This is just a small personal review of my Breitlings but mainly I am writing this because through all of this, as much as I was loving to expand my Breitling collection, I was also searching for the perfect size for my wrist..
A few weeks ago it was Breitling Week in Paris. There were Breitling posters everywhere as they made a blitz in advertising. The month before last I was in Zermatt, Switzerland with the family and not only Breitling but many watch company posters were present all over town, on the lift and at the top of Klein Matterhorn. It was the Breitling posters that got my attention. I have always liked the looks of the Navitimer pilot styling.
I started out with a Navitimer Series Speciale for my first rep, late in 2005. I had a friend pick it up in Jakarta when she visited there last year. It was a Navitimer with a quartz movement and it ran perfectly and gave me a lot of satisfaction. I found RWG shortly after and the fun began.
I gave the Quartz Navitimer to my daughter who really wanted it and bought myself the Series Speciale. I have a 7 ½ inch wrist and this watch required 2 extra links to wear comfortably. My dealer gladly obliged. I bought a few PAMs after that and the 44mm and 47mm size of them looked good on my wrist and just felt like they belonged there. After a few months of wearing them, the Navitimer seemed too small but I still loved it.
Then I bought the 44mm Chrono Avenger and this was back to the size that I liked but this watch is very thick (18mm). It had an excellent AR coating and was probably one of the first ‘Super Reps’ back in early 2006.
When the Super Ocean (44mm) came out Pug’s pictures made me a believer. I had to have this one with the ETA and the price was very good from Precious Time. This is definitely one of my favorite all time best watches. 44mm is perfect and 16 mm in thickness seems perfect too. Nice weight and feel and the fit and finish was great.
Next came a member buy. It was a Bentley 30’s at 49mm in diameter. This is one massive hunk of stainless steel and you never forget it is on your wrist. I love this watch and wear it frequently but I think that it is at the upper limit of size and weight for my wrist. Sometimes when I am wearing it at my desk, I have to take it off and give the wrist a wrest. I began to think that another Bentley was in order but this time a little smaller. I had been eyeing the Bentley GT Two Tone Gold/Stainless Steel for some time. I generally do not like gold but the combination seemed perfect with the gold accent not being gaudy. The GT is about 45mm in diameter and 15 mm thick. This size felt really good on the wrist without the hefty feel of the 30’s model. I definitely think I found my optimum in size and weight for a watch. Since I liked the Navitimer and the Bentleys appear similar but bigger, the Bentley became my favorite Breitling model.
Then came the Evolution Ultimate (not my picture). At nearly 43mm and 16.5mm think this fits my wrist very well and I had not expected to love the watch as much as I do. I bought it to expand my collection of ‘Super Reps’. I bought the one with the black dial and silver sub-dials. Sorry, I can not show it now as it had an issue with the dial hazing up and had to send it back. I grabbed a picture of one like it from a forum when I ordered it and for the life of me can not remember who took this. I would give full credit for a great shot if I could remember. Anyway, when I first saw and held this watch, I felt that this was something special. The case design, the dial, the fit and finish blended into a perfect Breitling. It felt just right on my wrist and I have to admit – it is neck and neck against my Bentley’s and in fact – I think it is winning the race. Can’t wait to get it back in a few days. This watch hangs perfectly on the wrist, not obtrusively big or heavy and yet has a very real presence. I love wearing it and may get another.
I made a few new member Breitling purchases lately. One is another Bentley GT (Black dial). I bought this because I love the TT so much and yet I do not want to wear it too much – I want to save if for special occasions. So, I needed an every day Bentley and this is GT is going to be it. Hopefully, it will arrive sometime this year as the member shipped it by boat from the US to Europe! Don’t ask me why, I have no idea. All my mail from the US gets here in about a week but he was quoted 6 to 8 weeks. That does not sound like air-mail.
Finally, I traded an extra UPO (Asian movement) I had that was not being worn for a Breitling Flying B. I had this shipped to my house in the US so I have not seen it yet but my Daughter is making signs like she wants it. I traded for this because of the novelty of the design and the ‘bigness’ of it. I will have to see if I really like it when I get home in September.
My new boss has a GEN Colt so every time I am going to meet with him, I put on a Breitling. As I sit at the table I can see him staring at my wrist. He hasn’t asked yet why I have so many but I know it is getting to him.
So, that is it for my personal view of a few Breitlings.
Usil
A few weeks ago it was Breitling Week in Paris. There were Breitling posters everywhere as they made a blitz in advertising. The month before last I was in Zermatt, Switzerland with the family and not only Breitling but many watch company posters were present all over town, on the lift and at the top of Klein Matterhorn. It was the Breitling posters that got my attention. I have always liked the looks of the Navitimer pilot styling.
I started out with a Navitimer Series Speciale for my first rep, late in 2005. I had a friend pick it up in Jakarta when she visited there last year. It was a Navitimer with a quartz movement and it ran perfectly and gave me a lot of satisfaction. I found RWG shortly after and the fun began.
I gave the Quartz Navitimer to my daughter who really wanted it and bought myself the Series Speciale. I have a 7 ½ inch wrist and this watch required 2 extra links to wear comfortably. My dealer gladly obliged. I bought a few PAMs after that and the 44mm and 47mm size of them looked good on my wrist and just felt like they belonged there. After a few months of wearing them, the Navitimer seemed too small but I still loved it.
Then I bought the 44mm Chrono Avenger and this was back to the size that I liked but this watch is very thick (18mm). It had an excellent AR coating and was probably one of the first ‘Super Reps’ back in early 2006.
When the Super Ocean (44mm) came out Pug’s pictures made me a believer. I had to have this one with the ETA and the price was very good from Precious Time. This is definitely one of my favorite all time best watches. 44mm is perfect and 16 mm in thickness seems perfect too. Nice weight and feel and the fit and finish was great.
Next came a member buy. It was a Bentley 30’s at 49mm in diameter. This is one massive hunk of stainless steel and you never forget it is on your wrist. I love this watch and wear it frequently but I think that it is at the upper limit of size and weight for my wrist. Sometimes when I am wearing it at my desk, I have to take it off and give the wrist a wrest. I began to think that another Bentley was in order but this time a little smaller. I had been eyeing the Bentley GT Two Tone Gold/Stainless Steel for some time. I generally do not like gold but the combination seemed perfect with the gold accent not being gaudy. The GT is about 45mm in diameter and 15 mm thick. This size felt really good on the wrist without the hefty feel of the 30’s model. I definitely think I found my optimum in size and weight for a watch. Since I liked the Navitimer and the Bentleys appear similar but bigger, the Bentley became my favorite Breitling model.
Then came the Evolution Ultimate (not my picture). At nearly 43mm and 16.5mm think this fits my wrist very well and I had not expected to love the watch as much as I do. I bought it to expand my collection of ‘Super Reps’. I bought the one with the black dial and silver sub-dials. Sorry, I can not show it now as it had an issue with the dial hazing up and had to send it back. I grabbed a picture of one like it from a forum when I ordered it and for the life of me can not remember who took this. I would give full credit for a great shot if I could remember. Anyway, when I first saw and held this watch, I felt that this was something special. The case design, the dial, the fit and finish blended into a perfect Breitling. It felt just right on my wrist and I have to admit – it is neck and neck against my Bentley’s and in fact – I think it is winning the race. Can’t wait to get it back in a few days. This watch hangs perfectly on the wrist, not obtrusively big or heavy and yet has a very real presence. I love wearing it and may get another.
I made a few new member Breitling purchases lately. One is another Bentley GT (Black dial). I bought this because I love the TT so much and yet I do not want to wear it too much – I want to save if for special occasions. So, I needed an every day Bentley and this is GT is going to be it. Hopefully, it will arrive sometime this year as the member shipped it by boat from the US to Europe! Don’t ask me why, I have no idea. All my mail from the US gets here in about a week but he was quoted 6 to 8 weeks. That does not sound like air-mail.
Finally, I traded an extra UPO (Asian movement) I had that was not being worn for a Breitling Flying B. I had this shipped to my house in the US so I have not seen it yet but my Daughter is making signs like she wants it. I traded for this because of the novelty of the design and the ‘bigness’ of it. I will have to see if I really like it when I get home in September.
My new boss has a GEN Colt so every time I am going to meet with him, I put on a Breitling. As I sit at the table I can see him staring at my wrist. He hasn’t asked yet why I have so many but I know it is getting to him.
So, that is it for my personal view of a few Breitlings.
Usil
