O2AFAC67
February 12th, 2006, 21:03
Well, last week Altan and I met for lunch at one of our favorite steakhouse restaurants to discuss the meaning of life and play with Breitlings, The restaurant is a favorite because we are able to sit in a large corner booth in relative privacy for as long as we like after lunch is over. Waitstaff sometimes saunter by trying to be very inconspicuous as they attempt to get a better view of what we have (literally) brought to the table.
On the agenda first was an overview of the 2002 Callistino I have prepared for a birthday presentation to my soon to be 83 year old Mom. Altan has considered acquiring the pilot bracelet from the Callistino for his wife's B-class. Discussion ensued regarding the relative merits of Breitling Quartz I and II contrasted to SQ.
Next was a private viewing (waitstaff peering anxiously over fern leaves) of Altan's brand new black dial Navitimer "World" on black leather strap. IF you havn't seen one in person, RUN down to an AD and check it out. What an absolutely STUNNING watch. The build quality and incredible detailing of this watch have to be experienced first hand. Amazing. Black subdials on a black dial with the red accents on the chrono and GMT hands as well as on the slide rule make this watch a real standout. I noted that the silver (chrome?) subdial hands on the black subdials are easily and clearly read from all angles, a contrast to the not so good legibility of my 2005 white dial Cosmonaute with black subdials. On the Cosmo, the anti reflective coating on the crystal "hides" the subdial hands from many angles. Not so on the "World". I don't know why... BTW, Altan has a custom strap on order for this watch which should be a knockout. Italian made black shark hand stitched with RED thread! Stay tuned!
On to one of the main purposes for the meeting; a never before tried crossbreeding of bracelet and case! Altan had brought his 2000 model B-1 and I had my 2001 model Crosswind. We knew that the model 357A "Pilot" bracelet from a Chronomat Evolution has been successfully fitted to a B-1 case in lieu of the standard 874A "Fighter" bracelet. Because the UTC module for the B-1 is the same as that for the CW (A70174) we thought the 350A and 354A CW bracelets should fit the B-1 case. They do! The real reason for this experiment lies in the fact the CE UTC module is a different model number (A70177). Is all this making sense? Bottom line is, IF you wanted to install a Pilot bracelet with UTC module on a B-1 or B-2, you should be safe doing it with the A70174 UTC module and corresponding 352A bracelet OR using the CE's A70177 UTC module with corresponding 359A bracelet. NOW, here's the rub... Even though the end links of the aforementioned bracelets attach easily and well to the B-1 case, the flat "shoulder" of the case has an "arching" design between the interhorns which rises above the comparatively "flat" top profile of the Pilot bracelet's attaching end link. The original "Fighter" bracelet end links have this "arch" implemented to fit completely into the recess between the interhorns. Don't get me wrong. The Pilot bracelet looks GOOD on the B-1, almost like it is original equipment. Problem is, compared side by side, you intrinsically know it isn't. Maybe it's OCD and anal, but Altan and I agreed that even though we feel the Pilot is by far the better bracelet, the Fighter should remain on the B-1 until Breitling improves it, perhaps with a "II" version as they did with the Professional bracelet.
An interesting side note to this impromptu report... While I was intensely occupied fitting bracelets and straps to cases, Altan heard and noticed a disturbance outside. I continued working unabashedly while Altan rushed out into the parking lot and became involved in an amazing rescue of a child from an automobile which had somehow gotten itself into gear and was turning in rapid circles, endangering bystanders as well as the child who was alone in the vehicle and obviously frightened. Witnesses later related how Altan dove through the open window of the rapidly moving car and threw the gearshift into "park" bringing the potentially disastrous incident to a close. After being congratulated and thanked by authorities and bystanders alike, Altan returned to the restaurant to find me still laboring over reluctant springbars while fighting rapidly fraying nerves. Thank Goodness this restaurant serves alcohol, else I wouldn't have been able to agree to Altan's request to add this concocted line of BS to this post.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! :-D Cheers,
Ron
On the agenda first was an overview of the 2002 Callistino I have prepared for a birthday presentation to my soon to be 83 year old Mom. Altan has considered acquiring the pilot bracelet from the Callistino for his wife's B-class. Discussion ensued regarding the relative merits of Breitling Quartz I and II contrasted to SQ.
Next was a private viewing (waitstaff peering anxiously over fern leaves) of Altan's brand new black dial Navitimer "World" on black leather strap. IF you havn't seen one in person, RUN down to an AD and check it out. What an absolutely STUNNING watch. The build quality and incredible detailing of this watch have to be experienced first hand. Amazing. Black subdials on a black dial with the red accents on the chrono and GMT hands as well as on the slide rule make this watch a real standout. I noted that the silver (chrome?) subdial hands on the black subdials are easily and clearly read from all angles, a contrast to the not so good legibility of my 2005 white dial Cosmonaute with black subdials. On the Cosmo, the anti reflective coating on the crystal "hides" the subdial hands from many angles. Not so on the "World". I don't know why... BTW, Altan has a custom strap on order for this watch which should be a knockout. Italian made black shark hand stitched with RED thread! Stay tuned!
On to one of the main purposes for the meeting; a never before tried crossbreeding of bracelet and case! Altan had brought his 2000 model B-1 and I had my 2001 model Crosswind. We knew that the model 357A "Pilot" bracelet from a Chronomat Evolution has been successfully fitted to a B-1 case in lieu of the standard 874A "Fighter" bracelet. Because the UTC module for the B-1 is the same as that for the CW (A70174) we thought the 350A and 354A CW bracelets should fit the B-1 case. They do! The real reason for this experiment lies in the fact the CE UTC module is a different model number (A70177). Is all this making sense? Bottom line is, IF you wanted to install a Pilot bracelet with UTC module on a B-1 or B-2, you should be safe doing it with the A70174 UTC module and corresponding 352A bracelet OR using the CE's A70177 UTC module with corresponding 359A bracelet. NOW, here's the rub... Even though the end links of the aforementioned bracelets attach easily and well to the B-1 case, the flat "shoulder" of the case has an "arching" design between the interhorns which rises above the comparatively "flat" top profile of the Pilot bracelet's attaching end link. The original "Fighter" bracelet end links have this "arch" implemented to fit completely into the recess between the interhorns. Don't get me wrong. The Pilot bracelet looks GOOD on the B-1, almost like it is original equipment. Problem is, compared side by side, you intrinsically know it isn't. Maybe it's OCD and anal, but Altan and I agreed that even though we feel the Pilot is by far the better bracelet, the Fighter should remain on the B-1 until Breitling improves it, perhaps with a "II" version as they did with the Professional bracelet.
An interesting side note to this impromptu report... While I was intensely occupied fitting bracelets and straps to cases, Altan heard and noticed a disturbance outside. I continued working unabashedly while Altan rushed out into the parking lot and became involved in an amazing rescue of a child from an automobile which had somehow gotten itself into gear and was turning in rapid circles, endangering bystanders as well as the child who was alone in the vehicle and obviously frightened. Witnesses later related how Altan dove through the open window of the rapidly moving car and threw the gearshift into "park" bringing the potentially disastrous incident to a close. After being congratulated and thanked by authorities and bystanders alike, Altan returned to the restaurant to find me still laboring over reluctant springbars while fighting rapidly fraying nerves. Thank Goodness this restaurant serves alcohol, else I wouldn't have been able to agree to Altan's request to add this concocted line of BS to this post.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! :-D Cheers,
Ron