering

Good morning All

Aside my love for Omega, JLC, Rolex, Zenith, Eterna, IWC, Lemania, Tutima, Orfina, Sinn and some others brands. I rarely see the name Breitling mentioned.

Breitling Navitimer

Since 2009 Breitling have introduced one of the best if not the best chronograph movement surpassing the 4130, the 9300, the JLC 752, the TAG02 and the El Primero, the Breitling B01, which has self centering hammers and an ability to change the date at whatever hour of the day it is. Two modern Breitling watches that can give a serious for the money to the other big watch names. Or the Navitimer rattrapante, the unique watch with an in-house movement which is particularly innovative.

Have a good Sunday everyone.

Best regards,

Georges  

This message has been edited by Ares501 Mr Green on 2017-09-10 03:39:27 This message has been edited by Marcus Hanke on 2017-09-10 06:38:01 This message has been edited by Marcus Hanke on 2017-09-10 06:38:52 

[Editor: Added photograph and corrected video format]

This message has been edited by MTF on 2017-09-11 14:54:27

... by opening a huge video (?) picture completely obscuring your text, whenever I try to open your post.

All I could read was some kind of praise of the chronograph movement. However, my negative experiences with this movement alone, and my information collected from other owners are likely to consume more space than a text dedicated to its advantages.

The B01 is certainly not a bad movement, but it had (hopefully not "has") its flaws, mainly connected to the automatic winding mechanism and the friction of the hands. Originally, it was designed to be a very conventional chronograph movement, no special escapement, no special materials, the vertical clutch being the only tribute to current state of the art. That Breitling released a special version with silicium escapement in my opinion demonstates an effort to bycome problems that showed up since the start of the production.

My second B01 watch is without problems so far, but the first one started misbehaving only seven months after purchase, so there is still time.

Regarding the general manufacturing quality, however, I can state that Breitling shows the highest level of perfection even in small details that I have seen on mass-produced timepieces. All components, be it hands, applied markers, movement bridges, wheels, etc. appear to be practically flawless, which I cannot attest to competitors like Omega, for example.

Marcus

But anyways, I am certainly going to buy a B01 and if not that a vintage Zenith El Primero

due to video that obscured it.
Cheers
D

So that now everyone can see and think before buying a B01.
Best regards
Georges

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Has history (despite some bumps on the road) and has very interesting vintage and modern watches BUT:

during world war II. And also, the pin up is also linked to Breitling 's history in the USAF. Guess who was at the opening of the first Breitling boutique in New York? Victoria Silvstedt, someone who looks like a pin up too. But this is not the subject of the discussion
Giants, I disagree. What about Omega and Panerai watches which are 45mm and sometimes over, aren't they made for giants too??
Perhaps the navitimer dials are busy but if you know how to use the slide rules, it is easy. Plus the lume markers, the sub dials and the hands have top notch lume. A chronomat can easily hold a candle with a speedmaster and so does a super avenger military which are both much more legible.
Maybe the boutiques where you went didn't have persuasive and enough knowledgeable sales personnel?
Always a pleasure to discuss and exchange different point of views
Best regards
Georges

I normally go shopping with my wife and grandchildren. 

For a long time I thought Breitling to be the epitome of cool watches and was over the moon when I got an Aerospace as my graduation present. At the same time if I look at the current collection I find little that I like. The Transocean came closest to appeal to me but the 43mm looked decidedly too large on my wrist and the Boutique refused to stock the 38mm. Which I was for a while interested in.

As for the Boutiques, my experience with the one I use has been generally good. The service was top notch, fairly priced and lightning fast. The staff was friendly but couldn't for the life of them comprehend why someone would want a watch smaller than 43 or so mm, in their opinion a man needs to wear 45mm and above (here I understand Nilo).

Curious what will come out under Kern but if he brings out a 38mm Transocean with the B-01 movement and no date, I'm a buyer, most likely 👍🏻

Same comment with the cairelli reedition or the plo prof, if you can wear one of them, then you can in my opinion wear a 44/45mm Breitling too unless its sits too high on the wrist or it is too big. Quality wise Breitling is a close match to Rolex, Omega and IWC. I have a heavy hesitation between a chronomat and a vintage el primero but I will see.
Breitling main market is North America followed by Asia and Europe.

Just that at the moment I do not feel particularly drawn to their current collection. And the Breitling watches I have tried lately definitely wore larger / higher than the CP-2, which may be somewhat wrist specific

'best' is a lot of things that the B01 is not.

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And they were trying to sell me watches.