The Breitling Watch Source Forums

First of all: Thanks for all the good comments and tips that lead me to a dedicated AD and a couple of good offers.
Now I am in the lucky position that I can choose between the Avenger Skyland or the Superocean Steelhead, both with blue dials and steel bracelet.
I thought this would be easy as the Skyland has the extra feature of the chronograph, but now I am not so sure:
I really like the Steelhead with its more bright blue dial with the Breitling logo as a small piece of metal attahed instead of the engraved (?) version of the Skyland. I also keep wondering if I would really use the chronograph of the Skyland that much that I will pay a lot more. On the other hand I wonder if the dial of the steelhead is much smaller as it appears that the case margin is somewhat broarder.
I think I am equally in love with both.
Would anyone who owns or have an opinion on the two beauties care to comment?

If Steelhead = Steelfish, then I can offer that the Steelfish is a great watch. Good wrist presents without the extra weight of the Skyland. IMO it is easily readable and has decent lume. I like the Skyland and may one day own one, but I also seem to prefer the non chronos. Also, my Steelfish is well within COSC at around +1 or +2 sec per day!

R/

Thanks for your comment Rebel_1; and yes, of course its the Steelfish! I am afraid that too many years of flyfishing have done some damage to may vocabulary

These are both excellent watches. I, too, struggle with this dilemma having owned a Steelfish for nearly a year now...I keep wanting a Skyland as well!

One thing to pay attention to is that the Steelfish is brushed whereas the Skyland is polished. So I would go with whether you would like the look of brushed or polished steel. It makes quite a difference. I am actually partial to polished, which is why I wear my Steelfish on a strap...the polished bracelet just looks to dull to me.

///M

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

Thats a good point I did not consider so far: The Steefish is the more rugged, action watch of the two. While I will be doing occational (vacational) diving, I am definitely not into much action - most of the time my watch is just supposed to be looking good.
Anyway, in my opinion, the rubber dive straps for both change their appearance considerably, so you can change the signals they send to some extent.

i have a steelfish and i have had a skyland (sold it) but i just bought another one :S i didant like the dial on the 1st one was not my color. but i would take the steelfish over the skyland any day. i also have a blackbird, but i still find the steelfish to be my go to watch. just feels realy good

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Breitling Steelfish,Breitling Skyland,Breitling Blackbird

Maybe I've missed sg but it seems that no-one asked if you really need the chronograph function or not...
I'd certainly choose the Skyland over the Steelfish because I use the chronograph function frequently.
IMHO this is the most important to decide. Polished vs. brushed surfaces can be changed if that is the only down of one or the other watch.
Anyway, both nice watches so you cannot go wrong with either...
Regards: Robert

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Chronomat 41 BEB, Steelfish Chrono BEB, 2x Grand Premier, Chrono Cockpit 39 mm, Aerospace Avantage 79362
IWC 3706, 3705, 376706, 371928
Sinn 103 plexy
For sale: Sinn 356 II, Porsche Design Titan Chrono Valjoux
Wanted: Breitling Blackbird 13353 on bracelet

I had a Steelfish but longed for a Skyland until I finally got one. Its bigger, shinier, chronographier, and bolder. That said, id still like to get another steelfish for the collection...but if I could only have one it would be the SKyland.

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-RJ

Thanks for all your comments. Its very helpful.
My situation, however, gets worse and worse: Once I seem to make up my mind, the next minute I change my standpoint once more. Its really like a fever. I have been looking at pictures over and over...
I should have made my decision this week, but I postponed it for another week.
I HAVE decided thought that the Skyland should be black dial as it has a stunning contrast to the silvery bracelet and case. IMO its the most eye-catching watch you will find. Then the Steelfish should be blue. IMO a blue steelfish is the most beautiful purebreed divers watch around...except for maybe the Avenger Seawolf, which is too big for my office wrist .
Maybe the Skyland would be too big too...my wrist is just about 6.5 - 6.75 inches?

Have you seen them in person? They are very different from each other in person and if you havent checked them out you probably should. I have a feeling one will definitely speak to you more than the other.

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-RJ

I owned a Skyland for about 2 weeks but took it back. I own all three Steelfish and love them. The Skyland is a beautiful watch (I had the grey dial) but it's too large for me. And I'm partial to applied Wings logos.

If you are torn between the 2, why not save yourself almost $2000 and get the Steelfish. Besides next time you are deep sea fishing, fall in the ocean, and bottom out at 6500 feet, your Steelfish will make a good little inheritance when they retrieve your body.

Caveat - this writer is BIASED, having 3 Steelfish and 3 Chrono Superocean. BTW, did you look at the Chrono Superocean? And it's a polished case on a polished Pro II bracelet? It's priced right in between the Skyland and Steelfish.

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SHARKMAN

Thats a big problem here in Denmark where I live my local AD is small and not very much into Breitlings. They only had one Colt variety and the Blackbird. The 2. closest AD is in North Germany.
Think they both speak to me - but in different ways. Thats probably my largest problem with this.

I have given up any ideas of a big Marlin or shark long ago due to overfishing; and here in Denmark a very big trout could only pull you down to Skyland max depth
The Chrono Superocean is a third option I have considered as well, but I must say the size (42mm as the Colts) and the white subdials makes me prefer one of the other two watches.

Being of the small wrist variety myself, after wearing the Skyland for about a week I realized I'd made a mistake. Of course when I bought it I overlooked that since it was so beautiful. I ended up exchanging it for the white dial CSO and a store credit.

The case of the Steelfish is the same diameter as the Skyland and the Skyland is not dramaticaly thicker, but because of the shape it looks far more chunky on the wrist. If you are concerned about the watch looking too large, you might consider the Steelfish. It is plenty big - I'm wearing the blue dial right now.

Polished vs brushed - ups and downs for both. Polished has the bigger bling factor but it shows scrathes more. Also if you are as anal as I, you will be spending more time wiping off finger smudges. For me both have there place. If I were buying a first Breitling again, it would likely be brushed mand probably the Steelfish. Maybe a slightly "duller" finish, but it still has a bling factor.

Good luck.

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SHARKMAN