The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Don't like them at all and question my future loyalty etc.

If the brand is at risk of becoming a joke, I am suddenly less comfortable about spending money even on the models I do like.

Dang! Four people out of 44 so far in this small sampling indicate they will be leaving the brand and one, who doesn't even own a Breitling, is looking elsewhere. Seventeen, or 38% say they are considering changing loyalties if this trend continues. So at the time of this posting, 49% are upset enough about the new offering to either quit the brand altogether, are considering doing so, or will not consider the brand to begin with.

Of course I realize this is not a scientific survey but there are some really strong opinions here about the direction that the brand is heading.

I also understand that the people voting here are the die hard WIS and I'm not certain how they compare to the general population but wow. I mean... wow! It looks like Breitling has struck a nerve - at least with us.

Not just die hard WIS, die hard 'Breitling first' WIS. We know that there is a large percentage of the membership who are watch lovers first and are here because they prefer the 'atmosphere' to other watch sites, but still this is a Breitling site.

We know that Breitling monitors, I just hope that they take notice. I realize that existing customers aren't the target market for these pieces, but it's a dangerous game to alienate so many of the people who have supported you in recent years.

Out of curiosity how do we know they do monitor the this site?

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Past: BlackBird, Navi World, SA, Rolex DJII, IWC Yacht Club
Present: CE, DSSD
Future: Changes daily

This board sure has a lot of purists. God forbid a little orange/red dye is added to the rubber bezel. I'm sure people won't take your Navitimer seriously anymore because of this.

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viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2335
Breitling SuperOcean (coral)
Breitling Avenger
Corum Admiral's Cup
Rolex Sub

Trust me, they do.

While we are on that subject Roff, how come we've not seen any "Official" company spokesperson host a thread, contribute, or do a guest appearance kind of thing? Maybe it's been done in the past at some point before my coming here, so if that is the case I apologize in advance. I think many folks here would like to have an "Official" company spokesperson pop on every once in awhile and speak with us or do an article kind of thing.

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Breitling are highly unlikely to agree to anything like that. Marie Bodman did an interview on WUS or TZ (don't recall which) years and years ago, but only a handful of questions which I am sure were approved ahead of time. No one from Breitling is going to come here (or anywhere else) to defend design / marketing / etc decisions.

Well, I'll tell ya one thing.... After peoples reactions to Breitlings new piece! I wouldn't be such a bad idea

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Past: BlackBird, Navi World, SA, Rolex DJII, IWC Yacht Club
Present: CE, DSSD
Future: Changes daily

Roff, coincidental you should mention WUS - I was on the Breitling forum this AM and it appears they haven't even heard of this as there are no threads at all.

I must agree it is naive to think Breitling would change a decision based upon the views of the majority of this site. They don't consult us before a "new model" is finalized now do they?

Institutions have a pysche just as do individuals. And the institutional desire to be "right" is typically stronger than the individual because decisions are the result of a collaborative effort with dissenting opinion.

There are 2 probable reactions from Breitling - (1) "There those BS bastards go again. What a bunch of dinosaurs," or (2) "we really don't care - they aren't our market for this piece and we've already debated and dismissed the cheapening of the brand. It isn't going to happen."

My own personal opinion (and that's all it is) as stated before is these pieces in fact are garish enough to hurt brand image. But last time I checked I wasn't drawing a paycheck for BUSA or Breitling SA, so my opinion won't change anything - EXCEPT my own watch buying decisions.

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SHARKMAN

I agree completely Tom.

Breitling seems proud of the fact that they don't do market research - they have publicly stated in the past that they expect their market to follow them as they move in new directions.

It's arrogant in my eyes, but clearly those eyes and opinions are of no concern to Breitling. Ultimately they are paid to be experts in their industry while we are merely interested amateurs. Whether Breitling is getting value for their investment is a matter of debate, but we don't know the goals that they are seeking, and as Breitling is a private company we never will.

It’s a matter of degree. I consider myself pretty liberal when it comes to design changes. I like a rubber bezel option and owned a Skyracer Raven. I blew off the acrimony over the Superocean II with the colored rehaut and rubber bezel insert. Heck, I got and still enjoy the brightest one – the yellow abyss.


“A little...dye.” Really? That is not what I see when I look at these models. I see clownish gimmicks. And that is troubling for a brand as consistent as Breitling. Rolex and Omega aren’t doing anything so nutty. But Zenith did and it was a disaster for brand image and sales. They invested heavily in the Defy range and ended up offering to buy back all AD’s Defy stock, which is likely the only reason many ADs kept the brand. It almost put Zenith out of business and would have had they not been a part of the Louis Vuitton mega-conglomeration.

Breitling’s 2009 sales (and production) figures were down, but so were the sales of all the top brands. Models so far beyond the purview of the brand and basic common sense, smack of decisions made out of desperation. (the only other option is lunacy). Do I want to apportion my watch buying dollars to a company that is showing signs of desperation or lunacy?


That’s the biggest factor for me.


EDIT - and yes I know I can kiss Reno Good-Bye!!!!

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SHARKMAN

.. Sharkman I am with you all the way (and I am in Maketing)

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

Stick a couple of dozen 'diamonds' on the red plastic and a few of our chums will notice ...

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

Trust Roff,

I have contact of a contact at BUK.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"