Recommend a Breitling please UPDATED

[ralphy]

A good friend of mine wants to celebrate his pilot's licence with the purchase of a Breitling and enlisted me to suggest/sort one out.

The criteria is fairly straightforward: chronograph, blue dial & bracelet. He would be amenable to having a pre-owned one also - but when it comes to 'aviator' Breitlings I haven't a clue...

Suggestions/advice/comments from my fellow forum members, please.

R

UPDATE: see last post.

[Neely8]

http://www.breitling.com/en/models/s...de-to-measure/

[Lampoc]

Surely it has to be an Aerospace? That's what most of the pilots wear where I work (apart from the cheapskates and navs who wear an issued Pulsar....).

[NenoS]

My son is pilot and this is what he sugests:

http://www.breitling.com/en/models/n...r-01/versions/

[Badger Plus]

+1 on the Aerospace.

[ralphy]

+1 on the Aerospace.

Apologies, by 'chronograph' I meant he wants sub-dials on the face.

R

[ach5]

Chrono Avenger is the way to go.

Andrew michaels will do a good deal.

Aerospace is great, but obviously lacks the sub dials. In any case, the spinny-crown is a bloody nightmare and renders the watch useless for practical rapid use as a pilot.

[RossC]

Navitimer 01 Blue Sky Limited Edition -

[Captainhowdy]

Tracking down one of these on a bracelet might do.

[jk103]

This beauty here a real looker on the rubber too.

[ralphy]

Tracking down one of these on a bracelet might do.

I quite like that myself.

R

[sheepsteeth]

surely it needs to be an Emergency Mission.

mainly because they are the best watch ever made (and not because i am wearing one today).

Mind you, a watch with a locating beacon doo-hickey might appear to pass comment on your expectations on his ability to fly an aircraft well enough to avoid crashing and needing to be rescued before he resorts to eating his dead passengers.

[Bernouls]

If you're considering an older model, I love the colt ocean chrono.



Model: Chrono Colt Ocean
Production Years: 1999-2001
Gender: Mens
Case Materials Available: Steel
Movement: Breitling 53
Battery/Battery Life: 394/2-3 Years
Water Resistance: 100m
Bezel: Unidirectional
Crown: Screwdown
Crystal: Mineral
Diameter: 37.6mm
Thickness: 12.6mm
Weight: 60.8g
Bracelet: Fighter
Lug Width: 18mm
Watchwinder Direction: Quartz
Reference Numbers: a53050, a53350

[pacchi]

convince him to NOT buy a Breitling as it is such a cliché, Pilot-Breitling..... and he should buy something different......

[ralphy]

Thanks for the replies, gents.

Having spoken with my pal, the short-list is now either a Navitimer or a B-2, blue-faced dial (sub-dial colour not important).





I'll put up a WTB post for these, but if anyone has one they are considering selling please let me know.

Thanks

R

[shalako]

The best Breitlings have all been discontinued (IMHO)
Blackbird Big Date brushed.
Titanium Chrono Avenger.
Breitling B1.

[ralphy]

The best Breitlings have all been discontinued (IMHO)
Blackbird Big Date brushed.
Titanium Chrono Avenger.
Breitling B1.

Well, as I like all three of those I'm inclined to agree.

R

[snowman]

You can't go wrong with a traditional Navitimer, IMO.

Ignore the nay-sayers, Breitling got this bang on first time and have resisted (for the most part) buggering it up too much since.

Does everything your mate wants, looks classic and always will.

M.

PS ETA, ignore my picture over there on the left, I'm not biased at all

[andrew]

convince him to NOT buy a Breitling as it is such a cliché, Pilot-Breitling..... and he should buy something different......

His money, he earned it, his choice.

I also think all the best Breitlings aren't made any more. The current range is very gaudy and colourful, and because of their increased size vs a few years ago, even shinier than before. Having said that, there are some nice Navitimers still around which fit the whole pilot thing (don't get them near water during the moments when not in the cockpit...) - if the OP's friend has £5k+ spare. Also Navitimers don't look so good on bracelets, to my eyes anyway.

If not, I'd look out for an old blue-dialled Blackbird (the 40mm one, brushed finish) but I understand this could take a long time as few were made, and not everyone likes buying other people's used and unwanted belongings ;). So I would pick a blue Superocean chrono, non-Heritage 42mm, with silver subdials. Discontinued, but I am sure there are still some new knocking about.

[Rano85]

I think a blue dialed Navitimer is certainly the way to go, but I share andrew's opinion that Navitimer's don't look so good on bracelets. My impression is that a metal bracelet turns this watch from beautiful and classy, to rather blingy and in-your-face.

Each to their own, but may I suggest he give some consideration to a nice dark blue leather strap to go with the dial.

[studs]

Thanks for the replies, gents.

Having spoken with my pal, the short-list is now either a Navitimer or a B-2, blue-faced dial (sub-dial colour not important)...

B1 was going to be my suggestion until I saw your "sub-dials on the face" qualifier... a B2 would then be the obvious choice for me.

It's a far more versatile and robust watch than a Navi (assuming this will be something of an only or main watch), and is a more discerning choice of "B" for actual aviators than the ubiquitous Aerospace.