Thoughts on Breitling using third party movements? Bad value or easy to service solid movement?

In-house, in and of itself, has nothing to do with quality. There are great in-house movements. There are also unreliable in-house movements whose development has been rushed so that the brand can claim to have an in-house movement.

Third party also doesn't necessarily mean parts are easy to source - see ETA cutting off parts supply to independent watchmakers.

Personally, I'd go for something Sellita-based as the designs are bomb-proof, tried and tested. Plus they will supply parts to independent watchmakers. Plus there will be millions of donor movements available for parts in two decades time if you plan on keeping the watch that long.

On the negative I can get these movements in watches at a fraction of the price. I am also looking at Tudor, Longines, and Oris caliber 400, all of which have in-house movements with better specs (mainly longer power reserve). Also I know Longines being in-house a bit debatable.

But you're not looking at these watches, are you? Perhaps it's me, but the "I can get better value from watch brand X" argument never made sense to me. Unless seeking value for money is your thing, no one outside of us watch nerds, is going to know or care whether the watch has an in-house or 3rd party movement.

I think it matters if it matters to you only

I love manufacture / in house movements but a watch not having one is not a disqualifier.

Most brands use "third party" movements in some of their lines, They all do/did it (for the most part; for instance, Rolex used them but I doubt Richard Mille ever used...nevermind 😂).

BTW, Brietling has always used third party movements and also have developed their own.

I chose Omega because of their in-house coaxial anti-magnetic master chronometer calibre. I guess I'm a movement snob, I'd buy a nice watch with an ETA or alternative but wanted the specific features that my Omega has.

Yes, cost £490ish & 3-4 months to have serviced, but you wouldn't expect to service a Rolls-Royce for Ford money.

Had a Yema, with it's in house movement - I put it in par with Vostok - not all in-house calibre's are created equal.....

I do love Omega movements. I do own an Aqua Terra and I am looking for something other than Omega this time around.

I love the Breitling SuperOcean, and they are real lookers on the wrist. I feel like there is some value for money issues with the standard movement.

Tudor METAS would be my next choice 👍

Having a watch with an ETA, Sellita or Miyota movement means that servicing the piece will be cheaper and easier to do. These are are time tested, reliable, tough movements

I think Breitling uses Kinessi movements, which is owned and housed in the same building as Tudor. Saying Tudor is using in house movements is true, but Breitling is using slightly modified versions of those same movements.

I don’t know about other’s experience but the movement on my Tudor is quite accurate and shouldn’t be a problem for servicing.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/a-tour-of-tudors-new-manufacture-in-le-locle

Even if a brand goes third party a quality brand will get a high spec movement many will rework to a lesser or greater extent and get a really well performing movement

I’ve not had a Breitling but they will put plenty off effort into the movement. I’ve had a bunch of sinn watches that have always performed brilliantly

The coax movement omega has is a leap in technology so while the breitling will not be as innovative it will perform equally well and at a cost a fair bit less. And it’s a handsome watch I was very taken by it when I tried one on recently

I did cancel my purchase for a Breitling Datora when I discovered the movement was made for the watch by Concepto which is a very good make but not what I was hoping for in the triple calendar Moonphase Chronograph just felt Breitling should develop their own for some identity. My Navitimer 1461 is powered by a modified ETA movement which works like a charm especially after it was serviced in Switzerland but I wanted something homegrown.

Breitling and Tudor used to have a trade agreement utilizing Tudor movements in non chronographs and Tudor using breitling built chronos. I believe this was before the Kinessi factory. I don’t believe they have the same agreement anymore.