New Breitling Top Times and Premiers - some thoughts

So Breitling just released a bunch of updates to existing lines.

The previous 'capsule' collection toptimes got an update and made 'core collection'.

The existing very limited Premier Chronograph line got "expanded" with some new colours but also some interesting updates/changes.

I think these releases are interesting - Kern has always said they pay more attention to people that actually buy watches than people that talk about buying watches. In that light the changes in the top times and premiers are fascinating about what it says about actual buyers and the market:

1. all inhouse

2. all 100m wr instead of 30/50

3. all auto (previous premiers were MW)

4. all a little wider (40 to 41/42)

5. all thin (toptimes over a 1mm thinner) and auto premiers less than 0.5mm thicker than manual winds, really need to get to daytona money to be thinner

6. all toptimes have more 'lux' dials - applied logos/indicies/more texture in place of printing/flat featureless of outgoing models.

7. the premiers got a date

Whats equally interesting is what's gone. All three hander/day date premiers gone, a few more 7750 powered (and module based chronos) variants gone.

Personally I'm a fan of both the watches and the direction of the brand.  

Given Kern has announced an inhouse 3 hander movement for 2024 my guess is that we'll continue to see the 'outlier' three handers (like the super avis) slowly die out. We'll also we the cheaper 7750 models continue to get winnowed out. At this rate in 2025 Breitling will be 100% inhouse and prices will be omega/rolex like.

Reply
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Great watches but the dials are number salads

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OldSnafu

Great watches but the dials are number salads

I love that about them: when it comes to watches - numbers? always good want more - words? always bad want less.

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I always liked the look of Breitling watches but for me, and my wrist, they seemed a bit oversized. So any options with smaller, slimmer cases will increase my curiousity.

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Its a watch worth having thats why taking my time to buy one.

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Good direction on the Top Times. The different movements they had been using model to model was confusing. The Premier collection is great but I prefer the manual wind no date 40mm versions from a couple years ago to the 42s.