Is Breitling getting lazy? - A fair look at the new Chronomat GMT 40

Has Breitling miscalculated the market for this watch? Is it a lazy release? Are we being overly critical as watch fans? I try to objectively unpack the good and bad from the new Chronomat GMT 40 release.

My recommended Breitling AD is Brent Miller Jewelers in Lancaster PA. Reach out to my good friend Brad about any watch-
717-712-8954 (Brad's cell)

YT: @Brent Miller Time
IG: @brentmillertime

0:00 - 2:08 The best green?
2:08 - 4:10 A dreaded sellita
4:10 - 6:56 Detail work
6:56 - 10:16 Bracelet and negatives

[gmund]

I have the blue dial version. My dealer gave me a 10% discount. The watch is absolutely stunning (unlike the Tudor, IMO) and the bracelet is extremely comfortable.

[GunGlutton]

My first luxury watch was a breitling. I will inherit my dads aerospace one day. It will be the only breitling I need. He was never a watch guy. But he’s worn it everyday since I was a kid

[hussam]

Look at it with majority of people eyes, not from collector’s eye. We see Tudor as poor man’s Rolex while Berilting is respected on its own. Sooo no comparison at all

[generalpatton]

I do really like these new watches from breitling. I’m a Breitling fan suddenly. I think the wings logo, is the best logo in the game

[johnmalone]

Recently purchased my first Brietling. The Navitimer with the B01 movement. I found the small, simple watch box refreshing. I store most of my watch boxes in the loft with the suitcases... Personally I don't buy a watch for its box and if I didn't have a loft, some of my larger boxes would take up way to much room in drawers etc

[stevedoyle]

For the last few years I’ve thought that most Breitlings are way over priced, and that has completely turned me off of them and that angered me because Breitling is my OG brand that originally made me fall in love with watches 30 years ago

[ryangallagher]

I think that a non-in-house movement is not a deal breaker. I'd rather have a tried and tested quality movement that is easy to service than one that's only serviceable by the brand at considerable expense. The watch itself with the green dial is one of the best-looking watches around. As for the box does anyone really buy a watch for the box? Great content as usual.

[ianrr]

I think those new boxes are a great idea. I've got a cupboard full of oversized boxes, that never get looked at, taking up space.

[mickfpmcolo]

Interesting, the new Super Ocean received similar criticism because of the movement and related MSRP. The grey market price of the SO reflects a significant decrease from the MSRP. I expect the same thing to happen with the Chronomat GMT.

Breitling design and finish is outstanding. The B01 movement is top shelf on there higher price-point chronographs. They need to figure out their in house movement on non chronograph watches, if they expect people to buy these watches at the AD or Boutique.

[markymark]

Love the styling, love the dial. Breitling are pushing their luck with the price with that movement though. Never mind the Tudor, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time GMT destroys it in terms of bang per buck

[dominicrusho]

You can tell Breitling has been run by profit-hungry private equity people; the crappy boxes, the unremarkable movements, the insane servicing prices; everything is about maximising margin.

[DWilliam]

I was at the Breitling Boutique yesterday and it’s a great watch. The movement is fine and it’s fit and finish is top notch. In a day where you can only buy an Explorer on the gray market for $12K, this is a good deal. They modify their movements heavily. I didn’t buy it as I just bought a Santos De Cartier large an hour earlier. That has an in-house movement but only 42 hours of reserve…and an ETA is probably a better movement to boot. ETA has served me well in my 2006 SMP300. The movement is fine and outsourcing was the norm for many of the most storied and iconic watchmakers throughout history. Also, who cares about the box? Rolex has a terrible box. That’s a millennial thing. The watch is what matters. I will go back and buy this watch in blue before summer.

[Dr.Gunsmith]

My favourite brand too, love my Chronomat GT 18k gold & SS bi metal 2001 🙏 but is a pain to wind up.

[terryc]

This chronomat is a sporty chic watch that happens to be a caller-GMT as a bonus, so no one is cross-shopping it with a tool watch like the BB Pro. Its true competitors are the Bell & Ross BR05 and the Zenith Defy Skyline.

[martinharrison]

I think the rado captain cook is one of the nicest green dials I've seen on a watch. And it's affordable, with a beads of rice bracelet, its a great piece for less than half the cost of the breitling. Accurate movement and 80 hrs power reserve, and just a great overall design, thats quite unique .

[karlsonmackay]

Call me shallow but the luminosity on this alone with the white dial and the red accented ticker not to mention being a 40mm makes me want this in my collection 💯

[nedflanders]

Very fair criticisms, Bruce. Breitling is one of my favorite brands as well. I might just have to pop into the local boutique today to have a look at some of their amazing new releases. I love the green dial on that watch. My favorite color.

[motaz]

breitling now compared to 10 years ago, wow what a difference. love the brand now, then i would not even have considered them.

[Alex_GMan]

Hi. Beautiful looking timepiece. I think the date window sits nicely with the white that compliments the indices, keeping the dial balanced.

[thepa]

Thanks for the vid Bruce. It’s a great looking watch. However ‘lazy’ doesn’t cover it for me. Complacent is a better way to describe Breitling at the moment. Similar to the divers they released last year. Not good enough in the movements for the price. IMHO