importr

Why is it that you can make any watch look mouthwateringly edible?!! As usual, fantastic pics BT. You're right, it is most definately a dressy watch....and probably an occasional dress watch for those that would normally wear sporty watches all the time. The choice of a single uniform dial colour gives it a more restrained look... I suppose contrasting subs would clash terribly with the Romans. It is undeniably, a very well made rep. The attention to detail and finish has been very high. The makers knew they had to get this one right. A non-WIS could mistake this for gen. A gen Rolex owner at work thought mine was! Tiny insignificant flaws that you mentioned are a non-issue if you already like the B01. BT, I get the sense that you're still waiting for it to grow on you. You're not raving about it like the Skyland etc. I was like that too. After all the anticipation of waiting for it, and it finally arriving, I knew straight away that it would take a bit of time. I wore it continuously for 2 weeks on different strap combos and i did like it. These days though, I've been wearing less conspicuous watches. Maybe I need to dress up more! lol Anyway, thanks for your efforts and insight again!

uh damn. I knew it seemed too easy! Thanks for saving me the time & the money anyway...I'll have to find a suitable donor for this Ling movement now cheers

I thought that the v1 & v3 had the same longer pushers than gen. Also the half guilloche on the sub-dials wasn't as well defined as on the v2. The chrome ring on the sub dials isn't as well executed on the v1 (& poss v3) as it is on v2: sometimes slightly eccentric, rather than concentric. V2 is definately the one to buy. btw, I once had 2 v1's and 1 v2, plus a spare v3 dial now.

I remember that watch BT, I remember how you lovingly photographed it too. My Fighters reps (1 black & 1 white) were the next revision, with solid subdials If we ignored the fact that it was a Serie Speciale, it'd be a very good rep of an Old Navitimer. What was the logic to produce a Fighter with glaring errors? if Mister MBW or Mister WM9 could rework the Navitimer, they'd have a whole new market! as for the subdial stickers LOL I guess that Factory didn't have the tooling to re-create the dished guilloche effect back then. Obviously things moved on, as the 2008 Super Avenger arabic dial is almost indistinguishable from the gen.

I'm wondering if the old version is still available, or if it's only this newer one, which has the silly 2-piece dial & sunken date: http://www.ok-replica.com/breitling-navitimer-chronograph-swiss-valjoux-7750-automatic-movement-white-dial-with-black-subdials-and-stick-markers-p-5369.html http://www.ok-replica.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image_additional&pID=5369&pic=7&products_image_large_additional=images/Breitling/2009060221_08.jpg but it does have a better bezel and slightly thicker lugs than standard Navi rep. This is a new case. http://www.ok-replica.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image_additional&pID=5369&pic=4&products_image_large_additional=images/Breitling/2009060221_05.jpg So I'm thinking of building a tribute to my old genuine Fighters, and hopefully using a combination of old & new Fighter rep, WHITE dial. Maybe PolexPete already tried this project? I've got a genuine Breitling calibre 13 on its way, with correct DW and signed rotor. Though it could go to another watch if the Fighter isn't available. I may try to buy a domed crystal - mineral or acrylic. If mineral, i'll get it AR'd. I will file the case horns to the correct angle, and strip the donor parts and brush them all. I might even tint the hands, as the gen white dial Fighter has darker (large) hands. So if anyone has bought one recently, please tell me who supplied it! Pics would be good too. Thanks

more visible than the apparent steel grade - is that the Ultimate (316F) has removeable rider tabs like the gen. This tab issue was highlighted before the release of the 316L version, but for some "unknown" reason , the Makers did not act on it.

LOL! Now why didnt you say something! I took it off sale because it was too nice to let go. A bit like that Skyland - but obviously I gave in with that one. Hey if you want to swap Romans for Batons for a period, let me know. haha BTW.....do you really need brighter steel on that?!!! @HackR: yeah i had to tone down the bling on mine, maybe a gen calf or croc would've looked better...i'll experiment with it sometime. I think the blingy bracelet suits the Roman dial better....since its dressier already? I still haven't forced myself to love the bezel, but i do like the other details. The BCE is still my favourite Chronomat - traditional and sturdy looking. Attributes that don't come across with the B01. As for the sunken date...as seen already, the DW can be raised. IMO, this would take the B01 to quite a high level of rep Breitling awesomeness!

Good on ya, BT - i don't think you'll be disappointed, as long as you like the bling (yes the 'Racer is about 2 weeks old - i got it to use as a reliable, waterproof daily beater - and it's been great. Sporty looking but with the right amount of polished highlights) Back to the B01 rep: I now think that the single colour dial is more subtle (and classier) than the Onyx Black with silver subs. See mine below...

I rememebr that project: Awesome and very convincing. You still got it?

Hmmm that Roman dial is lookin very classy ....and on the Aquaracer theme...I'm lovin my gen

Apart from Fighters and 50th Anniv

I think the Blackbird (brushed) is the only way to go. Get a decent one thats been QC'd. Decent pearl, date numbers that match up. Oil up the bracelet. My only critique of the BB as rep is that the QC is/was nowhere near as good as the BCE. A good watchsmith can service the movement for you. You've got your Aeromarine Skyland, rep Navi's aren't good enough (what about a Legende or Datora?), you had a BCE but sold it (don't go back)...whats left? Professional? Well that ain't gonna work in rep-world. So...back to the Blackbird. I sold mine last year as i had too many Lings, but recently I think I need to get another, and get it modded. AR'd and lumed!

that looks like gen to me. I took a pic of my SA dials (gen & rep) and the rep looks awful from behind. plus, i've never seen a rep dial with codes stamped on the back. the seller indicates that the batons are 2 piece, not one like the rep....which to me sounds like he is telling rep collectors that this is indeed genuine.

In addition: gen blue dial has a metallic starburst effect, which the rep doesnt date font is wrong rep needs better AR other than that, its still a fine rep.

Hey thats good enough, thanks mate! I used Babelfish but it came up with something vague. cheers

Guten tag! Please could a german speaker translate this delivery advice for me? Got a watch coming from DE. I understand that the page will be updated as the Tracking number is processed? Versand Versandart - DHL Paket International Versandt am - Ware noch nicht versandt Tracking ID Versandhinweise Vielen danke!

quote> i really love the a23322, but i can't live with the sunken dw... i have a eta7753 which would eliminate this issue, however the radius of the dw is larger then the radius of the 7750 dw. as a matter of fact the dial/date window of the rep fits a 7750 and the problem with installing a eta 7753 would be, that the dw would'nt be correctly visible... any suggstions? < Fit a gen Navi dial, and shave off 0.5 mm from the radius (making it 1mm smaller in diameter). This will fit into the rep case. However, the rep a7750 tricompax is thicker than the normal 7750 and most probably thicker than the ETA 7753, making the dial sit lower - that is if you bought the tricompax rep case. I only know this because i put a 3-6-9 dial & movt into a rep tricompax case - and the dial sat nearly 1mm lower than it should've done. Maybe a Fighters case would make the dial sit in the correct position, and then use the cal.23 caseback. Anyhow, you'd still need the correct Breitling DW font for 7753....which is gonna be difficult. And another thing! For some mysterious reason Breitling omitted a concealed pusher for quick setting the date...something that always bothered me. Obviously, you'd lose the quick set date function by using an ETA 7753. quote> @Importr: Fighters is my absolute fav. in the Navi line. Brushed case & bracelet makes it so much nicer. Awesome watch... I wish they'd rep it properly. < Yes a beautiful watch in its own right...but the 3-6-9 configuration was becoming a bit tiresome in my chrono collection! Hence the switch to tricompax. As for repping the Fighters properly: it's not rocket science to get it right, but then I doubt that they have access to the Genuine! I wish I could find a gen panda dial Fighters - now that is my other grail Navi!

Blackeye Blue is the best colour combo IMO. I just can't understand why they didn't rep it???

As much as I loved my brushed (proper version) rep Blackbird, I had to get rid as the finish wasn't as good as the v3 BCE. Otherwise, a fantastic watch and I'd certainly buy the gen Blackbird if I had the funds. I wouldn't buy a gen BCE though.

Had a gen Fighters and a A23322 previously, but for me, this 50th Anniv. is the favourite

Agree with FM... Though I think the large size won't be the unfashionable factor, it'll be the design. BT, all of the initial pics you posted are horrible by todays standards, but 10-15 yrs ago they would've been what every yuppie wanted. PAMs and Rolex's will probably remain safe, but I think the Omega's, TAGs and Breitlings etc (which quite frankly, appeal to the younger buyer) will be as ugly as those in the pics posted. I'll probably sell my watches as & when they become outdated or superseded by a certain length of time. I wouldn't keep a watch (that I bought) just for sentiment and never intend to wear it again. Currently, I'm bored of my big chrono's and have reverted back to my smaller 40mm (give or take 2mm) watches with less complications. If the truth were to be told, I am already bored with a lot of my watches!! ...but that is nothing to do with the styling....

Come to think of it, the first 253 i had was scratched glass - but why is that i read elsewhere that mineral is more resistant to scratches? Yes i have seen the GB - a good idea - especially to have a spare on standby at least. When we replaced the crystal on the first 253 we had to source an acrylic one. It was a perfect fit, but obviously not AR'd or scratach resistant. Cheap enough though

So it's probably something else then! lol But anyway - is it really going to make a difference to the look or function of the watch, whether it is sapphire or not? As it is, i think the glass and AR are fine. Its the dial which needs work, but I'm not that anal about it, as no one else will ever know - apart from gen owners and AD's - which i'll probably never encounter whilst wearing it.

Good point indeed. I know that on my "v1" 253, the AR'd glass was "glass" - as it shattered into a dozen shards (while under new ownership). The dealer does indeed claim my latest version 253 to be double AR sapphire - maybe I'm too naive for believing that! I'll have to do the water drop test, after I get it back from servicing for a dodgy chrono reset. I thought I'd read somewhere that on mineral glass, AR appears greeny? Just that on mine, the AR seems almost perfect - in subtle purply tones and excellent light transmission.

I think i have the v4, with sapphire and ETA rotor bearing, and hi-beat motor. It still has an incorrect dial though, and that is the hobnail texture stop about 1.5mm from the Tachy ring, whereas on the gen the hobnail goes all the way to the Ring. Plus, the lume indexes on the rep are still too thin. Not that 1mm is anything to get upset about, but if we really want to split hairs........! hXXp://www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk/PAM253_S13321.htm