Need advice on purchase of Breitling. Which one and are they worth it?

[colinb07958]

Hello

I am new here. My mate had a Breitling passed down to him when his father died and it is a gorgeous watch. I love the looks of Breitling and I have only ever heard good things regarding the company. Anyway I am looking to treat myself to one and it will be something that I will not buy again, so this will be my watch for life. I just have a couple of questions.
1. Why do Breitling watches cost so much more than for example a £100 watch. What do I get for my money?
2. Overall roughly how often will the watch need to be serviced and what does it cost?
3. I have a maximum budget of £1,000 and which would be the best Breitling to get, I have looked at the Superocean and Colt. They both look very good.
4. Also there are quite alot of sites that sell second hand watches, how can I tell I am not buying a fake?

Help on this would be very grateful and sorry if some of the questions seem stupid, I am new to this.
Thanks
Colin

[colinb07958]

Right I have been looking at the Breitling range and I like all these:

Superocean... Approx £1000
Superocean Chrono... Approx £2000
Chrono Avenger... Approx £2000

I have researched into Breitling and it recomends that you purchase the watches from a reputable dealer that they have authorised. If you buy the watches online, they will not honour warrantys. 

The thing is that the watches are £300 - £400 cheaper online. Thats a bit of a con isnt it?

Anyway I will wait until after Xmas and they may be reduced a bit in the sales, I know Goldsmiths reduced some Breitling last year sales. So fingers crossed.

Anyway does anyone know of any reviews on the 3 watches above or any pros, cons with them? you help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Colin

[knoby13]

hi colin
you can't really fault any breitling, like any swiss watch, you pay for the mechanism and quality
of manufacture. Have you looked at anything else i.e omega or TAG. I have bought 2 off ebay
and had them confirmed as genuine, it is possible to get a bargain but you have to be careful. If
your not confident about that, look for online used watch sellers who can offer good deals with all the
necessary paperwork. Dont forget if someone spends a grand or two on a watch, 99% of the time its well looked
after. Servicing isn't expensive either, its usually a case of replacing seals.once every 12-18 months is what i get mine done
depending on whether its quartz or automatic it will come back like new though.

regards

chris

[colinb07958]

Thanks I have not really looked at other brand watches, I just love the looks of the Breitling and alot of people praise them. I have looked at ebay, as much as the watches can be sold for £800 less than the retail. I would probably be the unlucky one that buys a fake. Its a shame that there is not a store that sells on refurbed Breitlings with the Warranty papers etc.

I am tempted to buy one online and save a fortune, but Breitling wont service the watch, so i guess in the long run I am losing out.

Love the look of the 3 I have chosen, but I am having trouble deciding. I know that the difference between prices is a extra £1000 but I will never buy another watch again.

I also have a quick question. What are the names of the watches that can change the date to the correct date each month? for example if there are 30 days in a month then the watch will know this and jump to the 1st not the 31st on the next day?

[r0lan6]

Great that you like Breitling!  I now own 2 of their watches (Evolution and Emergency). 

If you have any queries you should check out the Breitling forum at

****://forums.watchuseek.com/forumdisplay.php?f=15

As for your current questions...

I would best avoid Ebay as the risks are just to great, particularly when you are dealing with large sums of money. I have heard some horror stories regarding papal too.  As for AD and non AD dealers?  There is nothing wrong with buying expensive watches online, just be sure to choose the right dealers!  A good one would be ##### that have stated to have sold a number of watches to celebrities, have had positive reviews from national newspaper and have even opened up a store.  They buy all their watches from AD dealers, though as you are buying from the internet their warranty papers will not be stamped thus would not qualify for the Breitling 2 year warranty.  However #### does offer their own 2 year warranty.

As for Breitling not servicing any watch bought on the internet?  I dont believe that for a second!  All Breitling watches have to serviced by Breitling as they are the experts!  They will service any watch provided that it is a Breitling and not something else.  Servicings do cost money from £200-£400, however you will only need to have a watch fully serviced (mechanical that is) between 3-6 years, depending on how well you treat the time piece!  Quartz (or should I say Super Quartz which is a evolved hybrid only in Breitling watches!) on the other hand would need new batteries every 2-4 years depending on the model of watch and its usage.

An alternative to buying new is buying second hand!  Again be careful where you buy the watch from!  www.watches.co.uk is a very good place to buy.  Have a look as you will find Breitlings with original receipts, and as long as it is under 2 years old from purchase then the Breitling official warrantys will still be valid!  Alternatively you dont have to pay for the watch in full you know!  Go to any AD dealer like Goldsmiths and you'll find that they offer up to 12 months interest free credit!  That way you might find that you can afford Breitlings of up £2,000!

In answer to your last question...  I think you mean a perpetual calendar perhaps.  Dont believe Breitling has watches of that particular complication, and if they did they would be very expensive.  Breitling does do pre-programmed day/date watches such as their Aerospace, Emergency and Emergency Mission models.

Hope I've been helpful!

Cheers.

[colinb07958]

  None of these are in the sale in goldsmith's. They have some others in the sale but not these.

[r0lan6]

I take that back, Breitling does do a 4 year perpetual calendar for their aerospace, emergency and emergency mission models.

[colinb07958]

Thanks Roland. I think those models are very much out of my price range. My Max budget was £1000 and I was set on getting the Superocean. However I also like the Chrono Avenger and the Superocean Chrono. These are £2200 ish. Was hoping that there may be a few hundred pounds off them in the Goldsmith sale. No such luck!

[r0lan6]

Try the second-hand market!  But make sure you go to reputable places!  Alternatively watches.co.uk is a fantastic place for brand new Breitlings at 20-35% discounts!  Dont give it mate!  Goldsmiths also offer 12 months interest free credit too!

[colinb07958]

Cheers for all your help. I will look at *****, but I am still worried about it not being a authorised dealer. Maybe I am just being over cautious. Also I guess if I buy over the counter I can get the exact size strap etc.

I will have a look at the **** site and maybe email Breitling to see exactly what I am covered for if I dont buy from them.