Breitling Cockpit B50 Watches

As a watchmaker, Breitling has changed its direction a few times over the years, trying—and in some cases failing—to keep up with the demands of consumers in an ever-changing environment. One thing has remained true through all of it, however, and that’s the Navitimer, the meat and two veg of the Breitling diet. It’s good, it’s wholesome—and now it’s been changed to something completely different. Has Breitling finally lost it?

Sometimes answers are so obvious it’s barely worth asking the questions. If you want a sporty two-plus-two, for example, that handles like a racer yet will happily sit in a Monday morning queue, you get a 911. Or, if you want a 3-hander that’s both rugged and elegant, you get a DateJust. It’s practically written in the stars, but yet—sometimes what seems to be the right answer isn’t always the best answer. That’s why cars like the McLaren 540C, Aston Martin Vantage and Audi R8 exist, and it’s why the watches you’re about to see exist as well.

If you’ve been watching these videos then there’s a high chance that sooner or later you’re going to buy a watch. Maybe it’ll be your first, and doubtful it will be your last; either way, it’s a decision that requires careful deliberation before jumping into. Easier said than done, however, so let us do some of the hard work for you and leave you to enjoy the rest: and by that I mean here is a list of five more watches that you should avoid.

Ever since Willy Breitling decided to amalgamate his wristwatches with the bane of the 1940s’ schoolroom, the slide rule, there have been questions over the legitimacy of the brand as a watchmaker. Clearly, it’s a company that makes watches, there’s no disputing that—the concern arises more from the credibility of its impact on the wider world of watchmaking. The question is, are those concerns unfounded, or is there some truth to them?