Avenger BlackBird 44mm Boutique

[Pantera87]

Wow I am inclined more and more to go for that beautiful piece.One thing I noticed is the small gap around the bezel, much like the ZF Avenger 44. Is the bezel well manufactured or does it get pressed?

Another thing I noticed was the lack of double AR coating on the zapphire, that blue tint doesn't look that good

 

[TBK]

Wow I am inclined more and more to go for that beautiful piece.One thing I noticed is the small gap around the bezel, much like the ZF Avenger 44. Is the bezel well manufactured or does it get pressed?

Another thing I noticed was the lack of double AR coating on the zapphire, that blue tint doesn't look that good

Well it sure is double AR, but it’s not anti reflective enough. I see this with a lot of the newer Breitlings. You can always consider a new AR coating (rnrprof, Sonil or other)

 

[tkingjr]

Here are a couple of photos of my Blackbird with a lrnrprof 2AR crystal.
I just add 2 more pics before the new crystal

 

[Pantera87]

That looks indeed day and night difference. How did you swap the crystal? I am not sure I will find a watchsmith dealing with replica watches in my area so most propably I will have to do it myself with some trial and error. Is this the GF version? I have read that the ZF one comes already with a proper 2x AR coating (leaving aside all the other flaws of the watch)

 

[Torino]

where did you get the canvas strap?

 

[tkingjr]

where did you get the canvas strap?

Trusty had them with the Titanium Deployant for about $100 USD

 

[Pantera87]

Does anyone know the actual factory that produces it? I have already been in contact with both trustytime and puretime, and while trusty told me unfortunately it is no longer in stock and production has stopped altogether, puretime said they can get their hands on it in like 10 days. How is that possible if that comes from the same factory?

 

[tkingjr]

Does anyone know the actual factory that produces it? I have already been in contact with both trustytime and puretime, and while trusty told me, unfortunately, it is no longer in stock and production has stopped altogether, puretime said they can get their hands on it in like 10 days. How is that possible if that comes from the same factory?

Ask what factory. It may be from AN Factory or OMF. They both are making Breitling's. It is always best to ask the name of the factory in your first email. Sometimes watches can be found with extra work.

 

[Pantera87]

I kept asking and they keep ommiting from their emails. Even in one adressing it only with "what factory is this" their reply was a small factory. Also in another email towards trusty, they have been 100% sure that the production has been stopped. I told them that another TD found it and they responded like "no it is stopped"

 

[tkingjr]

Pantera87 Some factories are referred to as "Small Factory". They really have no name. I would not recommend buying the watch. I have bought a watch from these small factories a couple of times. I was not happy with the quality. The quality is not even close to GF, Noob, V9F, ANF, OMF.

 

[Pantera87]

Yeah i am gonna go with your advice and skip ordering this watch. Too bad though that there is no single good Avenger out there. The ZF version has horrible engravings. I would wait for the GF to come back to life but I wouldn't hold my breath. Got any other model in the Avenger line to suggest?Avenger blackbird to be specific

 

[tkingjr]

GF's quality moved up to be the top supplier of Breitling's in a little over a year. I don't understand why ZF and Noob can't figure out how to be number 1

 

[Pantera87]

Perhaps it has to do with dedication to a single brand. As far as I know (correct me if I am wrong) GF has focused on Breitlings even though they were creating other brands as well but their main focus has been shifted to Bs. One question I have regarding the bezels, do you know if they are interchangeable? I mean the ZF engravings are horrid and i was thinking if I can perhaps swap the bezel with a gen one franken style or from another rep factory

 

[tkingjr]

Perhaps it has to do with dedication to a single brand. As far as I know (correct me if I am wrong) GF has focused on Breitlings even though they were creating other brands as well but their main focus has been shifted to Bs. One question I have regarding the bezels, do you know if they are interchangeable? I mean the ZF engravings are horrid and i was thinking if I can perhaps swap the bezel with a gen one franken style or from another rep factory

I think you are correct. I only bought Breitling's from GF. The only item I changed were Gen bracelets and rubber straps. There are members here that may know the answer. They know a lot more than me.

 

[TBK]

tkingjr o wow. That crystal update is awesome. Just what I meant. (My prof crystal for my bandit is incoming)

Pantera87 Crystal swap is quite easy. I used a vise, a domed plastic round box and a piece of pipe for the other side of the watch to the crystal could pop out. First time was nerve wracking, hoping I would not crack the crystal. It took quite some force. (Some others just pop out using thumb pressure.) O, I do place a soft cloth between the plastic and the crystal to avoid scratches.

About a bezel swap. H-fac and noob used a different way to attach the bezel. They just used a spring.
GF is the same as gen. The screws in the bezel tightens the spring. If you unscrew them, the bezel comes of. So perhaps it’s interchangeable. But I’m not sure it will fit.

 

[Pantera87]

Thanks TBK very informative! Now before commiting to buying it, I have to find spare parts for it. Anything to suggest to start from?Started searching in cousinsuk but with no luck. Any other website to start searching for?

 

[TBK]

What spare parts are you looking for then? And for which exact watch? The boutique edition?

I think it will be extremely hard to find a Breitling bezel. Perhaps eBay. If you’re very lucky.
But why not snatch a good Avenger from m2m. I saw capice01 just sold a really nice Skyland Avenger Code Yellow. Just look if they don’t have the ‘flagpole 1’ in de bezel.

About the crystal, find a someone who can apply a new coating. Such as rnrprof, Sonil, or goin. Pop your crystal, send it to them, be patient and pop it back in.

Cheers

 

[Minty Hummer]

Yeah i am gonna go with your advice and skip ordering this watch. Too bad though that there is no single good Avenger out there. The ZF version has horrible engravings. I would wait for the GF to come back to life but I wouldn't hold my breath. Got any other model in the Avenger line to suggest?Avenger blackbird to be specific

I think the ZF version of the Avenger BB is quite good IMO, I have bought the authentic 44mm Blackbird as well as the ZF replica and when i compare them side by side (apart from the strap) i cant spot any major differences unless i use a magnifying glass

 

[Pantera87]

TBK I think I am gonna go for the ZF avenger 44 and the part I am looking specifically are the whole bezel and the crystal. In cousinsuk I found some generic crystals that fit Breitlings, but I don't know if they are double AR coated. The part I cannot seem to find anywhere is the bezel. I have already sent some queries on TDs if they can get their hands on bezels from other rep factories plus keeping an eye on M2M section if anyone is selling a watch for parts or something

Minty Hummer Are you sure it is that close? The bezel on it looks horrible, even to an untrained eye like mine. Seems they skipped the coating and the engravings are like scratched or ethched with lazer. I thought the strap was good in ZF. Is it stiff and doesn't contour along the wrist?

 

[TBK]

Okay, but why a new crystal? Recoating gives probably even better result as gen. I have no idea how the ar from cousins is. If there is any.