Breitling Bracelet

[PhantomPH]

Hi all.

I have a Breitling Navitimer World on a black Croc strap. I liked the idea of getting the bracelet so I could swap from time-to-time if I fancied a change.

The store from which I bought the watch told me it would be £700 for the bracelet to match!!!! *gulp*

Is there a lower cost option (I am happy to not have an official Breitling item as long as it's the right size and finish) that anyone knows of?

£700 for a bit of a change (and a chunk of steel!), seems a bit much.

Cheers!

P~

[Podie]

Speak to PH favourite Dominic H... for all things watch, it's worth a mail (and he's a nice bloke)

[PhantomPH]

Podie said:

Speak to PH favourite Dominic H... for all things watch, it's worth a mail (and he's a nice bloke)

Cheers for the tip. It's taken me a month to remember to post this tpoic, so I will drop him a line at some point.

£700...*faints again*

[Ikemi]

I believe it's a similar case with Omega - The Planet Ocean, for example, is RRP £2,310 on a leather/rubber strap and RRP £2,380 on the S/S bracelet. However if you decide on the former and fancy a bracelet later on, the cost of the bracelet alone is quite substantial (~£500)!

Most people who purchase the PO opt for the bracelet model and then choose the rubber/leather strap afterwards, as these are a bit cheaper to buy separately!

I also happened to stumble across some prices for JLC bracelets for the MC Diver Chrono ... Proper ouch!

I hope you find a decent deal for your Breitling though

[PhantomPH]

I could understand if it was gold etc, but it's just the standard steel bracelet - end even then, only for the novelty factor of being able to change like once a year. Certainly not worth the expense at £700.

[Ikemi]

Perhaps manufacturers see this as part and parcel of luxury watch ownership ... If you can afford to spend x amount on a watch, which is x times more expensive than the average person would pay, then you can afford the bracelet too!

I do understand what you mean though - £700 is not to be sniffed at! You could buy a nice Sinn for that!

[PhantomPH]

Yeah, you are probably right - but it still seems a rip, IMHO!

I got my watch through hard work and to act as a reminder of a particular achievement. Not because I am a rich bloke. I'm sure a whole tonne of luxury watch owners have saved for their 'treat', just as they might a ring or another trinket.

Anyhoo....

[Miguel Alvarez]

Just having the same conversation at work

[Podie]

Miguel Alvarez said:

Just having the same conversation at work

Group buy..?

[anonymous-user]

Could you buy one of the better quality fake Breitlings and use that bracelet? or is that a crap idea?

[PhantomPH]

el stovey said:

Could you buy one of the better quality fake Breitlings and use that bracelet? or is that a crap idea?

It's not a bad idea, actually! Could be worth a punt.

[ALittleEXcited]

PhantomPH said:

el stovey said:

Could you buy one of the better quality fake Breitlings and use that bracelet? or is that a crap idea?

It's not a bad idea, actually! Could be worth a punt.

You don't want people looking at the quality of the bracelet and summising that the watch is therefore fake.

[PhantomPH]

ALittleEXcited said:

PhantomPH said:

el stovey said:

Could you buy one of the better quality fake Breitlings and use that bracelet? or is that a crap idea?

It's not a bad idea, actually! Could be worth a punt.

You don't want people looking at the quality of the bracelet and summising that the watch is therefore fake.

You could levy a similar argument against the idea of using a non-Breitling bracelet.

The thing is, it's NOT fake. I couldn't give a tits if people think it is.

[Steve-B]

I don't that the cost was much difference, circa £400 -£500 for a croc strap when I went the other way with the same watch. Sounds about right IMNSHO....for comparision when I updated a strap on a Patek 3135 it was about £1,800 as it's 18K solid.......

not trying to rub anyone into it, but if you spend £1-2K for a quality watch, which cheapen it out? Consider if you were to sell it on, and don't disclose "clone" band.....

Your call clearly, but the price quoted really doesn't surprise me. I found the metal band annoying and mostly wear the strap now. be aware there's 2 sizes to get the right band size when you do this!

[PhantomPH]

Fair comments, but I'm never selling this watch on (see above for the reason I have it).

If I were to be forced to sell it on, I would remove the bracelet and put the croc leather strap with the clasp back on - arguably in better condition than if I had worn it a bunch of times and aged the leather.

Never mind, was just a thought. I'd rather buy an iPad and iPhone 4 for the money...in fact...I will!

[Miguel Alvarez]

Podie said:

Miguel Alvarez said:

Just having the same conversation at work

Group buy..?

Ha ha. I'll suggest it and see what they say.