Which of the many SuperOceans is your favourite? I'd always go after an original first - the Heritage 57, but these newer "SlowMotions" are looking better and better by the day. Here's hoping Breitling sticks to evolving these designs and seeing what sticks 🥃
Movements are the much cheaper than cases and bracelets to manufacture (unless you're talking PP or ALS high end movements). I heard on another youtube channel that Rolex Service Centers actually swapped out the Kenissi movements rather than servicing them. An ETA or Selita based movement can be serviced by any competent watchmaker. I own an Omega Seamaster 2234.50 with an ETA Chronometer movement made 25 years ago and it keeps time to within 3 seconds a day. I also own a Vacheron with a JLC based movement, about 15 years old, that also keeps time at that level. BTW, both those movements are also MUCH thinner than the "In-House" newer movements. That's why the newer Tudors, Omegas and Vacheron's are much thicker with their "in-house" movements. @@swiftusmaximus5651
I wear my SO 44 almost everyday. It’s the previous, previous generation with a black dial and full Arabic’s. It was a gift from a mentor of mine and it has a ton of sentimental value, but even with that fact aside it is a wonderful watch. It has more water resistance than anyone could ever need, it has an incredibly comfortable case shape and bracelet, a very legible dial and the AR coating is beautiful. I have more watches in my collection but this watch feels the most “me” and it can be worn with anything.
That being said, I think Breitling has missed the mark in a couple of key areas with the newest gen. You can’t charge Tudor and near Omega money with a third party movement and 40 hours of power reserve. The styling is uniquely Breitling, but the clasp and the ceramic bezel tread too close to a Rolex knockoff. It’s a shame because they could’ve knocked that watch out of the park with a few changes to stay as authentic to the brand as the dial design is.
Breitling in the secondary or grey market offers tremendous value. You get heritage, great design, and build quality priced way below its direct competitors. I bought my last gen Superocean Marine Blue with bracelet grey market new for $2800 and I absolutely love it.
Yes, and Breitling has plenty of heritage. Beyond that the casing, dial, and bracelet are of a very high quality. The movement is a third party that has been highly regulated and does have even some nice decorations. You’ve reduced all the suns parts of a watch to a movement.
@@michaelriera6277 There are watches with COSC that cost new less than half of the Breitling, and procude a good quality case an bracelet. I dont care about decoration, usless eye candy. This heritage you mention is the reason you pay 5k new for the Superocean Automatic. Because they can. And if they have such heritage and know-how, why dont they put an in-house movement in such expensive watches? And why shouldnt I focus on the movement? Usually the movement is the most expensive part of a watch, precious metal watches excluded of course.
I bought the previous generation baby blue dial Superocean 36mm for my girlfriend to use as a daily beater/vacation watch. She fell in love with it and wears it more than her Cartier. Picked it up second hand for a great deal and a few different straps rubber, nato, leather. Such an awesome watch for her and fitting for almost all occasions.
Fantastic to read this Shane! Thank you for sharing brother (love the fact that she's getting so much wear time out of it) Holiday beater watches hit differently! 🔥
I am glad that you have fully recovered from the flu. Breitling SuperOcean has been underrated as same as Omega speedmaster pro due to there are too many variants.
It would be hard for me to pass over a good broad arrow hand watch. 😂 I used to refuse to consider the secondary market but now I realize how foolish that was. Since I don’t worry about value retention, I can truly enjoy and appreciate some great watches at far below their retail prices. For me watches are just meant to be fun and not investment pieces. Well done as always! 🥃
Something so great about this hobby is finding pieces that others might not necessarily like BUT they make all the difference to you as a collector. It's so good! Thank you for sharing this Alvin 🥃
I just purchased a new old stock previous generation from my local AD. The 42mm with blue dial on the bracelet for $1k off MSRP. It was like you say - safe. A good value and perfect daily for me. Now that I have my comfort food, the new generation is starting to appeal to me more. Thanks for the video.
@@whereRbearsTeeth No I did not. I knew someone was going to claim I overpaid. I know exactly how much I paid relative to the market. I know I could have got it cheaper used online. These are are no longer readily available at ADs and I wanted a new one. I prefer to buy new from my AD.
I totally agree with you boet, Breitling just isn’t talked about enough. People are so obsessed with ‘value retention’ (like you rightly say) that Breitling get overlooked. The previous Super Ocean range was brought to my attention yesterday when a friend was asking “why are these available so cheap on the secondary market?”. The earlier Super Ocean 42’s really are great Watches. I’m so drawn to the Avenger range myself, particularly the GMT Night Mission that Pete McConvill brought to my attention. My love of DLC ‘blacked out’ Watches really has me lusting after this model. Unfortunately I haven’t seen many of these yet on the secondary market though. A great topic here and respect for discussing it. Hopefully more people will look beyond ‘value retention’ and discover some real bargains themselves that are honest, quality Watches. ✊
Spot on. The Blue Breitling SO 42 (A17366D81C1A1) was my first high end watch and I still have it today. Before I bought it, I was between it, the Tudor Black Bay and the Omega SMP 300. Even if they were all the same price, I would pick the Breitling. But considering it is cheaper, it's an unbeatable value. I've thought about getting rid of it multiple times but every time I think about moving on from it I'm reminded why I bought it in the first place. It's a masculine piece with its distinguished crown guards and rugged bezel. Pair those with the pop of red on the second hand and the substantial bracelet makes it that "comfort food."
You are lucky. Mine had to go to warranty repair twice for the crown pulling out of the case and a bad gear on the auto winding mechanism. I am convinced the ETA movement inside has low quality controlled parts sourced from China.
the last generation got me excited about breitling and hoped that they upgraded the movement, bracelet and maybe case size. It had so much potential to be a great platform for breitling to evolve slow and incrementally. What a shame
A great video, thank you. Yes I like Breitling watches, to include the Super Ocean, both old and new. But what I really want is an Emergency. Now that is unique
Those Emergencies are amazing... a good friend was close to pulling the trigger on one a few months ago. Perfect if you travel out to remote locations. Also if you're planning on getting lost at sea 😉
You nailed it regarding Breitling. Between 1984-1996 ish, I see as prime years of the brand in modern era and they were creating watches of desire, navitimer, chronomat and even J-class, colt line etc. They kept ”main” design in place and i my view they were classy wanted watches back then. They should have try to do ”Rolex”, i.e smaller fine turnings of existing design on popular watches. Instead, they left that path of success, made big changes on popular models, made all watches BIG and ”bold” and soon you could No longer recognize their creations… No more ”comfort food” as you mentioned even though I am not talking about exact same topic/issue. Shame since I really loved many of breitling watches during those years 1985-1996 ish😊 Now all the brand Can Do is try to find a design language for the future and keep that with fine turnings in my opinion. It would be fun if they would ever produce another piece that I would like to buy again..
Very well said about the evolution of the brand and thank you for sharing this! Who knows if they even know what "fine tuning" means these days 😉 It seems the aim is to bring a fresh design out every year and confuse customers & enthusiasts more haha! 🥃
It is really crazy….. heritage and history means everything when it comes to lasting luxury…… Trends comes and goes… But class always remains…. Rolex is the master in fields. I truly hope Breitling Will try really hard to get reconnected to its own heritage at some point. Really enjoy your content!!!! Please keep on👊🙏🏻👍
I think my Superocean Arrowhand 2009-2010 is the best Breitling Superocean ever, only made for 2 years, 1500m water resistance. I bought it in 2009 with a deep discount, sold it in 2021 with a profit (!!!) after wearing it for 10 years, then last months bought the same model back for less than I sold it for in 2021 since I missed it so much. Classic style, build like a tank, 42mm - the ArrowHand is for me the best of the bunch.
Another example of the enormous depreciation is the Chronomat Sport at $5000 on the used market. Trading for prices similar to Black Bay Chrono in spite of the same movement and Breitlings FAR superior case and bracelet detailing.
I have the Superocean 42 (ref. A17366) white dial/blue bezel and man....love it so much. It is a dive watch but with such an unique "face"and personality imo!
Would've loved to have found some photos of it for the video! Such a fantastic colour combo man... one thing Breitling does over their rivals? White dials... to perfection! 🥃
I have the last iteration of the Super O in white dial with blue markers and 6, 9, 12 Arabics-and it is one if my favorite dive watches. Why? Def not for the clasp and so so lume, but for it’s clean legibility, classic style, and because of it’s finish. It just looks and wears fantastic. So damn good, and I never feel like I have to baby it. Now that’s a comfotable watch, with real wrist time value and appeal-that I got at a great price, and runs within COSC with ETA. It’s a no brainer.
I agree, I have the previous gen with a yellow dial and love it. I wish Breitling would have given it a simple but effective in house movement and made minor changes. The Super Ocean should be a great dive watch family, but they can’t seem to make up their minds.
Every few years they seem bent on changing the entire look of the collection 😆 Will we ever understand Breitling and their model lineup? Thanks for this Erik! 🥃
I like the newer one, but I still prefer the previous generation Superoceans. I own a 44 and I like that I don't have to worry about it getting "dinged up" because it lookes like that what it was made for. The current lineup looks nice, but too nice.
I really like those older designs and have been quite tempted by the orange dial. But i have the Hydroconquest and these's probably just a bit too much cross-over between these two pieces.
That Batman metaphor is perfect! I dont think I could think of a better one. What are the chances for Tag to use “Heuer” as their higher end branding? Like how Toyota uses Lexus. Seems like a low hanging fruit to me but there might be complications preventing them to go down that route.
As always a great video. I am a huge fan of Breitling, sadly I do not own one...yet...but that day is coming. I could not agree with more concerning the value of these watches. Yes the Heritage series is my fav I hope you are feeling better, Pedialyte my friend...
Thank you for the well wishes brother (this video is from 2 months ago, so I'm well and truly better) 😆 Excellently said & our love for the heritage models... love them 🔥
Agree. While I like the current SO, I think it could've run in parallel with the old version. The last gen could have been developed productively (mainly dealing with the date/numeral imbalance) as a tool diver, the current gen as a leisure piece. Last gen would easily have stood up as a Pelagos alternative if developed and stole significant sales from Omega. That said, modern Breitling's pricing is way off and their quality not at the level of Longines/Tudor, let alone Omega/Rolex. And once you've heard '5hitebling,' you can't unhear it. Cruel.
I'm always browsing reputable dealers and ebay more often than now and some of the prices of these pieces are surprisingly low. Sometimes 50% less than retail (even more) But I agree, like the Speedmaster, the Navitimer is their flagship 🥃
One reason they tank on the secondary market is because not enough people believe in their initial asking prices which are high and also the confusing use or not of in house movements. Like it or not enthusiast prefer proprietary movements. Some consistency here would do a lot for Breitling's credibility. Design wise I like a lot of their watches.
Am very inclined to sit on the fence with regards to the latest version. The prior version had increased depth rating in aline with case sizes , a bonus for desk diving & real life divers. The latest version does away with this as all are 300m just a higher price. A shame as like Breitling , but for now will sit it out on the fence.
Feels exactly the same with what Tudor did to the Pelagos! From a 500m diver with HE valve etc, down to 200m and a "skin diver" thickness. Crazy right? I bet they're sharing notes 😉
I really like the previous gen model and may still own one at some point, but I ended up getting a SMP300 which on the second hand market wasn't that much more.
Thank you brother, I'm sure the livestreams will kickstart again eventually 😉 The plan is to make them far more engaging this time around (through 2020 and onwards the shows took a lot of energy out of me - crazy number of hours went into putting them together) so the future is to make them a good blend of both - more engaging and less energy sapping 🥃
Breitling has been one of my favorites dating back to the early 2000’s. Their divers are great but the gems are the pilots… if only they combined them. These new breitling are confusing which is why they should add a compressor with gmt functions. Idk.
I recently found a Breitling Shadow Flyback in perfect condition for $1,500 and it’s amazing how much quality you get especially in comparison to what $1,000-$1,500 gets you on brand new watches with other brands. What else could I ask for? Timing bezel, flyback chronograph, 100m WR, and since it’s ETA movement, servicing it shouldn’t break the bank. Tons of value with Breitling pre-owned, but truly I think the way Georges Kern is leading the company now, they are about to have a spike in popularity. They’ve already moved up like 4-6 spots on the sales charts since his tenure began
I feel like sometimes the brand name cost more than the specs of the watch, and definitely is the case for the Super Ocean. Full disclosure, I was never a fan of Breitling 😁 Thanks brother for the video 👍🏽
Wow great video, I totally agree as a fellow industrial designer that this watch with Roman Arabic numbers should have been built upon and changed slightly, maybe slightly smaller numerals for newer editions and perhaps a more friendly 39 / 40 mm size to cater for a broader market! I do love the no nonsense militarised, purely utilitarian tool like design language it coneys, it means business, to be used as a functional piece in extreme environments as opposed to some sort of just flash dress piece to convey a brand. A watch certainly made for the outdoor water /ocean enthusiast whatever his or her pursuit may be.
We just can't get away from numerals on our watch dials (it's a sickness) 😉 This new series I like BUT it does take the whole image of the watch in another direction (who knows if it will stick?) 🥃
Very true. Great topic. I wonder if adding high profile sports stars - Haaland and Giannis - will improve their sales? The white Chronomat with the bright red GMT hand is gorgeous - but $1700 more than my BB GMT Opaline?
I had a few. My favourite was the superocean professional all-brushed model from early 2000s (A17345 if I recall correctly). One of my selling regrets. I believe that one was an ETA base. Looooved that watch. But I paid $1800 for it at the time. It was worth $1800. But not todays prices. The new ones I absolutely can’t stand. Shopping mall watches
The new super ocean is cool in my opinion and more buyable because of its uniqueness. I think the really missed an opportunity to copy the functionality of the heritage model which had the 60 minute chronograph function. The other problem - i find the thick minute track in different colour visually shrinks the dial and makes it look smaller somehow.
@@ID-Guy that is the one I have with dlc case. To be honest with you, at the begining I din't understand the watch, because it is a $5k plus quartz watch. But now I think that it's an amazing watch with a certified chronometer quartz movement, easy to use functions using only the crown, very light and it's hard to see another guy wearing it.
Great video, as usual! The previous model is definitely a great value for money, but as you have mentioned, Breitling has the problem with design language continuity on superocean line. Examples from 90s and 2000s didn't age well in that regard. The question is what will be with this model, only the time will tell. 100% agree that Breitling should reissue slow counter. That would be a great hit!
New Super ocean dial with the box like hour markers doesn't move me. The previous version dial ,with the matching fonts on the bezel, very much does. Best Regards
I owned this watch for a while but ultimately lost to my FXD as I just could not take it too serious. It is very well build but this shinyness got the better of me. I liked him but not enough to keep him around, especially after my mint DateJust 41. I also was quite annoyed by how the space between the spring bards and the body was so small it made general PITA to put various strap, something the FXD has 0 issues with since it is purpose build for it. I would still highly recommend it. It might be a flamboyant looking like any other Breitling but he can take it. I think the newer SuperOceans are a bit on the cringe side though...
I agree. However on the second hand market the prior generation is a great buy. And you'll appreciate the non in house movement when paying for a service.
Great Video but I have a few things to add: • I think it was the right step to eliminate the previous generation of the SuperOcean because they only have one goal right now, going back to their roots. Which means precision and chronographs (they invented after all the first and 2nd pusher) and models before the Schneider Era except for the modern Chronomat from 1983. So eliminating these models means eliminating confusion on a long term which is great and gives hopefully Breitling finally an authentic identity. • I also don't agree with you saying that the previous SouperOcean has a more efficient design as the actual generation. It's the contrary! The SuperOcean Ref. 2005 was created from the engineers for maximal readability under water, because divers had issues with the original Ref. 1004. And it's true that under deep water nothing makes more sense than just Luminova on the indexes, it's the most efficient way in dark environments and after all it's a divers watch. So the previous generation was maybe more Efficient in daylight, but not under water which is more important for a divers watch. Also when you have such a unique but minimalist & versatile design in you catalog, you would be crazy if you don't bring it back. After all you could put the actual Super Ocean in 42 with the Black dial on a leather strap and it would work, that's called versatility ! I agree though that the Ref 2005 has absolutely to come back as a reedition with Chronograph function, would be amazing!!!
nice watch but a derived caliber from ETA.....for that price better at least the Heritage Super Ocean which mounts a Kenissi Caliber which is of higher manufacture.
And isn’t there a hint of vintage Fifty Fathoms in the Arabic numerals and proportions? The previous Superocean has been sadly overlooked. It just presents as a truly classic dive watch.
True, even if I like the design. For that price you can go to Tudor, Baume&Mercier, Frederique Constant, Oris, etc. and get a watch with a in house or at least in group movement.
Thought I replied to this (apparently not) Their "Winged B" - the diehards will be coming after you with pitchforks 😉 I believe the idea with the current logo is to be a more "all encompassing" name that doesn't solely focus on pilot inspired pieces 🥃
Off the top of my head, the one dive watch in recent memory that blew my mind with its thinness was the Oris 65. It's actually scary how they managed to get such a thin profile out of it. I'll look into this Horage!@@HRM.H
Not for me these watches. A rare feeling for me but there it is. I can see people liking it very much though. Maybe a younger generation. I'm a 58 year old geezer.
It's funny how watches that are (probably) similarly made in terms of materials and quality of design and construction, can vary so much in price and popularity.... take Breitling, or my humble IWC or any older Omega, Zenith etc....I mean are they really 2 or 3 times "worse" than rolex for example? Well we should be thankful that the eye of Hyperon focuses on certain brands, allowing us watch nerds to fish for more underrated fish (apparently far back in history, lobster was consumed by poor Irish folk - and other European settlers i assume - in America, as it was seen as being "dirty", "cheap protein", "peasant food".... maybe grab that Breitling creature, while it's seen as the undesirable option by many folk) P.s. IWC mark 16 is in for service, and the guy I bought it from is lending me a CWC quartz from the 90s, tritium Bless him I'm sending him a little whisky glass and a sample of the hardcore amazing Ardbeg Uigeadail in the post as a thank you ❤
And in medieval times those preparing the meat for the king would be given the "scraps" in the kitchens - all the organs of the animal (far more nutritious) while the king ate the meat at his fancy table. LOVE the CWC models... I was looking at their divers this week and wondering 😉 Hope you're fantastic brother! 🥃
These superoceans are not $5k watches. It’s not just the movement that makes them overpriced. They are built like $2k watches. The bracelets, clasps, bezel action etc are all very entry level build quality. They are basically Oris/tag level build quality at omega prices. That’s why these watches don’t sell at retail and always end up available at massive discounts on the grey market.
Personally for the best of the bunch is the a17365 42 mm with the field watch dial... quality imho on Rolex level, better than Tudor imho...price when these had been available new, around a Tudor diver....the latest version looks just awful imho...70's design just isn't my cup of tea.
You know, to me, Breitling is the maker of Navitimer, not a maker for nautical adventures, and it just feels, off. Also I can't stand how Superocean logo is off balanced. too heavy S compared to N, And I really don't see "Ah, we have a Breitling watch here" with Superpcean at all. It's just too.... "bland" you know?
When I hear Breitling I think cheap or an Invicta. Their watches seem too much and are the last option in the category. It is wrong to think this but when I look at one on my wrist, I think I should just buy an Omega or another mircobrand and pay off the mortgage. Too flashy and some pieces look like Tissot.
Don't worry, I'm only expecting it to reach around 10k people 😆... also secretly admiring them though... even the lastest models, amazing finds second hand at the moment 🔥
They lose huge value on the grey market so Breitling over-prices them by 20-30%, turning away the general public. Its a negative feedback loop. They are well made watches.
Love my SO ref A17366021B1A1 it goes well with everything it can be dressed up or down. Another huge plus, I won’t see everybody with my watch and I love that.
Which of the many SuperOceans is your favourite? I'd always go after an original first - the Heritage 57, but these newer "SlowMotions" are looking better and better by the day. Here's hoping Breitling sticks to evolving these designs and seeing what sticks 🥃
The black and yellow superocean colorway looks so good.
I so wish more brands would utilise black and yellow with their pieces... it's so simple, distinctive, eye-catching 🔥@@HRM.H
Your smoking Crack if you think Breitling is under valued.. Over $5K for a SuperOcean II with a movement you can find in under $2K watches
Second hand they can be found for half that price and I'm not only referring to their prices in this instance 🥃@@swiftusmaximus5651
Movements are the much cheaper than cases and bracelets to manufacture (unless you're talking PP or ALS high end movements). I heard on another youtube channel that Rolex Service Centers actually swapped out the Kenissi movements rather than servicing them. An ETA or Selita based movement can be serviced by any competent watchmaker. I own an Omega Seamaster 2234.50 with an ETA Chronometer movement made 25 years ago and it keeps time to within 3 seconds a day. I also own a Vacheron with a JLC based movement, about 15 years old, that also keeps time at that level. BTW, both those movements are also MUCH thinner than the "In-House" newer movements. That's why the newer Tudors, Omegas and Vacheron's are much thicker with their "in-house" movements. @@swiftusmaximus5651
Thanks for bringing breitling and the Superocean to the forefront. I have the previous generation yellow dial 44 and love it.
My pleasure to share brother. They really are (even still) pieces that aren't getting the love they deserve 🥃
Have the same and love it too..
I wear my SO 44 almost everyday. It’s the previous, previous generation with a black dial and full Arabic’s. It was a gift from a mentor of mine and it has a ton of sentimental value, but even with that fact aside it is a wonderful watch. It has more water resistance than anyone could ever need, it has an incredibly comfortable case shape and bracelet, a very legible dial and the AR coating is beautiful. I have more watches in my collection but this watch feels the most “me” and it can be worn with anything.
That being said, I think Breitling has missed the mark in a couple of key areas with the newest gen. You can’t charge Tudor and near Omega money with a third party movement and 40 hours of power reserve. The styling is uniquely Breitling, but the clasp and the ceramic bezel tread too close to a Rolex knockoff. It’s a shame because they could’ve knocked that watch out of the park with a few changes to stay as authentic to the brand as the dial design is.
Breitling in the secondary or grey market offers tremendous value. You get heritage, great design, and build quality priced way below its direct competitors. I bought my last gen Superocean Marine Blue with bracelet grey market new for $2800 and I absolutely love it.
You dont get heritage, you get a product. The heritage belongs to the brand. At 2800$ its still expensive for a SW200.
Yes, and Breitling has plenty of heritage. Beyond that the casing, dial, and bracelet are of a very high quality. The movement is a third party that has been highly regulated and does have even some nice decorations. You’ve reduced all the suns parts of a watch to a movement.
@@michaelriera6277 There are watches with COSC that cost new less than half of the Breitling, and procude a good quality case an bracelet. I dont care about decoration, usless eye candy.
This heritage you mention is the reason you pay 5k new for the Superocean Automatic. Because they can. And if they have such heritage and know-how, why dont they put an in-house movement in such expensive watches?
And why shouldnt I focus on the movement? Usually the movement is the most expensive part of a watch, precious metal watches excluded of course.
@@Epicacactus At least with the Camry engine that 7 series won't have to be in the shop for major maintenance every few months lets be honest.
I bought the previous generation baby blue dial Superocean 36mm for my girlfriend to use as a daily beater/vacation watch. She fell in love with it and wears it more than her Cartier. Picked it up second hand for a great deal and a few different straps rubber, nato, leather. Such an awesome watch for her and fitting for almost all occasions.
Fantastic to read this Shane! Thank you for sharing brother (love the fact that she's getting so much wear time out of it) Holiday beater watches hit differently! 🔥
I am glad that you have fully recovered from the flu. Breitling SuperOcean has been underrated as same as Omega speedmaster pro due to there are too many variants.
Speedmaster pro is underrated?? Huh?
@@whereRbearsTeeth yah. Most people will rather buy second hand seamaster pro than speedmaster pro as the latter is not as popular as the SMP.
@@Chenxi_love_music_fairy😂um, ok 👍🏼
It would be hard for me to pass over a good broad arrow hand watch. 😂 I used to refuse to consider the secondary market but now I realize how foolish that was. Since I don’t worry about value retention, I can truly enjoy and appreciate some great watches at far below their retail prices. For me watches are just meant to be fun and not investment pieces. Well done as always! 🥃
Something so great about this hobby is finding pieces that others might not necessarily like BUT they make all the difference to you as a collector. It's so good! Thank you for sharing this Alvin 🥃
I just purchased a new old stock previous generation from my local AD. The 42mm with blue dial on the bracelet for $1k off MSRP. It was like you say - safe. A good value and perfect daily for me. Now that I have my comfort food, the new generation is starting to appeal to me more. Thanks for the video.
You overpaid
@@whereRbearsTeeth No I did not. I knew someone was going to claim I overpaid. I know exactly how much I paid relative to the market. I know I could have got it cheaper used online. These are are no longer readily available at ADs and I wanted a new one. I prefer to buy new from my AD.
I totally agree with you boet, Breitling just isn’t talked about enough. People are so obsessed with ‘value retention’ (like you rightly say) that Breitling get overlooked.
The previous Super Ocean range was brought to my attention yesterday when a friend was asking “why are these available so cheap on the secondary market?”.
The earlier Super Ocean 42’s really are great Watches. I’m so drawn to the Avenger range myself, particularly the GMT Night Mission that Pete McConvill brought to my attention. My love of DLC ‘blacked out’ Watches really has me lusting after this model. Unfortunately I haven’t seen many of these yet on the secondary market though.
A great topic here and respect for discussing it. Hopefully more people will look beyond ‘value retention’ and discover some real bargains themselves that are honest, quality Watches. ✊
Spot on. The Blue Breitling SO 42 (A17366D81C1A1) was my first high end watch and I still have it today. Before I bought it, I was between it, the Tudor Black Bay and the Omega SMP 300. Even if they were all the same price, I would pick the Breitling. But considering it is cheaper, it's an unbeatable value.
I've thought about getting rid of it multiple times but every time I think about moving on from it I'm reminded why I bought it in the first place. It's a masculine piece with its distinguished crown guards and rugged bezel. Pair those with the pop of red on the second hand and the substantial bracelet makes it that "comfort food."
You are lucky. Mine had to go to warranty repair twice for the crown pulling out of the case and a bad gear on the auto winding mechanism. I am convinced the ETA movement inside has low quality controlled parts sourced from China.
I really love that 46mm DLC with rose gold accents. It is huge, but I have been tempted to pick one up.
just bought one today, 46mm w gold... gorgeous looking!
I’m a big fan of the Heritage line. I’ll definitely pick up a lightly preowned model over the next year or so.
You nailed it, mate. I have a SO2 44mm and it is excellent for all the reasons you listed.
the last generation got me excited about breitling and hoped that they upgraded the movement, bracelet and maybe case size. It had so much potential to be a great platform for breitling to evolve slow and incrementally. What a shame
A great video, thank you. Yes I like Breitling watches, to include the Super Ocean, both old and new. But what I really want is an Emergency. Now that is unique
Those Emergencies are amazing... a good friend was close to pulling the trigger on one a few months ago. Perfect if you travel out to remote locations. Also if you're planning on getting lost at sea 😉
You nailed it regarding Breitling. Between 1984-1996 ish, I see as prime years of the brand in modern era and they were creating watches of desire, navitimer, chronomat and even J-class, colt line etc. They kept ”main” design in place and i my view they were classy wanted watches back then. They should have try to do ”Rolex”, i.e smaller fine turnings of existing design on popular watches. Instead, they left that path of success, made big changes on popular models, made all watches BIG and ”bold” and soon you could No longer recognize their creations… No more ”comfort food” as you mentioned even though I am not talking about exact same topic/issue.
Shame since I really loved many of breitling watches during those years 1985-1996 ish😊
Now all the brand Can Do is try to find a design language for the future and keep that with fine turnings in my opinion. It would be fun if they would ever produce another piece that I would like to buy again..
Very well said about the evolution of the brand and thank you for sharing this! Who knows if they even know what "fine tuning" means these days 😉 It seems the aim is to bring a fresh design out every year and confuse customers & enthusiasts more haha! 🥃
It is really crazy….. heritage and history means everything when it comes to lasting luxury……
Trends comes and goes… But class always remains…. Rolex is the master in fields.
I truly hope Breitling Will try really hard to get reconnected to its own heritage at some point.
Really enjoy your content!!!! Please keep on👊🙏🏻👍
I think my Superocean Arrowhand 2009-2010 is the best Breitling Superocean ever, only made for 2 years, 1500m water resistance. I bought it in 2009 with a deep discount, sold it in 2021 with a profit (!!!) after wearing it for 10 years, then last months bought the same model back for less than I sold it for in 2021 since I missed it so much. Classic style, build like a tank, 42mm - the ArrowHand is for me the best of the bunch.
Another example of the enormous depreciation is the Chronomat Sport at $5000 on the used market. Trading for prices similar to Black Bay Chrono in spite of the same movement and Breitlings FAR superior case and bracelet detailing.
And Avengers & Avenger 2's on top of that! Such killer pieces all round man... thank you for sharing this 🥃
Breitling bracelets most definitely are not superior to Tudor bracelets.
The bracelet or clasp?
I‘m wirh you, my favorite is the one with the numerals. Reminds me of my first real watch, a Longines HydroConquest.
Arabic numerals... ah, cannot get enough of them! 🥃
Appreciate the Breitling love. Interested to hear your thoughts on the new Avenger line when it launches on 1 November.
I have the Superocean 42 (ref. A17366) white dial/blue bezel and man....love it so much. It is a dive watch but with such an unique "face"and personality imo!
Would've loved to have found some photos of it for the video! Such a fantastic colour combo man... one thing Breitling does over their rivals? White dials... to perfection! 🥃
I have the last iteration of the Super O in white dial with blue markers and 6, 9, 12 Arabics-and it is one if my favorite dive watches. Why? Def not for the clasp and so so lume, but for it’s clean legibility, classic style, and because of it’s finish. It just looks and wears fantastic. So damn good, and I never feel like I have to baby it. Now that’s a comfotable watch, with real wrist time value and appeal-that I got at a great price, and runs within COSC with ETA. It’s a no brainer.
I agree, I have the previous gen with a yellow dial and love it. I wish Breitling would have given it a simple but effective in house movement and made minor changes.
The Super Ocean should be a great dive watch family, but they can’t seem to make up their minds.
Every few years they seem bent on changing the entire look of the collection 😆 Will we ever understand Breitling and their model lineup? Thanks for this Erik! 🥃
Completely agree with you. I have the orange one. Very underrated watch line.
I prefer the previous super oceans because I found them very well designed because all the elements seemed to be distinctive yet cohesive.
Does come across far more cohesive right? Safe in design? Yes. But as a daily wearer? Far more “approachable” 🥃
@@ID-Guy I agree 👍🏻
I like the newer one, but I still prefer the previous generation Superoceans. I own a 44 and I like that I don't have to worry about it getting "dinged up" because it lookes like that what it was made for. The current lineup looks nice, but too nice.
I really like those older designs and have been quite tempted by the orange dial. But i have the Hydroconquest and these's probably just a bit too much cross-over between these two pieces.
That Batman metaphor is perfect! I dont think I could think of a better one. What are the chances for Tag to use “Heuer” as their higher end branding? Like how Toyota uses Lexus. Seems like a low hanging fruit to me but there might be complications preventing them to go down that route.
I agree. I will be sure to give this watch a second look👍👍
Fantastic insights! New follower. Going to buy the Super Ocean Heritage 46mm next week. Looking forward to future insights.
As always a great video.
I am a huge fan of Breitling, sadly I do not own one...yet...but that day is coming.
I could not agree with more concerning the value of these watches. Yes the Heritage series is my fav
I hope you are feeling better,
Pedialyte my friend...
Thank you for the well wishes brother (this video is from 2 months ago, so I'm well and truly better) 😆 Excellently said & our love for the heritage models... love them 🔥
Breitling is a confused child. If it isn’t careful, it will fall to Tag Heuer levels
I agree. The latest incarnations have become mall watches
yeah, wouldnt be surprised if the local Brietling AD becomes the likes of Costco@@Treetopflyer777
Agree. While I like the current SO, I think it could've run in parallel with the old version. The last gen could have been developed productively (mainly dealing with the date/numeral imbalance) as a tool diver, the current gen as a leisure piece. Last gen would easily have stood up as a Pelagos alternative if developed and stole significant sales from Omega. That said, modern Breitling's pricing is way off and their quality not at the level of Longines/Tudor, let alone Omega/Rolex. And once you've heard '5hitebling,' you can't unhear it. Cruel.
I own the safe looking superocean 42. I bought it January 2021 and wear it everyday. I still love everything about it!!!
Where can I find these at an absolute bargain ?
The Navi timer has always been my favorite with Breitling
I'm always browsing reputable dealers and ebay more often than now and some of the prices of these pieces are surprisingly low. Sometimes 50% less than retail (even more) But I agree, like the Speedmaster, the Navitimer is their flagship 🥃
One reason they tank on the secondary market is because not enough people believe in their initial asking prices which are high and also the confusing use or not of in house movements. Like it or not enthusiast prefer proprietary movements. Some consistency here would do a lot for Breitling's credibility. Design wise I like a lot of their watches.
Excellently said brother 🥃
Many different logos, many different redesigns, many different owners of the brand. I wouldn't bet on Breitling, albeit the recent models look cool
Being inconsistent is the death of anything man, absolutely. Loving their new approach with their Divers! 🥃
Am very inclined to sit on the fence with regards to the latest version. The prior version had increased depth rating in aline with case sizes , a bonus for desk diving & real life divers. The latest version does away with this as all are 300m just a higher price. A shame as like Breitling , but for now will sit it out on the fence.
Feels exactly the same with what Tudor did to the Pelagos! From a 500m diver with HE valve etc, down to 200m and a "skin diver" thickness. Crazy right? I bet they're sharing notes 😉
I really like the previous gen model and may still own one at some point, but I ended up getting a SMP300 which on the second hand market wasn't that much more.
Love your videos, I miss your long form content do you have plans to do it again?
Thank you brother, I'm sure the livestreams will kickstart again eventually 😉 The plan is to make them far more engaging this time around (through 2020 and onwards the shows took a lot of energy out of me - crazy number of hours went into putting them together) so the future is to make them a good blend of both - more engaging and less energy sapping 🥃
that would be awesome, I watch these over and over again and can appreciate how much work you put into it thanks for your content@@ID-Guy
I like the new SuperOcean design a lot, but I actually agree, they should have build on the old design.
Breitling has been one of my favorites dating back to the early 2000’s. Their divers are great but the gems are the pilots… if only they combined them. These new breitling are confusing which is why they should add a compressor with gmt functions. Idk.
I'd love to see their diver models integrated with a chronograph function (like the ref. 2005) But the new models do seem like a big departure 🥃
I recently found a Breitling Shadow Flyback in perfect condition for $1,500 and it’s amazing how much quality you get especially in comparison to what $1,000-$1,500 gets you on brand new watches with other brands. What else could I ask for? Timing bezel, flyback chronograph, 100m WR, and since it’s ETA movement, servicing it shouldn’t break the bank. Tons of value with Breitling pre-owned, but truly I think the way Georges Kern is leading the company now, they are about to have a spike in popularity. They’ve already moved up like 4-6 spots on the sales charts since his tenure began
I feel like sometimes the brand name cost more than the specs of the watch, and definitely is the case for the Super Ocean. Full disclosure, I was never a fan of Breitling 😁 Thanks brother for the video 👍🏽
I agree I like the previous version, for two reasons the pure functionality and the date complication
Wow great video, I totally agree as a fellow industrial designer that this watch with Roman Arabic numbers should have been built upon and changed slightly, maybe slightly smaller numerals for newer editions and perhaps a more friendly 39 / 40 mm size to cater for a broader market! I do love the no nonsense militarised, purely utilitarian tool like design language it coneys, it means business, to be used as a functional piece in extreme environments as opposed to some sort of just flash dress piece to convey a brand. A watch certainly made for the outdoor water /ocean enthusiast whatever his or her pursuit may be.
We just can't get away from numerals on our watch dials (it's a sickness) 😉 This new series I like BUT it does take the whole image of the watch in another direction (who knows if it will stick?) 🥃
i just bought a superocean 42 chrono arabic numerals for half of retail these watches are like hidden gems
The previous generation SO pieces were pure class.
The biggest problem Breitling had was so many watches ended up being sold on the grey market at steep discount.
That’s because nobody wants them, especially at anything even remotely close to retail price.
Really well done.
Thank you Barry 🥃
Very true. Great topic. I wonder if adding high profile sports stars - Haaland and Giannis - will improve their sales?
The white Chronomat with the bright red GMT hand is gorgeous - but $1700 more than my BB GMT Opaline?
No idea how much ambassadors work in brands favours BUT seeing how Rolex & Tudor continue to thrive with their partnerships, its anyones guess 😉
My favorite Superocean is the black dial with the yellow chapter ring.
perhaps one day i will add it to my collection.
I had a few. My favourite was the superocean professional all-brushed model from early 2000s (A17345 if I recall correctly). One of my selling regrets. I believe that one was an ETA base. Looooved that watch. But I paid $1800 for it at the time. It was worth $1800. But not todays prices.
The new ones I absolutely can’t stand. Shopping mall watches
The new super ocean is cool in my opinion and more buyable because of its uniqueness. I think the really missed an opportunity to copy the functionality of the heritage model which had the 60 minute chronograph function. The other problem - i find the thick minute track in different colour visually shrinks the dial and makes it look smaller somehow.
I agree, the superocean collection is undervalued. Another Breitling's undervalued model is the aerospace
Aerospace night mission... maaan... I've come slow close to pulling the trigger on one (twice) 🥃
@@ID-Guy that is the one I have with dlc case. To be honest with you, at the begining I din't understand the watch, because it is a $5k plus quartz watch. But now I think that it's an amazing watch with a certified chronometer quartz movement, easy to use functions using only the crown, very light and it's hard to see another guy wearing it.
Great video, as usual! The previous model is definitely a great value for money, but as you have mentioned, Breitling has the problem with design language continuity on superocean line. Examples from 90s and 2000s didn't age well in that regard. The question is what will be with this model, only the time will tell. 100% agree that Breitling should reissue slow counter. That would be a great hit!
Much prefer the previous model of Superocean. The minuite hand on the new version ruins an otherwise nice watch.
I have Superocean Blacksteel 46 with Arabic Dial and love it on a Bond NATO. Drop dead gorgeous.
Breitling 2005 reference at 2:21
How amazing is that machine?... their glory days 🔥
Great video. Yes a brand must of it’s DNA.
Thank you for this JHB 🥃
👍Breitling 👍SuperOcean
I have strong feel the new one model be discontinued real soon , most customers are looking for pervouis model as it looks more masculine
Spot on … they need design uniformity over a sustained period of time …… and an increase in size …. Obviously;)
48mm is still too small 😉
New Super ocean dial with the box like hour markers doesn't move me.
The previous version dial ,with the matching fonts on the bezel, very much does.
Best Regards
Nice observation Kostas! I agree, far more harmonious 🥃
I owned this watch for a while but ultimately lost to my FXD as I just could not take it too serious. It is very well build but this shinyness got the better of me. I liked him but not enough to keep him around, especially after my mint DateJust 41. I also was quite annoyed by how the space between the spring bards and the body was so small it made general PITA to put various strap, something the FXD has 0 issues with since it is purpose build for it. I would still highly recommend it. It might be a flamboyant looking like any other Breitling but he can take it.
I think the newer SuperOceans are a bit on the cringe side though...
What an excellent article video,
At MSRP its overpriced. Im not paying 4000-5000$ for a Sellita 200
I agree. However on the second hand market the prior generation is a great buy. And you'll appreciate the non in house movement when paying for a service.
@@brownmcpherson5724 I actually prefer a sellita instead of an in-house, but I cant justify paying those prices for a cheap movement.
Great Video but I have a few things to add:
• I think it was the right step to eliminate the previous generation of the SuperOcean because they only have one goal right now, going back to their roots. Which means precision and chronographs (they invented after all the first and 2nd pusher) and models before the Schneider Era except for the modern Chronomat from 1983.
So eliminating these models means eliminating confusion on a long term which is great and gives hopefully Breitling finally an authentic identity.
• I also don't agree with you saying that the previous SouperOcean has a more efficient design as the actual generation. It's the contrary!
The SuperOcean Ref. 2005 was created from the engineers for maximal readability under water, because divers had issues with the original Ref. 1004. And it's true that under deep water nothing makes more sense than just Luminova on the indexes, it's the most efficient way in dark environments and after all it's a divers watch. So the previous generation was maybe more Efficient in daylight, but not under water which is more important for a divers watch.
Also when you have such a unique but minimalist & versatile design in you catalog, you would be crazy if you don't bring it back. After all you could put the actual Super Ocean in 42 with the Black dial on a leather strap and it would work, that's called versatility !
I agree though that the Ref 2005 has absolutely to come back as a reedition with Chronograph function, would be amazing!!!
nice watch but a derived caliber from ETA.....for that price better at least the Heritage Super Ocean which mounts a Kenissi Caliber which is of higher manufacture.
And isn’t there a hint of vintage Fifty Fathoms in the Arabic numerals and proportions? The previous Superocean has been sadly overlooked. It just presents as a truly classic dive watch.
News Flash! They're not undervalued, just overpriced, like most Swiss watches. $4,000 to $5,000 for a sellita 200? That's a hard NO.
100% agree. I can buy a Formex Reef for half the price.
True, even if I like the design. For that price you can go to Tudor, Baume&Mercier, Frederique Constant, Oris, etc. and get a watch with a in house or at least in group movement.
What is the one at 55 seconds ? That’s a beauty
Sounds picky but the brand logo has always looked cheap to me.
Thought I replied to this (apparently not) Their "Winged B" - the diehards will be coming after you with pitchforks 😉 I believe the idea with the current logo is to be a more "all encompassing" name that doesn't solely focus on pilot inspired pieces 🥃
One word, Rolex
One category is dearly miss, along with diving chronographs, is manualwind dive watches... you know, actually thin divewatches...
Wait, they used to make THIN dive watches? 😉 It's all about who can be beefier today... sadly...
@@ID-Guythe only modern dive watch ive seen come close to manualwind divewatch thinness is the Horage Supersede. A pretty cool piece in my opinion.
Off the top of my head, the one dive watch in recent memory that blew my mind with its thinness was the Oris 65. It's actually scary how they managed to get such a thin profile out of it. I'll look into this Horage!@@HRM.H
@@ID-Guythe 65 is beautiful!! I kinda want one of the two tone bronze steel models.
Take heed Breitling the man has spoken
Doubt this will reach anyone on their end BUT thank you brother! 😆
They're all exceptional values on the second market
Not for me these watches. A rare feeling for me but there it is. I can see people liking it very much though. Maybe a younger generation. I'm a 58 year old geezer.
Love the Superocean Heritage, has so much more character than a Sub and a fraction of the price
Also a fraction of the build quality
nahh... I cannot use it for copium. I know I want a sub and I'll get a sub. Simple as.
It's funny how watches that are (probably) similarly made in terms of materials and quality of design and construction, can vary so much in price and popularity.... take Breitling, or my humble IWC or any older Omega, Zenith etc....I mean are they really 2 or 3 times "worse" than rolex for example?
Well we should be thankful that the eye of Hyperon focuses on certain brands, allowing us watch nerds to fish for more underrated fish (apparently far back in history, lobster was consumed by poor Irish folk - and other European settlers i assume - in America, as it was seen as being "dirty", "cheap protein", "peasant food".... maybe grab that Breitling creature, while it's seen as the undesirable option by many folk)
P.s. IWC mark 16 is in for service, and the guy I bought it from is lending me a CWC quartz from the 90s, tritium
Bless him
I'm sending him a little whisky glass and a sample of the hardcore amazing Ardbeg Uigeadail in the post as a thank you ❤
And in medieval times those preparing the meat for the king would be given the "scraps" in the kitchens - all the organs of the animal (far more nutritious) while the king ate the meat at his fancy table. LOVE the CWC models... I was looking at their divers this week and wondering 😉 Hope you're fantastic brother! 🥃
The slow timer super ocean 🥰🥰🥰
46 mm.... and the thickness that goes with it.... That's the main problem.... make it thinner and smaller, more classic design, and they will sell....
The new model looks like a Zodiac and a Citizen Eco-Drive GMT got together and had a baby.
Brilliant! 😆 Does give off serious Sea Wolf vibes...
SOH chrono reverse panda on rubber mesh 👨🍳💋
Heritage 57 is calling me man... Do I need it with my Seamaster? No, not at all 😆
These superoceans are not $5k watches. It’s not just the movement that makes them overpriced. They are built like $2k watches. The bracelets, clasps, bezel action etc are all very entry level build quality. They are basically Oris/tag level build quality at omega prices. That’s why these watches don’t sell at retail and always end up available at massive discounts on the grey market.
Unfervalued or not, it does not stand a chance against Omega Semaster Diver 300M
Personally for the best of the bunch is the a17365 42 mm with the field watch dial... quality imho on Rolex level, better than Tudor imho...price when these had been available new, around a Tudor diver....the latest version looks just awful imho...70's design just isn't my cup of tea.
Love that full arabic dial... AND there are a handful of "SAS" dials out there 😉 Such a killer piece man...
You know, to me, Breitling is the maker of Navitimer, not a maker for nautical adventures, and it just feels, off. Also I can't stand how Superocean logo is off balanced. too heavy S compared to N, And I really don't see "Ah, we have a Breitling watch here" with Superpcean at all. It's just too.... "bland" you know?
Well said Doc, and pointed out about the "S" with its long drag (the N should've gotten more love) 😉
When I hear Breitling I think cheap or an Invicta. Their watches seem too much and are the last option in the category. It is wrong to think this but when I look at one on my wrist, I think I should just buy an Omega or another mircobrand and pay off the mortgage. Too flashy and some pieces look like Tissot.
Breitling...I just think George Clooney Kern and "yellow" now. Bleh
Since when is a $5K watch undervalued?
Second hand they can be found for half that price (and I'm not only talking about it's monetary value 🥃)
new ones look like a Doxa
I'd be all over this if it was day and date.
How about you NOT draw more attention to this model thanks. I want to afford one okay
Don't worry, I'm only expecting it to reach around 10k people 😆... also secretly admiring them though... even the lastest models, amazing finds second hand at the moment 🔥
That “snowflake” minute hand looks like a second hand on Botox.
I detest that aesthetic on that dial.
They lose huge value on the grey market so Breitling over-prices them by 20-30%, turning away the general public. Its a negative feedback loop. They are well made watches.
It’s not an in-house movement, and the purists turn their noses up at it.
1
Score tonight? 16-15? Who cares? 😉
Love my SO ref A17366021B1A1 it goes well with everything it can be dressed up or down.
Another huge plus, I won’t see everybody with my watch and I love that.
I think it is overrated.
How can anyone take your serious when you say a Breitling for $5000 is undervalued.