This is my first review. I know that there are hundreds of people on this board who are more knowledgeable than I am regarding Breitlings in general and the BCE specifically. I apologize in advance for any mistakes that may follow. The comparison was done using the Breitling website configurator, as I did not have access to a genuine model. If you have not read it, Yodap did an excellent version comparison of the BCE rep modesl which can be found at http://repgeek.com/showthread.php?t=71640.
So here we go:
Here is the face on pic of the rep I purchased from the Cartel. According to the website configurator, the blue dial featured in this review is not available in two tone with gold romans. I have not yet seen any all steel rep versions. So that is the first inaccuracy. The only genuine two tone dials that are available are Black w/Gold romans and Burgandy w/Gold Romans. In the all steel version with the Blue, Black or Beige/Ivory dial, the romans are actually silver, but given that this is a non existent two tone dial, the gold romans are the best fit.
Also note the date window, which is outlined in gold, which appears to be close the correct thickness. The second photo shows the concentric circles on the dial which are visable under the correct light conditions. The third photo is a closeup on the date window outline and font. One of the most glaring defects in this and other Breitling reps is the lack of AR. While this was advertised as double AR, it has little if any AR. A trip to Chief for AR would be money well spent.
This next photo shows the pearl and the two tone bracelet: The pearl is a standard rep pearl which sits relatively flush to the surface with a small ring around the pearl. The genuine pearl is set a little deeper in the ring and the ring is slightly thicker. This would not be a major issue for me, but I could see where it could bother some people. I believe that a modification with a genuine tab with genuine pearl would make it more accurate to the genuine.
Next is a closeup of the 12 subdial. Note the missing tick after the 10 in that subdial, a flaw that most BCE owners know of. However, the roman dials listed on the website configurator also have the missing tick at 10. Absent a comparison to the genuine, I cannot determine if this is a flaw or not. The date font appears to be close to accurate to the gen. The length the hand markers is dead on to the configurator with slightly longer markers at 6, 9 & 12.
The next two photos shows the crown, pushers and the side of the bezel. When the crown is unscrewed, the crown tube is visable, another trait of the old V1 BCE. However when properly screwed down, it is not visable. The chronos on my version run well and reset perfectly to 12. Note that to operate the pushers, you unscrew the pusher rings. Like all BCEs that I know of, the bezel screws do not actually hold the bezel, which is pressed on and virtually impossible to remove. The number 1 at the 15 bezel tab does not make a sharp angle at the top as it does on the genuine and appears to be more of a triangle (See the fist face on photo above).The number 4 on the bezel tab also appears less sharp then the genuine bezel tab. Both of these flaws are also common to other BCE versions, but you really have to look close to see it. The case back is well printed and clean.
The rep comes a standard two tone 22/20 rep Pilot Bracelet, the original of which is listed as a 357D/372D. The genuine costs about $2100.00 in the after market, but the rep bracelet is comfortable to me. I would not make the swap for that kind of money. The printing on the clasp is acceptable. The lettering on the clasp is slightly thicker on the rep versus the genuine. I do not find it terribly obvious, but side by side it is noticeable. Most annoying is the that wings logo on the clasp is crooked with the right side of the wings slightly higher than the left side. The printing on the deployment bar is stamped on the rep bracelet and engraved deeper on the genuine.
Clearly this is not a super rep by any means. However, I am more into reps that look good regardless of the minor defects noted herein. Overall, this is a very nice looking watch and I would easily recommend it to all but the most fastidious rep collectors. It makes a nice alternative to to other BCE dial choices and wears comfortably as either a dress or dressy sport watch.
So here we go:
Here is the face on pic of the rep I purchased from the Cartel. According to the website configurator, the blue dial featured in this review is not available in two tone with gold romans. I have not yet seen any all steel rep versions. So that is the first inaccuracy. The only genuine two tone dials that are available are Black w/Gold romans and Burgandy w/Gold Romans. In the all steel version with the Blue, Black or Beige/Ivory dial, the romans are actually silver, but given that this is a non existent two tone dial, the gold romans are the best fit.
Also note the date window, which is outlined in gold, which appears to be close the correct thickness. The second photo shows the concentric circles on the dial which are visable under the correct light conditions. The third photo is a closeup on the date window outline and font. One of the most glaring defects in this and other Breitling reps is the lack of AR. While this was advertised as double AR, it has little if any AR. A trip to Chief for AR would be money well spent.
This next photo shows the pearl and the two tone bracelet: The pearl is a standard rep pearl which sits relatively flush to the surface with a small ring around the pearl. The genuine pearl is set a little deeper in the ring and the ring is slightly thicker. This would not be a major issue for me, but I could see where it could bother some people. I believe that a modification with a genuine tab with genuine pearl would make it more accurate to the genuine.
Next is a closeup of the 12 subdial. Note the missing tick after the 10 in that subdial, a flaw that most BCE owners know of. However, the roman dials listed on the website configurator also have the missing tick at 10. Absent a comparison to the genuine, I cannot determine if this is a flaw or not. The date font appears to be close to accurate to the gen. The length the hand markers is dead on to the configurator with slightly longer markers at 6, 9 & 12.
The next two photos shows the crown, pushers and the side of the bezel. When the crown is unscrewed, the crown tube is visable, another trait of the old V1 BCE. However when properly screwed down, it is not visable. The chronos on my version run well and reset perfectly to 12. Note that to operate the pushers, you unscrew the pusher rings. Like all BCEs that I know of, the bezel screws do not actually hold the bezel, which is pressed on and virtually impossible to remove. The number 1 at the 15 bezel tab does not make a sharp angle at the top as it does on the genuine and appears to be more of a triangle (See the fist face on photo above).The number 4 on the bezel tab also appears less sharp then the genuine bezel tab. Both of these flaws are also common to other BCE versions, but you really have to look close to see it. The case back is well printed and clean.
The rep comes a standard two tone 22/20 rep Pilot Bracelet, the original of which is listed as a 357D/372D. The genuine costs about $2100.00 in the after market, but the rep bracelet is comfortable to me. I would not make the swap for that kind of money. The printing on the clasp is acceptable. The lettering on the clasp is slightly thicker on the rep versus the genuine. I do not find it terribly obvious, but side by side it is noticeable. Most annoying is the that wings logo on the clasp is crooked with the right side of the wings slightly higher than the left side. The printing on the deployment bar is stamped on the rep bracelet and engraved deeper on the genuine.
Clearly this is not a super rep by any means. However, I am more into reps that look good regardless of the minor defects noted herein. Overall, this is a very nice looking watch and I would easily recommend it to all but the most fastidious rep collectors. It makes a nice alternative to to other BCE dial choices and wears comfortably as either a dress or dressy sport watch.
