Thoughts Comments On This B-2

[karmatooburn]

Anyone with some time feel like taking a look at this piece and offerings some thoughts, comments that would be great. TIA

http://cgi.ebay.com/BREITLING-PROFESSIONAL-B-2-B2-CHRONOGRAPH-DIVERS-WATCH_W0QQitemZ290069366870QQihZ019QQcategoryZ3138 7QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[O2AFAC67]

Anyone with some time feel like taking a look at this piece and offerings some thoughts, comments ...with an 892A Fighter bracelet. The dial was changed in 2003 to the circular indices whereas the older B-2's had stick markers. The seller is a camera guy and appears trustworthy and honest but I'm not sure where he gets a list price of $3695. Last chronolog list price shown (2006) was $3500 and Breitling only had about a 3% price increase approx. 6 mo. after the chronolog was published, not 6%. As for the condition, I saw a B-2 at Costo last year (was in their display case at least a year and a half earlier) with very similar wear on the inner box pillow/cusp as shown in the 5th photo. In other words, shoppers had pulled the watch in and out MANY times and the piece was filthy as well as its holder and box. I suspect this watch is a late 2003 or early 2004 piece and was bought un-used but third hand from a grey market dealer. It will have no warranty and as the seller indicates, no paperwork meaning no provenance for the watch. That said, the watch is now discontinued and will likely begin to appreciate slightly in pre-owned value over the next few years. If it was a brand new 2006 model with factory warranty, all box and papers and from an AD it would have cost you about $2600 with a good discount. If you are a B-2 admirer, the Ebay piece is a good one to acquire because it is late model and will clean up to as new very easily but a buyer should possibly consider buying a replacement box and writing BUSA for a manual and slide rule instructions. Don't count on receiving the COSC certificate because it is long gone but the "3" in the model number provides that validation anyway. The watch is, IMHO, worth the seller's "buy it now" price but just barely and only because the watch itself is essentially the same as new. I'll qualify that statement by reminding you it will likely require regular servicing in the next two to four years. If I really wanted a B-2, I would jump on his buy it now price. If I was lukewarm about a B-2 purchase, I would offer no more than $1400-$1600 for the piece. Just MHO. ;-) :-)
Cheers,
Ron

[rbt]

The seller looks okay, the watch looks okay. There are a couple of errors in his listing info, but nothing to indicate any kind of attempted scam.

[karmatooburn]

Thanks guys... Great information indeed, I 'll keep ya posted.

[Kos]

I have seen this watch . It is a beautiful watch except it has a nick on the case just above the crown. Someone must have seriously jostled the thing at some point to get that scratch in there. Also, the pusher at 4 o'clock is scratched. MOST importantly, the counter register at 9 o'clock does not line up with zero when re-set. This will require a watchmaker to lift the hand and re-set. NOT something you are going to do yourself unless you are a watchmaker. Also, I think the second hand is loose. Buy a different watch, I did.

Kos<|

[karmatooburn]

Thanks Kos, I went back and blew the pics up for a better look and
found that everything you described was spot on. Good eye, good eye
needless to say I also passed on that watch and found another on TZ
which I came to terms with the seller on just tonight. I will make sure and
post some pics once it arrives.