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.

[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."

[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.

[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

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!!!

[dennywags]

If some one makes the comment that watch A is better than watch B then they better be wearing watch A.

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by dennywags

If some one makes the comment that watch A is better than watch B then they better be wearing watch A.

I wear A, B & C as mentioned above and this is just my personal opinion. 😉

[Swaggy P]

I love my Breitling Avenger ii Seawolf, and it keeps great time... But that being said, the internals are not completely in-house like Rolex. My assessment:

Super Luxury: Patek, AP, VC

Luxury: Rolex

Semi-Luxury: Breitling, Omega (These guys, imo, are trying to price their way into Rolex territory...)

Entry Luxury: Tag

[VICI]

They are both great watches. The design of a breitling might appeal to her more than that of a Rolex.

One's statement of a watch being 'the best' is based on their own standards.

What one person might value (such as accuracy) others might not (such as design).

Take AP, IWC - they aren't known for their reliability, but appeal to many high end watch collectors.

For that reason

[dennywags]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

I wear A, B & C as mentioned above and this is just my personal opinion. 😉

And your ownership of all three gives your opinion weight.

It's when someone gives their unsolicited opinion yet owns nothing is when I have a problem. Especially in any social situation.

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by dennywags

And your ownership of all three gives your opinion weight.

It's when someone gives their unsolicited opinion yet owns nothing is when I have a problem. Especially in any social situation.

Agreed 100%

[FTX I]

Never argue with a woman. If she says that Breitling is the best it is.

[TimeToWatch]

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.

Different strokes for different folks. I used to own an avenger II, it was a really nice looking watch with a great blue dial, but ultimately too large and too blingy for my liking.

Breitling does very nice case finishing and their AR sapphire glass is second to none. With the exception of a few watches, however, all the breitlings are using ETA movements. Personally, my Avenger II kept much worse time than any of my Rolexes. In terms of movement precision and reliability, I think Rolex wins easily.

In terms of resale value Breitling also comes up short. Don't expect to recover much of the original MSRP with a Breitling. Much better luck on this front with Rolex.

[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.