Fantasy Reps that shouldn’t be.

[rionrlty]

When I first started collecting reps, back in the late 90’s, most replicas only bore a passing resemblance to their gen counterparts, and sometimes not even that.  Rolex was a possible exception, but they were very expensive by comparison.  Over the years I’ve watched replicas get better and better, until now many are almost indistinguishable from their gen counterparts.

 

Recently I’ve managed to pick up two replicas, which only came to my attention by chance.  One I found by it being posted for sale on a forum, and the other by happenstance, through correspondence with a fellow member.  They are both Breitlings, and are technically both “fantasy reps”, but in my opinion both could have, and should have, been put into production.

 

The first here is a replica of a Breitling Transocean “Unitime”, with black dial. 

 

  

 

The Unitime was only produced as a limited edition of the Transocean and, as you can see, has an attractive multi-color image of the world depicted on the dial.  It was a world time type of watch with a full chronograph movement to boot.  Only 2,000 pieces were produced in two different dial colors and the number of each watch is deeply engraved on the left side of the watch.

 

 

They were only produced in the larger 46mm version of the Transocean case (too large for me regrettably).  The back cover was closed and displayed the old twin delta insignia spotted on older generation Navitimers.  A special feature was a narrow, circular strip of the dial, which turned via the crown and lined up different world cities with the proper time zone.

 

The replica, pictured here, differs from the gen in three major ways.  First of all, it uses the case of the smaller 44mm Transocean, which predate’s the 46mm.  Secondly, probably to keep costs down, the circular strip on the dial does not rotate, although the dial has grooves, which give the impression that it could.  Thirdly, it has a display case back, which was not available on the gen.  Otherwise the watch is of high quality, especially the dial graphics, which in my opinion are even better than on the gen version of the watch (I’ve have had the opportunity to compare).

 

 

Since the 44mm Transocean case was already available I believe Breitling could easily have produced it in this size.  Also, since I, along with many others, cannot carry off a 46mm watch, I believe they should have.

 

 

The second watch is a rarely seen version of the Navitimer Fighters, Serie Speciale.  This has long been a favorite of mine, and twice in the past I have owned gen examples of this watch.  The gen was only ever made in the 41.5mm “Old Navitimer” case size, which I believe was carried over to the later tri-compax version of the watch.

 

I currently own a franken replica of this watch, pictured here, in  the 41.5mm size. 

 

 

It’s a nice watch, but as we all know this replica is flawed in several ways.  Firstly the lugs are shaped wrong.  They are too narrow, and the beveled outer corners are not beveled enough.  Additionally, the back cover is shaped incorrectly.  It is mostly flat, while the gen has the slightly conical shape of other gen Navitimers.  The fighters graphics engraved there are actually pretty good except for the misspelling of the name of a certain German fighter aircraft, which mostly goes unnoticed anyway.

 

The subject replica pictured below is the only one of its kind I’ve ever seen.  A fellow forum member purchased it and when I saw pictures of it I wanted one.  Upon inquiry with the TD I was told this was the last one available.  A search of other TDs turned up similar results.  Luckily—depending on how you might look at it—I was able to persuade the other member to sell it to me.

 

 

My first impulse, upon receiving it, was extreme disappointment and I planned to sell it on, but then I got to thinking.  By today’s standards the old Navitimer’s size of 41.5mm is a little on the small side.  These days I prefer the 43mm size of the Navi 01.  Now suppose—just suppose—that, when the Navitimer 01 was released, it was also decided to produce a more up-to-date re-issue of the iconic Fighters Serie Speciale, complete with red dial label special engraving on the back.  The Navi 01 size and case would have been the logical choice, along with conical back cover shape of the original fighters.  Perhaps even the old style sub-dials would have been used to differentiate it from the Navi 01.  The last touch would have been to brush everything just like on the original Fighters, case, bezel, pushers and crown, everything except the back cover, which was left polished, just like the old one.  Just like the example you see here in the photos.

 

 

Breitling certainly could have made it, and after the modifications I’ve made, I believe they should have.

I’m actually quite pleased with the way it came out, fantasy rep or not.  If only they had increased the diameter of the engraving on the back cover, to better fit the larger watch.  Still, its not bad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mike on a bike]

Great stuff "M" !

[martijnp]

Very interesting read, thank you for sharing this

[sgtguk]

Loving both of these and I'm not really a Breitling man either     Navitimers always seem so massive to me but at 41.5 I could live with it !    

[Nightwatch]

Great insight and background info on 2 rarely seen reps. Very informative pics too, thanks for sharing, very well done.