The Breitling Watch Blog

Recently, I find myself more and more drawn to the allure of vintage pieces, but with the reliability of modern movements. That began with my purchase of the Glashutte Original Sixties, and several other watches since including a couple Eternas. Recently I saw the Cuervo Y Sobrinos Historiador, and fell in love again. Too bad it is a brand that is hard to get good discounts on around here, due to its low circulation.

This one is priced fairly affordably at $2900 in stainless steel and $9995 in Rose Gold. That should put its street price well within grasp, possibly even in Rose Gold! This one is a healthy 40mm, which with the fancy long lugs should wear much larger. Unfortunately the movement is a rather stock ETA 2895, with CYS engraved rotor.

Nevertheless, I still very much like the Cuervo Y Sobrinos Historiador!

Time to come clean guys – who among us has a guilty wristwatch pleasure? Be it a closet crush on Invicta Wristwatches or a obsessive-compulsive need to scrub down your watch with simple green every night… I know we all have at least one Guilty pleasure to share.

Ever since I got into watches years ago, I have always wanted to broaden my horizons and allow myself to experience the strangest of watches, with little regard for common sense. I am attracted to watches that many find ugly or over-the-top. No, I’m not talking about the influx of Glam Rock watches that has hit ebay recently, which is no doubt the liquidated stock of many costume-jewelry retailers. I am talking about funky watches like Graham Chronofighters, Mazzuoli Manometros and Corum Bubble’s with Jolly Roger’s on the dials. These are the watches that WIS-types like us pretend to be above, but in reality, I’m not. I harbor closet desires to own and wear these watches! I have to admit it.

Here are a few of the Guilty Pleasure Watches that I have wanted or have already owned:

Just stumbled on this old 2003 article from a fellow named Paul Wolsfeld, who makes a hobby out of Cycling to different Company Head Offices, and trying to get a Tour of the premises along with tours of CEO offices and other such areas. Turns out the fellow went out to Breitling’s head office in 2003, after sending a personal letter to Mr. Theodore Schneider, and was given what he considers a cold welcome by Ms. Valerie Burgat, whom I understand is still the PR Manager.

Click here to see Original Item

Old article, but interesting to hear this… though not entirely surprised. They were probably on the defensive. But you’d think a PR person would be better at keeping things in check. Nowadays I think this would be extremely unlikely as the prominence of the internet has made everyone think twice before embarassing themselves.

One brand that I keep getting sucked in by, even though I rarely keep them for long periods is Tag Heuer. Every time a new model comes out, it usually appeals to be from a design standpoint and I decide that if I ever find one for a good deal I will buy it. Quite often I do, but then its a Catch and Release, and I am back to zero Tag Heuers in my collection.

Same is the story with this Caliber S. Liked it a lot, but its just not my kind of watch. Perhaps its the branding? Perhaps its the fact that its too pedestrian for this snobby watch collector. Granted I’m happy to wear Breitling and Rolex, so I couldn’t be that snobby.

Anyway, back to the TAG Heuer Caliber S:

As you can see, the one I picked up is a beautiful blue dialed example, complete with the applied semi-circle multi-purpose subdials. I really like the new applied dial accents that TAG has started to use in the last few years such as the Geneve-Striped examples on the Grand Carrera watches. Like all TAG Watches, and nearly every other high-end watch brands, the case is milled from a solid block of 316L Stainless Steel.

Those subdials are responsible for telling the date and the 100 of a second timing when in Chrongraph mode. Additionally, they also allow you to set the perpetual calendar that the watch has. This Hybrid “mechaquartz” movement from TAG Heuer is quite remarkable. It contains as many parts as most Automatic movements, in fact.

Unlike its younger brother, the Aquaracer Regatta, this Aquaracer has the push-button released bracelet clasp as opposed to the cheaper fliplock clasp. The larger 43mm diameter case is also much more impressive than the 41mm on the Regatta model.

Overall a great-looking watch that can be had for a song on some of the watch forums due to TAG Heuer’s somewhat tarnished image, especially with their Quartz watches. Since this watch is essentially a quartz watch, it does not maintain its value nearly as well as it’s Automatic counterparts, and can often be picked up for 1/3 of retail!

Word to the wise: Do not buy quartz watches new!

The new Breitling Wingwalkers aeosuperbatics team! Check out their plane and their tricks. Another addition to the Breitling sponsored fleet of Aircraft acrobatics. These guys stand on top of their panes and dangle from them – something you won’t catch me doing!!