Mon 12 Jul 2010
Breitling was the first watch that really caught my attention, and really resonated with me. I remember as a teenager I would go on Vacations and look at all the beautiful Breitling watches on display at various high-end department stores in Asia, the US and Europe. I would also be drawn to the Navitimers. I remember thinking to myself that one day I would own a Navitimer… and now I not only own a couple, but have owned almost a dozen of them from buying and selling.
My current favourite Navitimer is my Navitimer Montbrillant Datora:
Some of the different Breitling models I have owned over the years, many in multiples include: Super Avenger, Chrono Avenger, SuperOcean, SuperOcean Steelfish, Chronomat, Chronomat Evolution, Wings Automatic, Colt Automatic, B-1, B-2, Skyracer, Aerospace, Aerospace Avantage, Bentley Motors, Bentley Motors T, Navitimer, Old Navitimer, Navitimer Montbrillant Datora, Navitimer Montbrillant Legende, and several others I can’t remember!
However, in the end, since Breitling is the brand that I have had the most emotional investment in, my ultimate commemoration of the watch brand to myself was to have a matching pair of Breitling SuperOcean Heritage watches engraved to commemorate my marriage to my wife. I blogged about the matching SuperOceans it last year right before our wedding.
Here’s another peek:
In the end, Breitling was the right choice. We had looked at Rolex and felt that they might be appropriate due to their timeless design, but Rolex just didn’t resonate with us as something that was special to us. They make a great watch, and I love mine, but Breitling has had more impact on my life than any other brand, making it the obvious choice.
Thank you Breitling for enriching my life and allowing me to have something special that I can share with my wife!
July 15th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
this is very touching…very sweet
October 30th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
I have collected watches since I was a teenager and was given my Grandfathers Rolex Gold Oyster, engraved with his 50yrs Service, which included both world wars and all the other ‘police actions, NATO etc’…I still wear it daily even though its a hand wind, Keeps perfect time and holds its wind for 3days.
But in small units the Breitling is King. My Emergency Mission has been on every ‘interesting’ journeys, from riding horses over the Himalayas, and motorbike trip from London to India, plus across the Oz desert and many others that include military Ops I can’t discuss.
But knowing its there as my last resort has always been a hidden element of safety that I’m constantly aware of. And for my wife too.
Even though all three of my Cartiers’ seem to now be on permanent loan status with her!
Now I find the rarer and small production models of Breitlings, and my watchmaker is always amazed at how well they are working when in most situations they have not been opened since they were made. All they have ever required is a service and a change of rubber ring seels. Amazing.
Other watches have to be classics and vintage, always understated. For me to ‘Bling’ a Breitling is very unwanted, and I’d only buy a Breitling Bentley if I had the car to go with it!
Luckily I’ve never had to use the Emergency facility of my Mission. But its always there, and I have to admit its a ‘happy factor’ that I can’t put a price on.
I should add I had a terrible motorbike accident 7yrs ago and my Breitling survived a lot better than I did, just the glass needed replacing, but it hadn’t broken. Just ground away on a 50M bounce and roll. I can add that another earlier one (Avenger) survived a mortar blast. I was blown 15m approx and it hit a rock. It stopped, and I banged it and it carried on as normal. I think the air compression affected it.
I can’t imagine ever changing my love/obsession with the outstanding quality of my Breitlings. For how most people use them they will never know the strength of the watch they wear.
I’ve taken them to extremes with never a hint of a problem. In the British Military they have an untouched cudos for reliability and strength unmatched by any other manufacturer, apart from strangely the higher end G-Shocks!!!
But somehow I can’t see me wearing such an ugly lump…..from a great dinner, Regimental dinner/piss-up to deep diving….the Breitling fits everything.
Unfortunately I recently found a small (18-16mm) Pro Diver I strap….and the Cartier thief now wants a Breitling to match the strap!
The ultimate in reverse engineering.
My deepest regards and sympathy to all those Breitling maniacs who can’t stop collecting….there is no hope for us, apart from the recession which is dropping 2nd hand values.
Jack
November 5th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Thanks for the great post, Jack. Really enjoyed the read and shared thoughts and memories of a fellow Breitling Lover. You’ve got some great stories!