This one is a real mixed bag for me.
On the PROS side, I generally like the design. I like how it draws inspiration and pays homage to the original 2005 'Slow Motion', although the original had a MUCH cooler function than just telling the time..., but visually speaking it's similar. That said, the large rehaut/chapter ring markings are redundant on this model as they only served a purpose on the 2005 due to how the chronograph worked; here the chapter ring is nothing more than a visual nod to the 2005. Style over substance unfortunately.
It's great to see so many size options, and there are some decent colourways as well.... although the standard black and dark blue versions are my personal favourites. I also really like the new micro-adjustable clasp - looks like a Rolex/Omega hybrid, and you can't go wrong with that. (It seems Breitling have both ends of the spectrum covered in that regard now - a great cutting-edge "Glidelockesque" micro-adjustable clasp at one end, and an archaic and totally
UNadjustable butterfly clasp at the other!

). The new rubber straps also look great, so no complaints there at all. So design-wise I think it's a pretty reasonable job, although I'm sure the huge square of the minute hand would be impossible to read accurately in the dark.
However, then we come onto the CONS, and there are two major issues here for me. Firstly the movement. So it's got the trusty old B17 inside which is basically an ETA2824/Sellita SW200, with its (ahem) "HUGE" 38 hours of power reserve and all the technology of 1971 which is when it was first introduced. Yes I know it's been updated since then (the ETA2824-2 came out in 1982), but at heart it's still 50 years old. I just don't understand why Breitling
still can't, or won't, produce an in-house 3 hand movement. It's 13 years since they introduced the fantastic B01 chronograph movement (which, let's be honest, was a way more complicated task), so I'd have thought a 3 hander would've been a doddle in almost a decade and a half! Hell, even tiny brands like Nomos and Yema have in-house time-only movements. Come on guys!
And the second con, which is related to the first, is the price. This new SO is some 30% more expensive than the old model, despite having the same old movement and lower specs in terms of WR. In the UK, the price of the new SO starts at £3700, going upwards to over £4000. Now let's have a look at some of the competition -
- For £2750, you can have the Oris Aquis 400, complete with a state-of-the-art in-house movement with
120 hours of power reserve, and a 10 year warranty!
- Or for £2920 you can have the new Tudor Black Bay Pro which also features a pretty much state-of-the-art in-house movement, but with the added GMT functionality, and 70 hours of power reserve.
- The massively better specced in-house Tudor Pelagos (500m WR, helium escape valve, superb clasp, full titanium construction, 70 hours of power reserve) is the same price as the cheapest of the new SO's, but with the Pelagos you also get the full bracelet for the money as opposed to the Breitling's rubber strap.
- And for about £500 more, you can have the in-house co-axial Omega Seamaster Diver 300, which is METAS certified, and benefits from all the anti-magnetic tech under the sun, plus a better power reserve at 55 hours.
For me, the new SO range is about £1000-£1500 over-priced, and that's being generous considering I recently bought a very well specced, brand new, "beater" watch that's running an ETA 2824, and it cost me a mere £600. Of course, there are those who will say that in-house doesn't automatically equate to "better", and I'd agree in some respects. But ultimately no-one
needs a mechanical watch these days, so IMO they should be something at least a little bit special when you start paying several thousand pounds.... and ETA/Sellita just aren't special or luxury these days. The simple fact is, certain other manufacturers are just doing it better and cheaper, and with the "dumbing down" of certain elements (like when the tachymeter track was removed from the latest Navitimer), Breitling needs to be careful they don't end up just being an "expensive fashion brand".
Judging by the comments on certain FB fan-boy groups, I'm sure these will be popular in certain quarters, but by the same token a number of my watch fanatic friends (who have no specific allegiance to Breitling, but just like nice watches in general) have all said the same thing - nice looking watches, but a hard sell at that price, given the internals.
So as I say, this is a mixed bag for me. Generally good looking, and if they had an in-house movement I'd be happy to pay the £3700 for one of the 42mm versions. And if they were around £2500 then I'd be
reasonably happy to pay for one that's B17 powered.
* As an aside, I personally would've LOVED to see the 2005 properly reimagined, complete with a modified B01 to allow the original "slow motion" chronograph function to be brought back. It would also make the inner chapter ring/rehaut minute markings functional instead of just being there for show. That would've been a GREAT piece, and as far as I know, a totally unique offering in the current market.