Breitling Navitimer or IWC Chronoograph
Discussion
Hi All,
Been looking at both these two particular watches for a while now.
Has anyone else had this though decision to make? Have always wanted a smart Chrono style watch with black style croc strap. I currently own a Sub and a few Tags.
Tried both on over the weekend back to back. Both suit my wrist and tastes after seeing them in the flesh...
Appreciate both are different ends of the spectrum in terms of looks and might not be to everyone taste.
Briefly what would you go for and the reasons behind it.
Price wise (without drilling to deep for the best price yet) RRP seems to be abt £4.6k for IWC and abt £6.6k for the Breitling. Only thing im not too sure about is where does one service an IWC and what are the rough costs and intervals behind the services. Chap at London Watch Co (not necessarily buying from them) said they do not have an official IWC office in the country, only approved dealers that normally send the watch off for you. With the SUB it was comforting to be able to go into the main service center in C.London and handing the watch in personally.
Attached photos i found on the internet of the 2 watches which show them from same angle.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Been looking at both these two particular watches for a while now.
Has anyone else had this though decision to make? Have always wanted a smart Chrono style watch with black style croc strap. I currently own a Sub and a few Tags.
Tried both on over the weekend back to back. Both suit my wrist and tastes after seeing them in the flesh...
Appreciate both are different ends of the spectrum in terms of looks and might not be to everyone taste.
Briefly what would you go for and the reasons behind it.
Price wise (without drilling to deep for the best price yet) RRP seems to be abt £4.6k for IWC and abt £6.6k for the Breitling. Only thing im not too sure about is where does one service an IWC and what are the rough costs and intervals behind the services. Chap at London Watch Co (not necessarily buying from them) said they do not have an official IWC office in the country, only approved dealers that normally send the watch off for you. With the SUB it was comforting to be able to go into the main service center in C.London and handing the watch in personally.
Attached photos i found on the internet of the 2 watches which show them from same angle.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
mart 63 said:
I had the same navitimer for about 6 years,the leather strap fell to bits on it with little wear.Sold the watch a couple of years ago,a bit to bling for me.
I wear an IWC most of the time.Not the same watch,but a Aquatimer 2000 and its better made watch.My opinion of corse.
Thanks for your reply Mart 63.I wear an IWC most of the time.Not the same watch,but a Aquatimer 2000 and its better made watch.My opinion of corse.
Was it the leather croc strap in particular?
Roughly how often did you wear the Navitimer say in an average year of ownership?
The straps from what i was told were not cheap either in case i wanted to change them!
Did the strap ever get wet?
Just out of interest (not in the game for buying a watch for making money) how much in pct did the watch lose in value when you came to sell it 6 yrs later?
Was it the leather croc strap in particular? Yes
Roughly how often did you wear the Navitimer say in an average year of ownership? Couple of weeks over a year
The straps from what i was told were not cheap either in case i wanted to change them!
Did the strap ever get wet? Once
Just out of interest (not in the game for buying a watch for making money) how much in pct did the watch lose in value when you came to sell it 6 yrs later? Made money on it even with the strap.Bought it non UK though
Mart
[/quote]
mart 63 said:
Was it the leather croc strap in particular? Yes
Roughly how often did you wear the Navitimer say in an average year of ownership? Couple of weeks over a year
The straps from what i was told were not cheap either in case i wanted to change them!
Did the strap ever get wet? Once
Just out of interest (not in the game for buying a watch for making money) how much in pct did the watch lose in value when you came to sell it 6 yrs later? Made money on it even with the strap.Bought it non UK though
Mart
Roughly how often did you wear the Navitimer say in an average year of ownership? Couple of weeks over a year
The straps from what i was told were not cheap either in case i wanted to change them!
Did the strap ever get wet? Once
Just out of interest (not in the game for buying a watch for making money) how much in pct did the watch lose in value when you came to sell it 6 yrs later? Made money on it even with the strap.Bought it non UK though
Mart
Nice choice to have.
I prefer the older Navitimers, but I think the Breitling would still squeak it if I didn't have one of those.
The 'pilot' watches all look a bit the same to me, whereas a Navitimer is unmistakeable (unless it's something really weird, like the digitial ones!).
And, it's probably just me, but International Watch Company sounds like something a Hong Kong knock-off company would be called
M
I prefer the older Navitimers, but I think the Breitling would still squeak it if I didn't have one of those.
The 'pilot' watches all look a bit the same to me, whereas a Navitimer is unmistakeable (unless it's something really weird, like the digitial ones!).
And, it's probably just me, but International Watch Company sounds like something a Hong Kong knock-off company would be called
M
They're both lovely. I've got a Breitling and have had an IWC and they're polar opposites!
The Breitling is the one that people will notice and will think is expensive - it shouts. The IWC whispers. Which suits you better is for you to decide.
Whichever you go for I'd suggest getting a steel bracelet not a strap. You may prefer the look of the leather but they just don't last and can cost a lot to replace.
The Breitling is the one that people will notice and will think is expensive - it shouts. The IWC whispers. Which suits you better is for you to decide.
Whichever you go for I'd suggest getting a steel bracelet not a strap. You may prefer the look of the leather but they just don't last and can cost a lot to replace.
Animal said:
Whichever you go for I'd suggest getting a steel bracelet not a strap. You may prefer the look of the leather but they just don't last and can cost a lot to replace.
Personally, I don't think the Navitimer suits a bracelet.Of course, there's nothing to say you have to buy a stupidly expensive Breitling strap a £50 Hirsch is just as good (I know - I have an original AND a Hirsch) and probably a lot longer lasting if the comments here are believed!
If you want to wear a Navitimer on a leather strap, don't waste the extra on a bracelet you'll never wear and switch the Breitling OEM strap for an aftermarket straight away. You can always use the buckle/deployant off the OEM if you want.
M
marcosgt said:
Personally, I don't think the Navitimer suits a bracelet.
Of course, there's nothing to say you have to buy a stupidly expensive Breitling strap a £50 Hirsch is just as good (I know - I have an original AND a Hirsch) and probably a lot longer lasting if the comments here are believed!
If you want to wear a Navitimer on a leather strap, don't waste the extra on a bracelet you'll never wear and switch the Breitling OEM strap for an aftermarket straight away. You can always use the buckle/deployant off the OEM if you want.
M
I tried the bracelet version of the IWC and didn’t like it at all. Changed the look of the watch completely for me. Looked too much like something you would strap over your bomber jacket lolOf course, there's nothing to say you have to buy a stupidly expensive Breitling strap a £50 Hirsch is just as good (I know - I have an original AND a Hirsch) and probably a lot longer lasting if the comments here are believed!
If you want to wear a Navitimer on a leather strap, don't waste the extra on a bracelet you'll never wear and switch the Breitling OEM strap for an aftermarket straight away. You can always use the buckle/deployant off the OEM if you want.
M
On the Navitimer they only had the black croc version to try on. TBH i don’t like the Breitling bracelet either. Too bling. I do like the back rubber ones but wouldn’t go with a Navitimer
looking briefly on the internet there are plenty of non OEM traps that I guess would suit both watches if I need to replace them.
marcosgt said:
Personally, I don't think the Navitimer suits a bracelet.
Of course, there's nothing to say you have to buy a stupidly expensive Breitling strap a £50 Hirsch is just as good (I know - I have an original AND a Hirsch) and probably a lot longer lasting if the comments here are believed!
If you want to wear a Navitimer on a leather strap, don't waste the extra on a bracelet you'll never wear and switch the Breitling OEM strap for an aftermarket straight away. You can always use the buckle/deployant off the OEM if you want.
M
A Breitling retailer actually told me that the straps only last around 18 months!!Of course, there's nothing to say you have to buy a stupidly expensive Breitling strap a £50 Hirsch is just as good (I know - I have an original AND a Hirsch) and probably a lot longer lasting if the comments here are believed!
If you want to wear a Navitimer on a leather strap, don't waste the extra on a bracelet you'll never wear and switch the Breitling OEM strap for an aftermarket straight away. You can always use the buckle/deployant off the OEM if you want.
M
Thanks for all your feed back on the straps guys. Seem they could well be a weak link but easy enough to rectify with an after mark one.
Would welcome also any replies on the actual watches, movement, servicing, ownership etc…
Seems very few people know about the IWC Chronograph. TBH i have never seen it worn by anyone. Navitimer seem to be alot more common.
Would welcome also any replies on the actual watches, movement, servicing, ownership etc…
Seems very few people know about the IWC Chronograph. TBH i have never seen it worn by anyone. Navitimer seem to be alot more common.
zorba_the_greek said:
Thanks for all your feed back on the straps guys. Seem they could well be a weak link but easy enough to rectify with an after mark one.
Would welcome also any replies on the actual watches, movement, servicing, ownership etc…
Seems very few people know about the IWC Chronograph. TBH i have never seen it worn by anyone. Navitimer seem to be alot more common.
Basically any watch on a strap is going to need it (the strap) changing reasonably frequently. Reasonably frequently being anything from six months to a couple of years, depending on how hard you are on straps (how often you wear them, whether you get them wet, have sweaty wrists, give them a lot of grief when taking the piece on and off etc etc). I have a few watches on leather - normally I take the OEM strap off as soon as I get it and replace it with a decent quality calf strap. That way I can put the OEM back on if as and when I come to sell it.Would welcome also any replies on the actual watches, movement, servicing, ownership etc…
Seems very few people know about the IWC Chronograph. TBH i have never seen it worn by anyone. Navitimer seem to be alot more common.
Regarding the Navitimers. I've had a fair few over the years with both the Breitling version of the Valjoux 7750 and the new in House B01 movement. I haven't had a problem with any of them - one needed a new bezel seal once - the one underneath the circular slide rule - but that's about it. They aren't very waterproof anyway, and it's a good idea not to subject them to very wet environments.
The new B01 movement seems to be pretty well regarded - and it comes with a 5 year guarantee for piece of mind - and has a decent 70+ hours power reserve. The one I have at the moment seems to be pretty accurate, although I haven't put it on a timing machine to find out exactly how accurate.
FWIW my experience with the Breitling service centre here in the UK has been on the whole positive. Reasonable turnaround and reasonably priced.
I'll find out about IWC servicing shortly, as I have a Portuguese that needs looking at.
I used to have a Navi on leather, and suffered the same wear issue mentioned here. It had a deployment, so I wasn't even being hard on it when I took it off.
I liked it, but never fell in love with it. It was surprising difficult to actually tell the time at a glance, and required a proper look, something that can be frowned on when the missus is talking to you!! I sold it and have never missed it.
I borrowed an IWC 3777 on a bracelet (think the OP's looking at a 3717?) from a friend a few years later. It was very understated and just an interim watch while I decided in my next purchase. Nothing much to look at, and nobody commented. But over a few weeks I came to love the watch like few others I have had. The face is clear, the style very clean and understated, the bracelet a work of art and the clasp micro adjustable for comfort (far more than a hole in a strap). One of the most comfortable and stable I have ever worn.
I've now owned one for 3 years and it's one of most regular wearers, perfect in any situation, and soild as a rock. No wear issues, timing issues or foibles. Lovely.
I liked it, but never fell in love with it. It was surprising difficult to actually tell the time at a glance, and required a proper look, something that can be frowned on when the missus is talking to you!! I sold it and have never missed it.
I borrowed an IWC 3777 on a bracelet (think the OP's looking at a 3717?) from a friend a few years later. It was very understated and just an interim watch while I decided in my next purchase. Nothing much to look at, and nobody commented. But over a few weeks I came to love the watch like few others I have had. The face is clear, the style very clean and understated, the bracelet a work of art and the clasp micro adjustable for comfort (far more than a hole in a strap). One of the most comfortable and stable I have ever worn.
I've now owned one for 3 years and it's one of most regular wearers, perfect in any situation, and soild as a rock. No wear issues, timing issues or foibles. Lovely.
I'm not a breitling fan so unfortunately i can't comment on that watch, but i do own an IWC 3717-04
Mine is on a bracelet, which is a work of art and exceedingly comfortable. However the watch is equally at home on a croc/Kevlar or NATO strap. It's definitely a watch that works well dressed up or down.
The double sided AR, curved hands etc make the watch super legible as well as making the dial pop, rather than being hidden behind a blurry mess of flat crystal reflections.
The 42mm case is nice on the 3717, unlike the current 3777 which is a bit of a pig with the sub-dials spaced a bit weirdly, and the stacked date window.
Overall its a Lovely watch, though i've been thinking of moving it on since i'm not really a chrono fan so it's has been relegated to being a safe queen.
In terms of servicing:
Bad - Contacted IWC/Richmont at the start of the year about getting my watch service and they rattled off a load of AD's that had been out of business for round about 5 years (leaving none in my area), fortunately the AD i normally go to does have another store that's an AD for IWC and could send it in for servicing for me.
So while it was a painless process for the watch to be sent in for servicing, dealing with Richmont wasn't so fun.
Good - Reasonable service cost and turnaround, i believe i had it back within 3-4 weeks. So a definitely plus point there.
and to end with a pic...
Mine is on a bracelet, which is a work of art and exceedingly comfortable. However the watch is equally at home on a croc/Kevlar or NATO strap. It's definitely a watch that works well dressed up or down.
The double sided AR, curved hands etc make the watch super legible as well as making the dial pop, rather than being hidden behind a blurry mess of flat crystal reflections.
The 42mm case is nice on the 3717, unlike the current 3777 which is a bit of a pig with the sub-dials spaced a bit weirdly, and the stacked date window.
Overall its a Lovely watch, though i've been thinking of moving it on since i'm not really a chrono fan so it's has been relegated to being a safe queen.
In terms of servicing:
Bad - Contacted IWC/Richmont at the start of the year about getting my watch service and they rattled off a load of AD's that had been out of business for round about 5 years (leaving none in my area), fortunately the AD i normally go to does have another store that's an AD for IWC and could send it in for servicing for me.
So while it was a painless process for the watch to be sent in for servicing, dealing with Richmont wasn't so fun.
Good - Reasonable service cost and turnaround, i believe i had it back within 3-4 weeks. So a definitely plus point there.
and to end with a pic...
[quote=endo]I'm not a breitling fan so unfortunately i can't comment on that watch, but i do own an IWC 3717-04
The 42mm case is nice on the 3717, unlike the current 3777 which is a bit of a pig with the sub-dials spaced a bit weirdly, and the stacked date window.
+1 to that. A step backwards in terms of clarity and legibility. What is the point of stacked date windows? In this case (apart from its own visual confusion) it has meant that the IWC Schaffhausen text has had to move over inside the elapsed hours register, where it just clutters things up.
The 42mm case is nice on the 3717, unlike the current 3777 which is a bit of a pig with the sub-dials spaced a bit weirdly, and the stacked date window.
+1 to that. A step backwards in terms of clarity and legibility. What is the point of stacked date windows? In this case (apart from its own visual confusion) it has meant that the IWC Schaffhausen text has had to move over inside the elapsed hours register, where it just clutters things up.
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