Opinions on Breitling Navitimer?

[Mike552]

Does anyone here own a Breitling?

I'm looking to buy a new watch, and the "Navitimer World" is at the top of my list. I'm not a pilot, but I LOVE the look and feel of this watch.

I'm just curious about the movement... the Caliber 23/24. These movements are relatively new and very different from the Venus 178's of the vintage Navitimers.

Does anyone here own one with the Cal. 23/24 ? Any opinons?

TIA

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

Its a beautiful watch, but I have my questions as to the reliability of some of the newer Breitlings. I have seen a Navitimer come to a dead stop and have to be sent back to be fixed after only about 1 year. I don't know how typical this is of the newer Breitlings, but overall they are probably good watches.

I don't own one but Breitling is a heck of a watch check out www.timezone.com in the Breitling forum.

And good for you for not falling into the Rolex trap watch buyers with brains are hard to come by now-a-days.

http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=threadt&frm_id=16&rid=3

[Mike552]

eah, unfortunately I had to learn the hard way on Rolexes. I had a friend of mine convince me to buy a Daytona a few years back. NEVER again will I own a Rolex. What pieces of crap! I had thewatch for 1 year and sentit in 3 times for servicing. ONe thing I'm sureof, is that the Breitlings are better build than the rolexes, especiallythe Valjoux based caliber 13's. I just don't know much about the 23/24's. I'm not worriedabout craftsmanship though. I definetelythink thatBreitlings are amongst the best built watches in the world.

Thanks for the replies.....

[gmercoleza]

I used to own a Rolex Submariner 16610. Loved it, but got bored with its styling really fast. I still think they're timeless classics, but now I want a Valjoux based Breitling. I don't know what it is - maybe the complexity of it or something - but I love the look of the Breitlings compared to the "old man" look of the Rolexes (except the white-faced stainless Daytona). It'll take way less time to save up for one too.

[Lawrence Coppar]

I was given a Navitimer in 1968 and wore it for many years. It still runs well but I have not worn a watch since the mid 70's. So it has not been run regularly since the mid 70's. Occasionally I get it out and run it. But for the 7-8 years that I wore it, it was perfect.

I gave away a Rolex just to make a point. It's the best $1000 watch you can buy for $5000.

I'd venture to say that Breitling is the best made watch under $20K. Im an Omega guy but I wouldn't mind a Breitling being added to the collection.

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

Intersting, I seem to have had the opposite luck with watches. I have an Explorer II that is the most realiable and accurate watch I have ever had. Keeps especially good time for a mechanical movement and it has never had to be sent back after years of use.

For Breitling, I love their watches, but my dad has 2 and both have broken at least once and had to be sent back.

[suginami]

Why not buy a Hamilton?

It is the best $1000 watch that you can buy for a $1,000.

My Hamilton Chronograph has a day/date version of the Valjoux 7750
movement.

This movement is used in many other expensive watches that are double or triple the price, such as Baume & Mercier, Tag Hauer, Breitling, IWC, Omega, Oris, Tissot, and yes, even Rolex.

Here is a link:

http://chronocentric.com/forums/heuer/index.cgi?read=4115

Originally Posted by suginami

Why not buy a Hamilton?

It is the best $1000 watch that you can buy for a $1,000.

My Hamilton Chronograph has a day/date version of the Valjoux 7750
movement.

This movement is used in many other expensive watches that are double or triple the price, such as Baume & Mercier, Tag Hauer, Breitling, IWC, Omega, Oris, Tissot, and yes, even Rolex.

Here is a link:

http://chronocentric.com/forums/heuer/index.cgi?read=4115

Yip, and Hamilton is owned by Swatch group who also owns Omega. Chuck Maddox knows more about watches than any other watch enthusist I've seen and his favorite watch is well I'll let you guess.

http://home.xnet.com/~cmaddox/likes.html

[Plantman]

I'm not a watch collector by any means, but I bought this tag about 10 years ago and has worked flawlessly.

It's taken beating as I wear if for everything from car repair to work, etc....only recently the dial rotated out of place. I sent it to get repaired and detailed and will have it for the rest of my life. Only now I'll baby it a little more.

For some reason it didn't post the pic, but it's a Tag professional with a blue dial.

[Mike552]

I love Hamiltons also, but the fact that they are now made by RADO (or by the same company that makes RADO) doesn't make me jump on one right away. If the company was still independent, I would definetely buy one.

Yeah, Rolexes are VERY boring. I'm going to trade in the last Rolex I own (a early 70's President 36?mm with the bark crown, all gold) for a Breitling Navitimer World SS 46mm with white face and brown leather strap + $900. I find the President to be a BUTT ugly watch and I'm very happy to see it go and put some money in my pocket.

I was debating between the Black face/black strap and white face but I decided to go with the white because I'll be able to switch to different color straps when I get tired of them. My friend is a jeweler and he's giving me this deal, I think it's pretty good considering the President is EXTREMELY used and abused.

The best time-keeping watch I own is a Girrard-Perregaux "gyromatic" 18kt, I think it's from the 70's. I bought it 2 years ago as NOS. Best $500 I ever spent. It's my everyday watch.

MedMech, I LOVE Omegas!!!!!!!!!! I don't own one, but I will eventually find the courage to dish out the cash for one of my all-time favourite watches... the Speedmaster Broad Arrow! If money was no object I'd own everything in the Speedmaster line.

Originally Posted by Mike552

MedMech, I LOVE Omegas!!!!!!!!!! I don't own one, but I will eventually find the courage to dish out the cash for one of my all-time favourite watches... the Speedmaster Broad Arrow! If money was no object I'd own everything in the Speedmaster line.

I'm working on a limited edition "Earth to Mars" Speedmaster and currently have a Seamaster GMT and WW II Omega RAF flight watch which was worn by an American flying for the RAF, I paid a whopping $380 bucks for it.

A Broad Arrow is definitly on the radar as well.

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