Rolex vs Breitling

[Ferdelious]

I was at a neighborhood get together last night and one of the guys there noticed my Rolex. He's not a watch guy at all but we started talking about it and were overheard by one of the ladies. Then she comes out and says Breitling are the best watches made. I quickly said no way. She used to work for a jewelry store and sold them. She said yes they are, they win awards. Then she asked what's a better watch? My reply was Patek Philippe, I didn't want to start a Rolex argument just yet. Her husband chimed in and says well that's a different level. Then I said Rolex. And her reply was Rolex is just a name, they lose time, Breitling is better at keeping time. The argument was pretty friendly but started to heat up and she was not backing off at all. My impression was that she is not educated at all on the subject and is acting like a bad salesperson. I'll admit I don't know enough about either brand's movement to keep it going so I stopped and moved on.

I have always been a Rolex fan and believed them to be a better watch. I know this question will get Rolex biase on this forum but in your opinions who makes a better watch? I would especially like to hear from the experts with knowledge of both brands movements.

[bp1000]

Nobody does sports watches better than Rolex. It's very well rounded, well balanced quality timepiece.

Her husband was right Patek is a dress watch and nobody does dress watches better.

If time keeping was the measure of "best, better" then I'm sure a Quartz based watch like a citizen Eco drive would have pipped it.

[travisb]

She worked at a jewelery store and sold Breitling watches. I would guess that she was trained to believe that Breitling is the best. If she sold Rolex watches, she would say Rolex is the best.

[Ace_Rimmer]

Originally Posted by travisb

She worked at a jewelery store and sold Breitling watches. I would guess that she was trained to believe that Breitling is the best. If she sold Rolex watches, she would say Rolex is the best.

I personally think Rolex is the better watch hands down because of the heritage and reputation that it has earned. It is iconic and rightfully so. Breitling has history as well, but I don't like how gaudy some of their watches are. Both are very good watches, but I believe they are meant for people with different tastes. This is my take on the subject, but I have only been a watch fan for a few years. I don't own either of the brands(except for my Tudor Pelagos), but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I want a SD4 as my grail next year.

[HRC-E.B.]

Originally Posted by bp1000

Nobody does sports watches better than Rolex. It's very well rounded, well balanced quality timepiece.

Her husband was right Patek is a dress watch and nobody does dress watches better.

If time keeping was the measure of "best, better" then I'm sure a Quartz based watch like a citizen Eco drive would have pipped it.

Oh dear Lord!

Drinking the Kool-Aid much? Not saying either brand is bad, by any means; they both offer very compelling products at their respective levels.

But plenty of brands do watches just as well, and sometimes even better. To blindly repeat such statements is nothing more than helping to perpetuate an enduring myth.

[cmr]

Originally Posted by Ferdelious

I was at a neighborhood get together last night and one of the guys there noticed my Rolex. He's not a watch guy at all but we started talking about it and were overheard by one of the ladies. Then she comes out and says Breitling are the best watches made. I quickly said no way. She used to work for a jewelry store and sold them. She said yes they are, they win awards. Then she asked what's a better watch? My reply was Patek Philippe, I didn't want to start a Rolex argument just yet. Her husband chimed in and says well that's a different level. Then I said Rolex. And her reply was Rolex is just a name, they lose time, Breitling is better at keeping time. The argument was pretty friendly but started to heat up and she was not backing off at all. My impression was that she is not educated at all on the subject and is acting like a bad salesperson. I'll admit I don't know enough about either brand's movement to keep it going so I stopped and moved on.

I have always been a Rolex fan and believed them to be a better watch. I know this question will get Rolex biase on this forum but in your opinions who makes a better watch? I would especially like to hear from the experts with knowledge of both brands movements.

well......... i don't own any expensive watches other than rolex but the fact is a breitling aerospace superquartz keeps time better than anything you mentioned, better than anything i can think of off the top of my head........ with that said rolex is far from being "just a name".

this saying exists for a reason.....

" you buy a timex when you have to be on time, you buy a rolex when you don't care what time it is."

[Reu]

Lack of education and understanding, that's all.

The fact that you say she used to work in a jewellers is quite typical in the sense that most you would speak to wouldn't know the first thing about what goes on inside a watch and what it's made up of.

I always tend to think that when anyone posts about Rolex versus another brand on this forum they immediately get shot down for no good reason, but I do think here that comparing most Breitlings to the Rolex range is a very far off call.

I personally think there are many other great manufacturers out there making just as good watches as Rolex. Breitling just isn't one of them.

[Sportwatchmania]

You should show her my instagram post from yesterday that you can find in this topic. That should back her off don't know if Breitling can beat that

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=394765

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Reu

Lack of education and understanding, that's all.

The fact that you say she used to work in a jewellers is quite typical in the sense that most you would speak to wouldn't know the first thing about what goes on inside a watch and what it's made up of.

I always tend to think that when anyone posts about Rolex versus another brand on this forum they immediately get shot down for no good reason, but I do think here that comparing most Breitlings to the Rolex range is a very far off call.

I personally think there are many other great manufacturers out there making just as good watches as Rolex. Breitling just isn't one of them.

Love breitling.

But think ur post is exceptionally well put.

[Reu]

Originally Posted by superdog

Love breitling.



But think ur post is exceptionally well put.

Thanks, Seth.

Hope you're having a great time with the Mrs in Anguilla.

[landroverking]

I have never had any luck with Breitling.

[Mystro]

Maybe Breitling is the best watch for him. If I was a flyboy I would own a Breitling. He certainly is entitled in his own opinion. I wouldn't want to even suggest what watch brand might be better because there are too many variables like robustness, designed to be used, etc... The idea that a conversation like that would be brought up at a party is kinda,well..........
Those silly kind of pissing matches are best left in grade school on the playground and apparently watch forums.

[grrr]

Who in the world would want to have a Breitling over a Rolex?

[Steel28]

Originally Posted by grrr

Who in the world would want to have a Breitling over a Rolex?

I'm sure there are some

[engin33r]

Rolex, Breitling... they're both second to Omega...

[threeputt]

I have both a Rolex Sub and a Breitling Navitimer 01. Happy with both watches, would not engage in any chat that would state one is better than the other.

[Mystro]

Now there is a smart man

Originally Posted by threeputt

I have both a Rolex Sub and a Breitling Navitimer 01. Happy with both watches, would not engage in any chat that would state one is better than the other.

[fmc000]

I love Breitling, had two of them and they were fantastic watches, perfectly made and astonishing in details. My B-1 was incredibly accurate at 2.4 second per year fast. That said, I sold them both to fund a Daytona. Which is just a better watch IMHO.

[BoyhoodDreamDaytona]

Originally Posted by fmc000

I love Breitling, had two of them and they were fantastic watches, perfectly made and astonishing in details. My B-1 was incredibly accurate at 2.4 second per year fast. That said, I sold them both to fund a Daytona. Which is just a better watch IMHO.

I did exactly the same. Sold my B-1 to help fund a Daytona.

The B-1 was excellent at keeping the time but it was quartz so it can't be compared to the Daytona.

The think that Breitling do wrong is they allow for heavy discounts. Rolex try to police this and do a better job - hence they are able to ensure that Rolex hold better value.

which ones better I do not know but personally I am led to believe it's Rolex..... clever marketing or fact...?

I'm happy I don't need to buy batteries now; they are expensive!

[RLROCK]

Each watch varies slightly, with COSC certification at -4/+6 seconds per day.

That being said, my new Rolex watches aren't picky as to how I lay them down at night, and are within COSC parameters. My new Breitling Avenger II GMT (COSC certified) is very picky, and will lose or gain time overnight depending on how it sits and is sometimes outside the COSC parameters.

Just an interesting observation here.

[Choo Yao Chuen]

Originally Posted by RLROCK

Each watch varies slightly, with COSC certification at -4/+6 seconds per day.

That being said, my new Rolex watches aren't picky as to how I lay them down at night, and are within COSC parameters. My new Breitling Avenger II GMT (COSC certified) is very picky, and will lose or gain time overnight depending on how it sits and is sometimes outside the COSC parameters.

Just an interesting observation here.

Your observation is spot on with regards to Rolex movements. They call it precision accuracy

[Racerdj]

I owned Breitling on my journey and their in house moment was an excellent time keeper. If a discussion like yours was started near me, I would exit as fast as I could. It's just not worth arguing about. You can't reason with an unreasonable person.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Racerdj

I owned Breitling on my journey and their in house moment was an excellent time keeper. If a discussion like yours was started near me, I would exit as fast as I could. It's just not worth arguing about. You can't reason with an unreasonable person.

Same here, like the brand, they make very good watches and can be bought at exceptional discounts making them great value, but overall I prefer Rolex, and at the PM level, even over AP and PP.

[breitlings]

I understand why the saleswoman said that. If you don't take into account the rolex movement and the extensive 1 year Quality Engineering that goes into each piece.

In terms of the cases crystals bracelets breitling IS at another level. They just worked on that stuff. Curved Crystals are fairly rare on Rolex, I think only the DD has it now, but I am sure they will come to all the rolex watches at some point -- Breitling already has it.

The bracelets are so much better its a non comparison. They just don't really stretch you can get 7 links on one. Though Rolex has narrowed the gap and I'd understand a comfort preference to presidential or jubilee bracelets.

The movements and testing set the Rolex apart. A Breitling needs more service than a Rolex. It just will, the movement's aren't as good and they will require more service. If you don't subscribe to the movements or QE being better, the Breitling is a better watch dollar for dollar. However, I do appreciate QE and movements and Rolex is way ahead in that.

They haven't tested each watch for a year before they sell them and you'll see stories pop up of new breitlings that have real issues like the B50 cockpit. Rolex I would imagine would catch that before they left the factory.


So I just wanted to update this post with a review of the Bentley Line: http://thehourologyreport.com/2011/0...g-for-bentley/

Breitling makes a lot of big bad-ass watches that are put together and finished like a sunseeker.

[omx5o]

"Rolex is just a name". That's priceless.

[RHIII]

To each their own...I have owned several Breitling watches over the years...had no issues with them and liked them for what they were, but they never really did much for me personally.

Conversationally...well...we all know that there are Rolex lovers out there and Rolex haters...some may not even know why they take a particular stance yet they do. I really don't even (well...I try not to) entertain those types of conversations as there is no real 'end state'. When someone wants to make a point...it is better to just let them make it and move on.

My opinion on keeping good time (when I hear that comment) is, well...anything mechanical is subject to variations. Mechanical watches are mechanical watches...they all need service over time...

[rollerball]

If you are looking out for a Chronograph, Breitling is one better brand to go to. Although I am a die hard fan of Rolex, I find that Rolex's offering of chronograph is a little bit pathetic.

[Jim Smyth]

I have owned a few Breitling's and a lot more Rolex's. They can both be made to operate at near zero error time wise. With that being said Rolex has a better water resistance rating and holds its value much better. Both are nice watches that serve different purposes.

[brooklyndodger]

11 Years ago when I was in the market for a high end watch I considered a Rolex, but didn't want to get the "obvious" choice for a watch so I bought a Breitling Montbrillant. I love that watch and it never let me down all these years, but I always wanted to own a Rolex. It is the Mercedes Benz of watches. It may not be the best, but it is the watch that all others are judged by. I think any serious watch collector would have at least one Rolex and Breitling in their collection. Comparing the two is pointless.

[GolfPunk]

I own Rolex, Breitling & Tag Heuer.

Rolex is much better than the Breitling (which is still a great watch) and the Breitling is much better than the Tag Heuer (which is still a very good watch).

These 3 are on 3 different levels with Rolex being the best.

Levels above Breitling include of course Patek Philippe etc.

The woman who stated Breitling is best probably fully believes it, however.....she is wrong!!!