O2AFAC67
April 5th, 2009, 18:25
A direct quote from Mr. Jeff Hess of St. Petersburg, Florida as posted on another Breitling forum... :-)
" Just got back from Basel yesterday and had a rare opportunity to hold the new model B01 in my hands. They had a working movement encased in some kind of sapphire crystal case (looked like plexiglass at first) and what a shocker.
As noted on here before, (thanks Jorge!) this is a sure winner. I have long been a fan of Swatches decision to withhold movements from watch companies. Why? Because it has caused a renaissance of proprietary and new movements to be manufactured by watch companies.
And everytime a watch company touted their "own movement" I dutifully visited their booth. The problem has always been that the movements were either a) not really new, just an ebauche overhaul or b) new but rough. (rough edges, not finely finished and rather industrial looking.
NONE of this was evident in the B01. This is a finely thought out and well crafted genuine watch movement. I took a loupe to the movement for at least ten minutes of intense scrutiny and this is very finely finished. Smooth finish. No roughness. Easy to look at, well, machined. Jewels properly fitted. Rotor spinning freely. just a masterpiece. And none of that industrial look that many others have made.
The Breitling rep told me the following:
Only Rolex, ETA and Breitling are capable of making 30,000 to 50,000 or more movements per year. This is a ground-up venture.
Even the mainplate and bridges! And Completely assembled in thier own workshops. Only pins, screws and jewels (or course) will not be made by them. (And presumably the hairspring assembly).
A comaprison of the B01 calibre, according to Breitling to the Roelx Cailbre 4130 is astounding:
Breitling diameter is 30 mm and Rolex is 30.5 (An amazing feat0
Breitling thickness 7.2 to 6.5 (to accomodate date feature)
Breitling has a few more parts, 346 to 290, to accomodate date
Breitling has 47 jewels to Rolex 44
Breitling has a 70 hour power reserve to Rolex 72
Breitling has a calendar. none for Rolex 4130
All in all a momentus achievement in modern horology.
And the sad part is that only around 1000 of these will be released initially and available in the USA.
Jeff Hess "
" Just got back from Basel yesterday and had a rare opportunity to hold the new model B01 in my hands. They had a working movement encased in some kind of sapphire crystal case (looked like plexiglass at first) and what a shocker.
As noted on here before, (thanks Jorge!) this is a sure winner. I have long been a fan of Swatches decision to withhold movements from watch companies. Why? Because it has caused a renaissance of proprietary and new movements to be manufactured by watch companies.
And everytime a watch company touted their "own movement" I dutifully visited their booth. The problem has always been that the movements were either a) not really new, just an ebauche overhaul or b) new but rough. (rough edges, not finely finished and rather industrial looking.
NONE of this was evident in the B01. This is a finely thought out and well crafted genuine watch movement. I took a loupe to the movement for at least ten minutes of intense scrutiny and this is very finely finished. Smooth finish. No roughness. Easy to look at, well, machined. Jewels properly fitted. Rotor spinning freely. just a masterpiece. And none of that industrial look that many others have made.
The Breitling rep told me the following:
Only Rolex, ETA and Breitling are capable of making 30,000 to 50,000 or more movements per year. This is a ground-up venture.
Even the mainplate and bridges! And Completely assembled in thier own workshops. Only pins, screws and jewels (or course) will not be made by them. (And presumably the hairspring assembly).
A comaprison of the B01 calibre, according to Breitling to the Roelx Cailbre 4130 is astounding:
Breitling diameter is 30 mm and Rolex is 30.5 (An amazing feat0
Breitling thickness 7.2 to 6.5 (to accomodate date feature)
Breitling has a few more parts, 346 to 290, to accomodate date
Breitling has 47 jewels to Rolex 44
Breitling has a 70 hour power reserve to Rolex 72
Breitling has a calendar. none for Rolex 4130
All in all a momentus achievement in modern horology.
And the sad part is that only around 1000 of these will be released initially and available in the USA.
Jeff Hess "