The Breitling Watch Blog

Looks like watch brands are trying to get in on some of the retail action as well as direct promotion of their own brands. Breitling has some Brand Boutiques in Japan and other places in the world, but none in North America unfortunately. However, Jaeger LeCoultre has opened its first North American boutique and Piaget has opened it’s first west coast boutique, already having several boutiques on the east coast and in Hawaii.

JLC continues to be one of the most sought after wristwatch manufactures out there, with over 1000 people working in their workshops in Switzerland. As their catalog states, their personnel span over 40 different professions masterings more than 20 different cutting-edge technologies required to design and produce over 40 different calibres.

Very impressive.

I really look forward to owning my first Jaeger LeCoultre soon. The catalog is indeed a work of art in itself, with over 270 pages of beautiful pictures explaining the watches and their brand. The pinnacle of their achievement is the Gyrotourbillon:

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/

Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton, the largest luxury brand group in the world, has just acquired Hublot. This will really ramp up the level of quality high-end watches that the group produces. They will join Tag Heuer and Zenith among others at LVMH. Hublot has been around since 1980 and produces some of the most advanced watches on the market. They specialize in high-tech materials and ultra-light cases using combinations of high-end materials and specialized composites.

Hublot’s Big Bang is a very popular and iconic watch:

One of the more knowledgeable but new members of the Breitlingsource forums, Bere4421 recently visited Baselworld 2008 in Switzerland and took some pics when he was there of the beautiful Breitling Booth. Again the fishes were back, and the massive booth does not fail to amaze.

Here is the shot he took of the Front corner with the nice Breitling Logo:

The obligatory Breitling Logo closeup shot:

Nice shot of the fishtank:

The Breitling showroom had 4 floors, a bar and a full restaurant.. bloody amazing. That’s where all the money from our watches goes!

See the full post here:
http://www.breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2894

The new 2008 Breitling Lineup has been released at Baselworld, and here are the new looks for the year. New Super Avenger, new SuperOcean and many others.

Breitling Super Avenger Dial - No more arabics, now just stick markers. This watch is less sporty than it used to be.. not sure if I like it or dislike it, but it just doesn’t seem to suit it.

Breitling Airwolf Dial - No more sunburst, it is now vertical stripes. Nice, but I liked the sunburst too:

Breitling Blackbird Polished - No more brushed case for this one. It retains the faceted bracelet:

Breitling Superocean Dial and Hands - Dial is slightly different, with hands resembling a Omega Broad Arrow:

In addition to those four models that have changes.. Breitling has also introduced two new models: The Chrono-Matic 49 and the Breitling for Bentley GMT.

Navitimer Chrono-Matic 49:

Breitling for Bentley GMT:

Breitling has released a new model: The SuperOcean Heritage Chrono. Based on the 46mm SuperOcean Heritage, this model contains a caliber 13 movement, based on the Valjoux 7750. Watch comes on the Ocean Racer strap or Ocean Classic bracelet.

Chronograph Movement, with Date, and available in the Black, Blue and Bronze.

Check out more info on the SuperOcean Heritage Chronograph on my site.

The new Hamilton Sunset watch is worn in the movie I Am Legend, by Will Smith’s character, and follows in Hamilton’s trend of complicated looking chunky watches with lots of functional wrist instrument style. Some of the other watches in this vein are the Hamilton X-Wind and Frogman. The Twilight differs with the Sunset in that it displays twilight info rather than sunset info.

The Hamilton Sunset and Twilight are very cool looking watches with their new Crown Protection system, which looks really cool. I’m unfamiliar as to how it actually works, but it is in several of the new Action series of watches from Hamilton. They are really starting to impress me with their innovative looks and selection of Automatic watches. Here are the specs on this bad boy:

Diameter: 44mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Sapphire Crystal
Movement: ETA 2893
Complications: GMT Hand

Sunset: Sunset times on the 15th of the month for 6 world cities - London, Gander, Los Angeles, Nadi, Manila and Muscat (Why these 6 cities I have no clue.. Muscat? Perhaps the watch is popular in Oman.)
Twilight: Twilight end and start for New York City on the 1st, 11th, and 21st of the month.

Link to Sunset on Hamilton site: http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/webapp/en-us/collection/?c=ka&y=115&p=340

I’ve launched my new Omega and Rolex watch information site. It’s pretty sparse right now, but I think its time to announce the site on here. It will focus mainly on more recent models of the watches, but will have some vintage stuff, similar to the Breitling Source site. At the moment, I don’t plan to have forums attached to the website, however this may change in the future. In the works is also a Panerai information site that will attempt to provide Panerai watch models and information in a easy-to-use format as well.

The Omega Rolex site may have some errors but hopefully they will be fixed. Check out the site here: http://www.omegarolex.com