Maiden Voyage: Breitling Top Time B01
Taking you with me on this Watch weekend adventure. The day started with my usual cappuccino and croissant with a side of watch reviews being read on my phone.
There were a few contenders, the IWC Moonphase, the Longines Master Collection Moonphase (thanks @lla2891 😊) and the Breitling Top Times.
With 15minutes to the boutiques opening, I took a slow stroll from the Old Town to the main shopping street. Stopping to take the mandatory wrist shot.
I slowed 🐌 down some more to not seem overly excited about seeing watches (new for me as I have concentrated too much on Rolex and Cartier). The Breitling boutique was welcoming and already with clients as I walked in. I had made an appointment the night before and they had a selection of my requested watches ready for viewing.
They asked the usual drink preference and it being my first time here had forgone the glass of bubbly and opted for an espresso.
The kind SA happily prepared everything and sat me in a private area.
The Top Times came with a normal leather strap with a nice bubble design close to the lugs. Due to my Itsy Bitsy teeny tiny wrists, the SA kindly prepared these straps for my visit, so I could really try the watches on properly. (another check mark on the list to get Alex to buy a watch list 😅)
Why the Top Time B01?
I have a penchant for Formula 1 and anytime you give me an excuse to "celebrate " racing or racing car, you basically have me hooked. Who says no to a shiny red Corvette or a racing green Mustang? Certainly not me, and the way they incorporated the cars aesthetics in a watch had me very interested to see and try these in person.
I first tried the Mustang B01, as it is what drew me into the collection. With the strap changed into a nice brown alligator strap, it was a sight to behold.
Next up was the Corvette B01, with its shiny red dial and black dials, it blew me away. Don't get me wrong, the Mustang is gorgeous! But somehow the impact of the Corvette when worn (with the black alligator strap with contrast stitching) was dramatic in a good way. And you know I am down for a good dramatic watch impression 😄.
Couple with this, the B01 is an in-house Breitling made (as I have learned) calibre and is shown off in a nice transparent case back. It seems like we had a good thing going here today.
Do ignore how the lugs fall on my tiny wrists (I may get comments again for this 😄) but it honestly doesn't look that bad and after the GMT and Pan, this is something I can handle too😆 With 45mins in the shop, and the lovely SA being patient with my "green or red? green or red?" queries, the decision was made. It has to be said, that the SAs genuine want to help and make me feel as comfortable and not stressed about getting the watch, helped the decision making process. With most of the important details done and dusted, we will be welcoming 2024's watch addition pretty soon😉
Here's some more watches I looked at for Mr.Alex - hope you enjoyed this little adventure!
A simple watch lover, with a passion to learn more, enjoy and appreciate different complications. And where the watch I wear reflects my mood 😉
Good start of the day apparently!… 👍🏻 not too fond of big sporty, in your face, watches, but you have your good reasons and yes, it wears a bit big, and that’s how it’s supposed to. The green is a little understated. The red one is breathtaking. Looks much cleaner than the green!
Good start of the day apparently!… 👍🏻 not too fond of big sporty, in your face, watches, but you have your good reasons and yes, it wears a bit big, and that’s how it’s supposed to. The green is a little understated. The red one is breathtaking. Looks much cleaner than the green!
It was 😄 fully agree, we all have our tastes and I do like a clean, good sized watch, but I seem to like this one a lot 😄
It's like an oversized jacket, it's just the way it is as you say and happy you agree the red is amazing 😊
Congrats. Both look fantastic on and off wrist. The vette for the win imo!
Thank you for sharing, beautiful watches. Great start for the year. Mine will come in May, when I have earned it. I'm dying from the anticipation.
Congrats. Both look fantastic on and off wrist. The vette for the win imo!
Thanks Rich! I agree, it's the Corvette 😄
Thank you for sharing, beautiful watches. Great start for the year. Mine will come in May, when I have earned it. I'm dying from the anticipation.
Congratulations then!🎊 I know the feeling. And when it's here, you kinda don't want the nice feeling to end 😄
So…. Its time to get the car to coordinate with the watch!
So…. Its time to get the car to coordinate with the watch!
I guess I have to get working to save on that 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I guess I have to get working to save on that 🤣🤣🤣🤣
https://www.paulytoyota.com/inventory/used-1986-chevrolet-corvette-base-rwd-2d-convertible-1g1yy678xg5903501/
This is a more economical option I suppose! This is actually down the street from me. I can hang onto it until you are ready to pick it up. 😁
Hi Alex, just killing time before the Mrs finally wakes up for our Sunday morning coffees, we celebrated Lunar New Year last night with family members at a Turkish restaurant that was slammed, guess she remains exhausted. The younger members wanted something different from a classic Middle Kingdom dinner served French style on pressed table cloths this year. Appropriately your post talks about watches for you that are outside of your favourites which I can admire. My wife and 2 young adult daughters are long time apologists for oversized Breitling chronographs, might have something to do with the fact that except for our younger daughter who is taking a break with her first baby girl, the ladies in my life work in male dominated finance professions. Younger daughter was a country manager for HELLO BELLO before she was worn out by an ambitious start up that over reached did not understand that the planet is still populated with families that count their dollars carefully. A lot of folks on the Crunch will comment about the size of the Breitlings making predictable remarks that comes off not relevant. I love Breitling watches, my 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 Bigblock Chevy has been completely restored now owned by my nephews who will inventually pass the car along to my grand nephews. Never lucky enough to own a 64 Mustang or a glorious Corvette but was an illegal street racing idiot before I met my wife who affected a few necessary changes in my routines. If you ever travel to Toronto, you might enjoy meeting the young woman who manages the Toronto Breitling boutique who sports a 43mm Navitimer fitted with a shiny pilot style bracelet, she is not a big woman but the watch is a very classy look. My older daughter is a big strong young woman wears my old Blue dial Chronomat which was restored to factory new appearance, I gifted the watch to her just before covid-19 struck, she was following a personal dream to fly to Kenya for a safari. I instructed Breitling service to buff the watch lightly not a fan of scratches but mostly believe my daughter needs to put her own scratches on her watch.
Appreciate your occasional posts and thanks for reading, hear the Mrs coming down the stairs, time for a few strong espressos! ❤️
Hi Alex, just killing time before the Mrs finally wakes up for our Sunday morning coffees, we celebrated Lunar New Year last night with family members at a Turkish restaurant that was slammed, guess she remains exhausted. The younger members wanted something different from a classic Middle Kingdom dinner served French style on pressed table cloths this year. Appropriately your post talks about watches for you that are outside of your favourites which I can admire. My wife and 2 young adult daughters are long time apologists for oversized Breitling chronographs, might have something to do with the fact that except for our younger daughter who is taking a break with her first baby girl, the ladies in my life work in male dominated finance professions. Younger daughter was a country manager for HELLO BELLO before she was worn out by an ambitious start up that over reached did not understand that the planet is still populated with families that count their dollars carefully. A lot of folks on the Crunch will comment about the size of the Breitlings making predictable remarks that comes off not relevant. I love Breitling watches, my 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 Bigblock Chevy has been completely restored now owned by my nephews who will inventually pass the car along to my grand nephews. Never lucky enough to own a 64 Mustang or a glorious Corvette but was an illegal street racing idiot before I met my wife who affected a few necessary changes in my routines. If you ever travel to Toronto, you might enjoy meeting the young woman who manages the Toronto Breitling boutique who sports a 43mm Navitimer fitted with a shiny pilot style bracelet, she is not a big woman but the watch is a very classy look. My older daughter is a big strong young woman wears my old Blue dial Chronomat which was restored to factory new appearance, I gifted the watch to her just before covid-19 struck, she was following a personal dream to fly to Kenya for a safari. I instructed Breitling service to buff the watch lightly not a fan of scratches but mostly believe my daughter needs to put her own scratches on her watch.
Appreciate your occasional posts and thanks for reading, hear the Mrs coming down the stairs, time for a few strong espressos! ❤️
Thanks for sharing Jerry! Always nice to hear someone's stories. 💙
And thanks for the idea, I will copy buffing my watch when the time comes to pass them down to my kids. But I'll maybe leave one scratch there. So they know their Mom is always with them 😄
I work in IT-Finance and at some points I do wear my big watches for certain days. I still like wearing smaller, simpler watches the weekends, and it is nice to know there are people who understand why I (and others too) find it appropriate and even fun wearing watches such as this Breitling.
Wishing you and your family a nice Sunday! Enjoy the espressos 😉
Thanks for sharing Jerry! Always nice to hear someone's stories. 💙
And thanks for the idea, I will copy buffing my watch when the time comes to pass them down to my kids. But I'll maybe leave one scratch there. So they know their Mom is always with them 😄
I work in IT-Finance and at some points I do wear my big watches for certain days. I still like wearing smaller, simpler watches the weekends, and it is nice to know there are people who understand why I (and others too) find it appropriate and even fun wearing watches such as this Breitling.
Wishing you and your family a nice Sunday! Enjoy the espressos 😉
Always a pleasure to read your relationship
with watches. My wife studied fashion design but somehow was pushed into finance mostly by her dad and older siblings!
Do your children need 1 perfect scratch to know mom will never leave them? 😉
Wow. First let me say how much I appreciate everything that you shared with us on this post. I appreciate you taking us through the process of how you evaluate your next purchase. The watches you are considering are new to me but as usual it’s opening a door for me. Your posts are always thoughtful and informative and interesting. Thanks again.
I'm not really fan of Breitling busy dials, but I am positive that it would look fantastic on your wrist.
Wow. First let me say how much I appreciate everything that you shared with us on this post. I appreciate you taking us through the process of how you evaluate your next purchase. The watches you are considering are new to me but as usual it’s opening a door for me. Your posts are always thoughtful and informative and interesting. Thanks again.
It's these comments that make making these posts well worth it, thanks Fred! 🥂
Hoping to be able to bring you more adventures in 2024 😁
I'm not really fan of Breitling busy dials, but I am positive that it would look fantastic on your wrist.
I'll take that 😊, thanks Roberto!
I really like that Panerai on you. It’s really a power statement on that red strap
Love the Breitling Top Times!
So many cool racing chronographs out there.
I've picked up a few for the collection...
If you want the watch and are not bothered by the standard movement in the old versions, then you can get a significantly better deal pricewise than the more recent releases where the prices were jacked up substantially.
I highly recommend it! It is for days when you feel like a wrist companion is much needed 😁😁😁
Love the Breitling Top Times!
So many cool racing chronographs out there.
I've picked up a few for the collection...
If you want the watch and are not bothered by the standard movement in the old versions, then you can get a significantly better deal pricewise than the more recent releases where the prices were jacked up substantially.
I've already made the plunge on the newer version🙈 and I'm a sucker for the transparent case back 😄
I love all your photos!
The Deus is my 2nd love after the Corvette😁😁😁
I've already made the plunge on the newer version🙈 and I'm a sucker for the transparent case back 😄
I love all your photos!
The Deus is my 2nd love after the Corvette😁😁😁
I think Breitling has really been nailing it lately. I am super excited about what they might do with Universal Geneve.
I recently picked up the reissue of the Super Chronomat with the UTC on the bracelet...so very cool...
I love that chronos 🔥