The Breitling Watch Blog

After having a conversation over the phone today with a fellow about watches, I noticed he pronounced the word “Submariner” as in Rolex Submariner as sub MAH ren ner. Like the baseball team the Seattle Mariners but with Sub in front. I pronouce it Sub mah REEN ner like the word Submarine with an R on the end.

I decided I would check it out and find out what the proper way of saying it is. I thought it would have been easier. From gathering the information all over the net, I have found that the old school sailors that would be in the submarines, would use my pronunciation, Sub mah REEN ner. However, there are a lot of British folks that swear that sub MAH ren ner is the way its pronouced.

Reading several sources tells me that the people that actually work as Submariners elected to use the pronunciation Sub mah REEN ner at some point in time and that is what they use. Dictionary tells me that both pronunciations are acceptable.

So next time you walk into a Rolex store and use one of the pronunciations, and the Rolex salesperson corrects you not-so-discreetly by intentionally using the other pronunciation, you can throw this in his face

I’ve been working hard for the last few months collecting data and building a new site: Panerai Source. This site is intended to be a culmination of information on all the Panerai watches in an easy-to-use format similar to the one used for Breitling Source, but this time for Panerai Watches. Every single Pre-V and Current model should be in the database and on the site. I am still looking for photos of models especially discontinued ones, and looking to eventually add a vintage section as well. I’ll also slowly be building up the articles section to provide users and especially newcomers with useful information.

If anyone has some Panerai photos they have taken and would like to contribute them for use on the site.. please email me and let me know! I would be very grateful for them. Even pics of different straps and buckles would be exceptionally useful. But please take a look, join the forum and help make the Panerai Watch Source a great friendly community for everything

http://www.paneraisource.com/

It has been brought to my attention that Chuck Maddox, a legened in the Watch community, providing us with an amazing amount of information on watches, especially Omegas, has passed away yesterday. A moment of silence for one of the most knowledgeable watch guys on the net.

Chuck’s Blog:
http://chuckmaddoxwatch.blogspot.com/

This is a VERY cool promotional video by Patek Philippe showing their manufacturing process, perhaps illustrating a day (or month) in the life of Patek Philippe. One of the most well done videos I have ever seen made by a company showing the process. Not to mention that a Patek is probably one of the most carefully handmade watches that you can buy. Not really my cup of tea as I prefer A Lange, AP or Breguet when it comes to visual appeal for that kind of money, but I appreciate the craftmanship and the history of the brand.

Check out the video, it is outstanding. Probably the best quality control in the industry.

One of the more Charismatic members of the Breitlingsource Forums, acceldebt, posted one of his wonderful videos on Breitling Diamond bezels, to help educate and encourage the newbie to Diamond Bezels. They are a beautiful accessory when used correctly, at least in my opinion. Some people despise them, to each his own!

Enjoy the video:

When Richard Mille first launched his collection of watches in 2001, he caused quite a stir with his unique cases and movements. Now his signature skeletonised cases and calibers with futuristic materials and style are an icon of high-end technology combined with old world horology.

The Mille-Starck watch, which is a collaboration with the designer Philippe Starck, is a one of a kind, based on the RM 005-1 Caliber movement. The timepiece was auctioned and went for a very high $343,000.

The watch is rectangular, and measures 35mm x 53.98mm. The beautiful movement uses blasted itanium and looks amazing in the Trademark Mille-style case. The watch will never be duplicated and this example that went for sale in 2005 is the only in existence.

I don’t know if I’ll even own a Richard Mille, but his watches are amazing in their uniqueness and really quite beautiful peices of horology.

Tudor, which is a brand of Rolex, is really starting to be more progressive in their styling. Perhaps Rolex, which is notoriously slow to change, is living vicariously through it’s sub-brand Tudor. Rolex has suprised a lot of Watch collectors with the introduction of the Yachtmaster II last year and this year with the Sea-Dweller Deepsea… and now Tudor releases a watch that is quite different than anything I’ve seen from the brand… the new Tudor Iconaut. Tudor does not have any North American distributors, so the watch isn’t quite as popular out in this neck of the woods.

A chronograph with a 24-Hour GMT Hand as well. Nice Chunky bezel in stainless steel, and a chunkier case.. with what appears to be an oyster bracelet. This new watch from Tudor is a whopping 43mm in diameter. Maybe the Rolex Daytona will get this treatment soon too!!

The day has finally come. Rolex has taken one of their classic Oyster Perpetual models and increased the diameter past 40. Enter the Day-Date II 41mm: Available only in Platinum, White, Yellow or Everose (Rose/Pink) Gold. Why Rolex has to called it “Everose” I don’t know… its kind of like “Rolesor” or “Rolesium”.

This new big Day-Date is only available in very expensive precious metals, and will likely cost an arm and a leg. Perhaps it will eventually trickle down into steel for the masses, but for now it is only for the worthy.. like their new slogan calls it: “The new measure of Success”.

Rolex watches have a case shape that is very wide at the lugs, which makes their watches wear quite a bit larger than they are. Even 36mm watches wear closer to 38mm or more especially with the new Datejust case. This Day-Date II has a nice chunky Bezel as well.. nice.

I really have to say that this new Day-Date II is a work of art, and is definately bringing out my interest of Rolex watches just like the Sea-Dweller Deepsea model and the Yachtmaster II released last year.