Wed 14 Sep 2011
The New Breitling Colt!
Posted by The Breitling Source under Breitling , New Watch Models[6] Comments
Announcing the new Breitling Colt! What do you guys think? I saw some preview pics from a dealer, and I’m still not liking this one so much unfortunately. All of the models in the Colt line are now Quartz, no more rider tabs.
FRONTRUNNER
The same spirit but a new look. Breitling has entirely redesigned its Colt model, a symbol of sturdiness, reliability and performance. A sculptural model carved in steel, the new Colt turns heads with its original styling clearly built for action, achievements and thrills. With its solid construction and its water resistance to 300 meters (1,000 ft) or 500 meters (1,650 ft), it establishes itself as an exceptionally sporty model, a champion and natural frontrunner. Its originality begins with the bezel featuring a taut, sophisticated shape and stamped numerals, and continues with the case echoing the same outline. The dials are adorned with new rounded numerals exclusively designed for this model, with rhythmical motifs and with a play on colors. The steel bracelet reinforces the unique character of this fresh, youthful and dynamic design, while ensuring optimal comfort and sturdiness.
Available in three versions endowed with strong and distinctive characters, including a chronograph and a ladies’ watch, the new Colt is equipped with SuperQuartz™ movements that are chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), like all Breitling movements.
RENO AIR RACES
Reno, Nevada. Every year in September, an array of original planes converge on Stead Airport to take part in one of the world’s great aviation venues: the famous Reno pylon races. Flying at dizzying speeds, these aircraft face off on circuits traced out in the desert, just a few feet off the ground. Their motto: “Fly low, go fast, turn left.” As a partner of all the fi nest hours in aviation, Breitling is the main sponsor of this event that is unique in the world – thereby pursuing its mission to perpetuate the competitive spirit, the taste for performance and the fierce quest for victory.
October 6th, 2011 at 5:33 am
The Breitling Colt is a handsome watch but, like most automatic watches, has a serious design flaw. If the crown is slightly loose it will leak. Mine did – not in 300m of water but at merely 0.5m. My Colt is now useless after fewer than 6 years – my son’s £12 Timex has lasted longer. Not very good for a £1500 watch – they simply should be more robust to qualify for the ‘quality’ label they like to have. An obvious design solution is to incorporate a gland where the spindle enters the case (like the gland which stops water passing through the top of your kitchen tap when you turn it on).
October 6th, 2011 at 10:12 am
While I agree that something could be done for people that forget to tighten up their crowns all the way, I don’t necessarily agree that screwdown crowns are a design flaw any more than windows in a car are. If you forget to roll them up, water gets in your car when it rains.
Maybe that’s an opporuntunity for you to enter the design/engineering space and create a new watch. Many new watch companies are doing just that with interesting designs and technologies. Or you could sell your design to one of the more progressive companies like Sinn. Companies like Linde Werdelain, Sinn and Kobold among others are always trying to find new ways to introduce case technologies into the watch world. The old school companies like Breguet focus more on movement-based technologies.
October 6th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
This to me is just a shame. They’re taking away all of the elements that make the Breitling collection unique. I wasn’t a fan of the redesigned chronomat either. To start, taking the rider tabs off the bezel and adding the standard bezel grip is just making the watch like the thousands of other watch designs out there. Then there’s the akward 1980’s computer font for the numerals on the bezel. It doesn’t fit the classic pilot watch look. It clashes with the rest of the design. The new professional bracelet on the Colt has also lost it’s charm. Instead of the angled links that truly made it special, it’s now a standard straight 3 link bracelet. Again…. just like thousands of other brands. I can only hope and pray this is only a change to the professional bracelet on the Colt and not to other models that have the professional II bracelet. What a nightmare if the Avenger had a standard 3 link bracelet! This new Colt is a step in the wrong direction if you ask me. Their taking the things that separated them from the rest away, and not living up to their vision of being unique and distinguished. The Colt, from a distance, will not look like a Breitling anymore. It could pass for many other timepieces that are out on the market today.
October 6th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
I agree with most of what you’re saying, but the Chronomat still has rider tabs.. they are just much more subdued. They are still screwed on like before too.
October 8th, 2011 at 3:04 am
Regarding the screw-down crown; the vendor will always tell you not to over-tighten it. If a car window is not closed tight it will leak. How does a user know what is ‘over-tight’. Like I said before – good design could easily bypass this dilemma. When I get my repaired watch back at great expense I will never go swimming with it again ( which is a pity).
October 8th, 2011 at 9:48 am
Overtightening has never been a problem for me, nor has it been such a problem that it is constantly debated on the forums either. I just finger tighten my crowns and have never had a leak problem. I don’t scuba dive but I swim and hot tub with some of my watches quite often.