I purchased my Breitling watch about 7 years ago and wear it nearly everyday. Regardless of wearing it almost daily, having gone diving with it, kiteboarded with it, and trekked throughout Australia, Scandinavia and the Far East, it appears to be like nearly as good today because the day I purchased it.
In all honesty I'd by no means heard of Breitling watches until I went right into a store to purchase a Tag Heuer - everyone I knew appeared to be wearing a Tag and it appeared like the best watch that might be worn each formally and for sport. Anyhow, whereas I was within the department retailer wanting on the Tag collections, the assistant stated, that if I favored Tag, I may additionally be focused on Breitling.
Properly, it was love at first sight. I know not everyone is going to like Breitling watches. While I think they're beautiful, I can perceive why some wouldn't like them. They are not as 'rounded' as others like Tag or Seconda. Though trendy, they've a certain quaint, more durable-edged style to them. I realized later that the majority collections of Breitling watches had been designed over 50 years in the past and, despite some modifications to the actions and minor aesthetic modifications, they are pretty much the identical wristwatch as they had been 50 years ago.
The Shadow Flyback I purchased options an ETA 2892-A2 mechanical movement. The movement is a chronograph, is automatic and has a flyback complication. Most stopwatch second arms may be stopped after which set to zero; with a flyback complication the second hand will be reset to zero with out stopping the timer - it continues to run from the zero position. The power reserve of the motion is forty two hours.
Like all watches within the Breitling Windrider collection, the bezel is raised and is unidirectional - it isn't a diver's watch where the bezel is one-directional. Nonetheless, the watch is water resistant to 100mm - I have been diving with this watch to a depth of 20 meters so I can vouch for its water tightness.
Although the dial comes in a couple of colors, the one I bought is of a very darkish blue which seems black until seen in sun light. There are 3 subdials; second hand, 10 minute interval and three hour interval. The subdials are the same coloration because the dial and are set in a tri compax configuration, which means they're placed on the three, 6 and 9 o'clock position. The date aperture is found between the four and 5 hour marker. I like this structure as it's the extra unusual in the Windrider assortment; most different watches include subdials at the 6, 9 and 12 o'clock place with the date aperture at the three hour marker.
The hour markers are simply that; there are not any numerals, which provides it a really sophisticated look, I think. The markers along with the hour and minute hand are luminous as is the tip of the stopwatch second hand. Incidentally, the stopwatch second hand is properly counterbalanced with the Breitling 'B' logo.
Finally, this Breitling watch is available in stainless-steel, 18k gold or two-tone. Mine is chrome steel (one of the best end) and comes with one of the best watch straps you'll be able to presumably purchase, the Pilot strap; the marginally diagonal, chunky rectangular hyperlinks really are very attractive.
As I've mentioned I've had the Shadow Flyback for 7 years and other than some minor scratches on the clasp there is not a mark on it. Since, buying it I've develop into a huge fan of Breitling watches and it is my intention, after I save enough cash, to purchase the Navitimer Comsonaute - one other beautiful Breitling Super Ocean Replica.