Someone tell me about Breitling

wolfmann601

wolfmann601

Gone, but not forgotton. RIP Ira.
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Mar 12, 2001
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At some point in my life I am going to buy a real watch. I saw a photo recently of a Breitling Chrono Avenger and it caught my eye. I cannot find much in the way of a review of the watch, whether Breitlings will hold up to everyday wear ,[I wear a watch 24/7 and only take it off to shower] whether it's accurate, what Avenger model is the best, and of course the cost.

Can any of you power watch guys give me some guidance?

Thanks
 
Breitling's are gimmicky and way overpriced.
They do almost no finishing of the movements, basically just buy them from ETA/Valjoux, and slap them in a case.
For a really fine watch, at a great price, look at IWC.
Ask any real watch afficianado, and he'll tell you the same.
Lenny
 
Lenny said:
They do almost no finishing of the movements, basically just buy them from ETA/Valjoux, and slap them in a case.
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That depends on the model. Some are direct drops of the Valjoux, others are modified to fit the watch. I have a B1 and have been EDC'ing it for the past 4 years. Sweet watch.
 
Modifying a movement to fit the watch is one thing.
Polishing, bevelling, replacing jewels, reducing friction wherever possible, replacing the balance and pallets with their own inhouse design (IWC does all these things) is a different matter altogether.
Lenny
 
Lenny said:
Modifying a movement to fit the watch is one thing.
Polishing, bevelling, replacing jewels, reducing friction wherever possible, replacing the balance and pallets with their own inhouse design (IWC does all these things) is a different matter altogether.
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Well, since neither of us knows what Breitling does when they "modify" the movement, I'd say it'll be worth our while to find out for sure.
 
Well I have a crosswind special. It's caliber 44b movement has 35 (38?) jewels and is based on the eta 2892. Since the eta 2892 comes with 21 jewels I don't think you can say they just slapped in an eta movement. In any event its a great watch. Breitling by the way IIRC produces the most certified chronometers, second only to Rolex, and ahead of Omega.
 
I had a Aerospace but none of the autos. I ended trading it for an Omega SMP and couldn't be happier.
Matt
 
Brietling has a 5000 foot diver (the Super Ocean) that's the best diver on the market for the best money. Watch World (or whatever the heck that magazine is) rated it above the Paneri and IWC. I also love their busy looking, relatively thin aviation watches.
 
Buying a high end mechanical watch is similar to buying a high end handmade knife.

Just as some knife makers are hot, some watch makers are hot. Some knives hold their value better then others, just like watches. Some watches are temporarily hot and over priced just like some knives.

If you are going to keep it forever, get the one that appeals to you. Whether it is worth more or less years from now is a non-issue. If that watch is a safe queen like a lot of custom knives, you will never know whether it really works well in real life.

Rolex carries a good reputation for a reason. Is the right watch for everyone? No.

Personally, I find Fortis to be a good value brand.

If I go high end brand new, it will be an IWC.

Used, it will be a blue "wave" face Omega SMP.

Breitling does a huge amount of advertising (in some arena's) which can be a good or bad thing depending on your point of view. Do their watches work and hold up? Yes. Better then others? That depends on the user and the models being compared.

My only other advice is to avoid the trendy things and pick something that has stood the test of time. My Fortis watches from years ago look just as good today as they did then. My Tag Heuer's haven't stood the test of time as well. I still have my "TAG's" though and they bring back so many good memories.....
 
Breitling has very busy watch faces. I guess they're a personal preference. A surgeon at work has one that's nice. Its a white face, doesn't look so busy.


Paul
 
I have a Chrono Avenger with titanium colored face that I've EDC'ed for the past 3 years. The watch is very comfortable for its size, because of its titanium construction. Unfortunately, as many knife people know, Ti is softer than steel so my watch is pretty beat up. I recently took my old TAG Heuer F1 Chrono in for a battery change, the watch guy told me that the watch looked brand new. That watch I EDC'ed for nearly 5 years before I got the Breitling, that brushed stainless finish holds up real well.

Just last week I purchased a TAG Aquagraph 2000, I'm interested to see how that one holds up to every day use. It's already bugging me though, 'cause it's so much heavier than the Breitling.

Bottom line (for me), if you like the looks of the Chrono Avenger (I love it) and you can get a good deal, then go for it. Just keep in mind, however, that the Ti case and bracelet will show wear and tear very quickly if you wear the watch often.
 
Klesk said:
snipped..I have a Chrono Avenger with titanium colored face

Bottom line (for me), if you like the looks of the Chrono Avenger (I love it) and you can get a good deal, then go for it. Just keep in mind, however, that the Ti case and bracelet will show wear and tear very quickly if you wear the watch often.
Click to expand...

What does one consider a "good deal" on the Chrono avenger in Ti?

I don't care about resale value, it will have taken me 50 years to finally afford a real watch so selling it is not on my agenda.:D

I want a watch that can be EDC'd daily regardless of the weather, what I am doing, or where I am going and remain accurate.

I also can't afford more than $2800 so if Breitling is not your number 1, what make and model in this price range is?

Thanks
 
First off, I just buy what I like, I'm not much of a watch connesiuer (sp?) so don't take my opinion too seriously. As many in this thread have pointed out, there are probably other watches with better pedigrees in the same price range. IWC is really nice, I want one eventually.

When I bought my Breitling, I had heard that they are very, very strict when it comes to buying from an authorized dealer. Since the Breitling was to be my first "good" watch, I didn't want to screw around and buy off the grey market or off Ebay. I ended up paying full price (minus a 15% discount for signing up for a Macy's card) at Macy's Jewel Gallery - I paid $2,550 for the watch and bracelet. So, to answer your question (sort of), if you can get the watch through an authorized dealer for less than $2,500, you are doing OK. A quick check of Ebay shows the watch going for $2,200 - $2,300, so I guess you can't expect much of a discount. As a side note, our local Costco had some just like mine a little while ago for $2,300 - not much of a discount, but I assume that Costco was acting as an authorized Breitling agent.

As for other suggestions, again, I am no watch expert so I only know what I like. The only other watch that was in the running when I bought my Breitling was the TAG Aquagraph 2000 and as I mentioned above, I picked one up last week. TAG seems to be a little less fussy about where you buy your watch, as long as the serial numbers are in place. That's reflected in the going prices, I almost paid full price for the Aquagraph ($2,750, yikes!), but I found a new one on Ebay for $1,500 shipped, which, upon checking other auctions, doesn't appear to be an unusually low price.

If you are like me, and you will probably never really get "into" watches, you just want one, maybe two good watches to wear all the time, then buy what you like. Since it will be a user not a collectible, then its future value is somewhat of a moot point.

A funny side note: a little while ago, when I first got my Breitling, I started buying and reading a couple of those high-end watch magazines that you can find at Borders. I would just flip through them, and drool over the watches that I could never afford (wristwatch porn :D). Well, in one issue, the magazine presented the results of an earlier survey, one that was done to determine what the average reader is like. I remember that it said something about "... you own 9 high end watches, your annual income is just over $1 million..." Apparently, I'm in WAY over my head! :p
 
if ya buy 2nd hand watch for fakes.

a bud owns a pawn shop and a guy bought in a breitling to sell, something about the guy was funny so my bud took off the back of the watch and just then realised it was a fake, which really suprised him as he sees fake rolex/etc all the time and has never been fooled before on them so this is obviously a very good fake, almost fooled a pawn shop, imho a very difficult thing to do.....
 
Never really liked Breitling. Way too busy dial.

For chronos i like the looks of the Bell & Ross Pilot.
image.php

Also comes in a black dial i think.

Their diver looks alright as well.
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If you're not looking for a chrono, have a look at the Omega Planet Ocean. I've been using it for a few months now and love it.

However if i ever had enough money, i'd like to get a Rolex Submariner Date or a Seadweller depending on which one wears the best. There's something about Rolex that appeals to me. I think it's 'cos i know it's a classic design and durable and i'll be able to give it to my grandchild one day. Plus their servicing is top notch.
 
I'm more of a seiko guy myself, but if i were you I'd get a Fortis.

Like one of these:

http://www.watchesplanet.com/cgi-bi...-42+Diver+Official+Cosmonauts+Chronograph+GMT

Right in your price range too.

Or, still from Fortis, you could save yourself a bucket load of money and get one of their less expensive models, which have the same basic features (automatic, 200m,).
Like this:
http://www.watchesplanet.com/cgi-bi...is.htm?Brand=FORTIS&Series=Pilot+Professional

Look at the price for the top one, only 505 dollars. You can't really beat that. Swiss watch, swiss auto movement, 20 bar water resistent, great looking watch.

Best value for money out there, ............aside from my seiko skx 007 k2 classic diver.

Good luck in choosing one. Have a good long look at all the watches out there, and then try to get the best deal you can.
 
I have 1 IWC (Fleigerchrono), 2 Omegas (Ti/Tant SMP and Dynamic), 1 Bell & Ross (Ti Diver 300), 2 Breitlings (B1 and Blackbird),and 1 Revue Thommen (Ti Airspeed Chrono) and I EDC the B1 because I like the busy look of the face. It appeals to the engineering gene in me. The fact that it's the only quartz watch should say how much it appealed to me. That's what it's all about. Personal preference. The Breitlings are sound watches. Pricey, yes, but well made and each chrono's is certified (which adds to the price). You can find the Ti Chrono Avenger going for $1600 new here in NYC's watch stores.
 
Thanks Tony. I like the looks of the chrono Avenger in Ti because I love big watches and love Titanium.

Do you notice a big difference between wearing a large Stainless steel watch and a Ti watch?

Yup, personal preference....but it's like knives, I prefer many!!!!
 
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