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GenTLe

Breitling Avenger 2 Seawolf

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GenTLe

One of the watches I've always fancied was the Breitling Avenger 2 Seawolf. I wanted a yellow dialed watch, but unfortunately the H Factory one was either too expensive (the Swiss ETA one) or with a shoddy caliper (the one with POS movement), and also I didn't like the pale yellow and black numbers of the older model (here below the old vs the new model):

Breitling-A1733010-I513-Automatic-Avenger-Seawolf.jpg&key=4fc2fa71af5f7e7f2d2f7141cf4dc2b8ee8afe2f2d5f2218d2f03b2d7f358b18a1733110-i519-169a.jpg&key=a4d7a075d9f317ea3dab11cc5faa9e82a04191c7fc86343864c5edeb28fbab4e

 

Within this year they also released a version that at the beginning was attracting my attention, just to get after few minutes that they completely missed the dial color, using the old one instead of the new "cobra yellow" as they should have done (https://www.intime01.co/breitling/3346-seawolf-ss-1-1-best-edition-superlumed-yellow-dial-number-markers-on-green-leather-strap-a2824super-thick-crystal.html Pic from InTime, TD over RWI):

seawolf-ss-1-1-best-edition-superlumed-yellow-dial-number-markers-on-green-leather-strap-a2824super-thick-crystal.jpg&key=c394806ed7abfd20b0c2486c0d731ddbc6d9ef44ae965018bda561dd3fb6cf7a

 

I also have been tempted to get the new special edition DLC one as soon as it came on the market (GF Factory, like this: https://www.intime01.co/breitling/3985-avenger-ii-seawolf-pvd-gf-1-1-best-edition-yellow-dial-on-black-nylon-strap-a2824.html):

breitling-men-s-avenger-ii-seawolf-black-steel-yellow-45mm-3369-1.jpg&key=4651b82d2ba3d8304210788d20b8a742fb9391292eb1a7bed49a88885f697f27

but I know I get bored easily with black case watches, so I waited and waited...

 

And finally they managed to release a good SS case one with a proper yellow color (pic from Torobravo, here still with plastic protections on the case):

IMG_3130-1024x768.JPG&key=10269a0dd98e60d939cf3e96ee26547ed915c52ecff9a90d53034c61a8d20050

 

Since finally I am well confident about my tinkering skills (and I'm completely NOT confident about the "send back to repair" guarantee option from all the TDs), I went for a wholesaler TD of RWI: http://watchoutlet01.com/watches/breitling/avenger/avenger-ii-seawolf-ss-gf-1-1-best-edition-yellow-dial-on-black-rubber-strap-a2824.html where I chose the "Chinase tracked airmail" saving a good ~95$ (230$+14$ shipping VS 298$+50$ shipping from a standard TD).

It has been a bit of pain to pay because I sent money with WU just 2 days before they told me that their WU receiver had been banned for reaching the receive amount limit, so I had to reverse the payment, and the name they gave me later as new receiver was so long that it wasn't possible to write it completely in the WU online form (I always use online "bank transfer to cash" formula due to the fact that it costs me only 5$ here in Italy, without the stupid commissions of the in-person WU transaction), and therefore I had to call again WU to change that name a little (luckily they permitted me to do that). Anyway just the payment process took more than 15 days...

Finally they messed-up with shipment (after I accepted the QC pics) and sent me the watch over DHL, which is "the evil" here in IT. I had been VERY LUCKY and the watch passed the customs (at least they declared it as I suggested: "Measurement tool") and it arrived from China to Italy in 2 days over the weekend

Anyway it's here now.

Comments about it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • the case is really well built, with the most impressive part being the sand-blasted area on the back: smooth and perfectly executed
  • a couple of small defects (already seen in the QC pics, but accepted as fixable by me and you never know the next one which defects could have presented...) are the dial which is a bit rotated, making the date to sit a bit low in the window, and the bezel which is not 100% aligned (let's see after I've fixed the dial)
  • the movement is a standard a2824, it runs quite well but it is COMPLETELY dry (and therefore a bit noisy). I've already disassembled it to service it. The novelty of the movement is that it has an Incabloc spring instead of the classic Asian Novodiac antishock, making it to be exactly like the gen movement
 By the way, a couple of pics of it as I received it and removed all the protective film. The color looks perfect and the way that the polished numbers look shiny or black depending on the light is amazing, but you can see the date a bit low and on the left and the bezel how it should be to be nearly centered with the case:  99df69d04b39b009674a068c2e7acad2.jpg&key=197fd44534b820fb76b2d107f4dc8124274a41676768cc0fc93c1e42aea36ce0482f9761902683e14434a7388f4da401.jpg&key=2198666a259ca50f1b77fc117ccb7853b3f895e81cb12a80ea2d947e9aa89a7f   And this is how I left it this morning before to go to work, but after correcting the dial placement and centering the date (I did it before to start to disassemble the movement for the service):

f2c8734a86d513ddd5fc05aa3dff26a8.jpg&key=72c4df3a3134c0a20f1e87bc1d267c7337bbc3e75c2e2ea7437db639b9f2334a

 

Ah, and here the first check to the movement, before starting to work on it:

344cc7d6320a880647f35c89c76cc8d1.jpg&key=5babf4b67547d93ec52a3648d66d065f0b91548769df1619282bbec6e5fc81bb

 

 

And this is why I decided to do the service AFTER the modifications to the dial to center it. Apparently the movement was fully clean but this is what remained in the first cleaning bath, all that gold debris was in the movement:

94cf299a4c51aae0208cd6efa41e1f04.jpg&key=25f0cf0adb70ad45b59c0c186a65019a4b5c9606fe50f520a0b29d25e631f1bc

 

About the movement: apart the incablock antishok sprint, it's a pretty standard A2824. It doesn't have any overlay on the date wheel and it is well refinished.

 

Here a pic at the end of the service:

e5330a0d59270e4376957304d9416739.jpg&key=d2ffdf9e80b184fbf9b01bb9350937f90fa4c408334d761c77d0babfb3a96c307a674e9b1fe159dc88ad0e6ff9e0a189.jpg&key=bffaeaea144fe65356d686417b0b3daf3e55bb547778fb19e196cd449809d860

 

Here is what I meant for "perfect finishing on the back", it's lovely:

b48da79d2670ac761772d920919bb6ab.jpg&key=27e3170ed96c3eec09cbe6167adc021f118f2f1f05ac9691ac8117493c0704a7

 

And finished:

9bbb84013245ed6c9483523f543e4ebe.jpg&key=5683a746b8e9f48bb506d600edebd9ab6c59f869b0d8c8421b903cdd361b96f03b4d364ffce478dd63c10bbf43bd84bd.jpg&key=1fe1e728ea711bfb4dc9abe65d461c00468c27ee8d3b8a387e6a3d1d58c2cda7d1570ce6abda6767cd189502197d9ccb.jpg&key=b48a3e1a3648821b1be3f4366a433a6131991a123a84f8d94f4c4e64f92f241b

 

Plus the obligatory wristy:

16550c05e2d40d38e1fc053c03616945.jpg0dd0d080b7f34905625d590481be22c3.jpg

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kennycoder

I have the earlier version with not so correct yellow color.. now that the new version is out im super  tempted again!

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Marcoman
1 hour ago, kennycoder said:

I have the earlier version with not so correct yellow color.. now that the new version is out im super  tempted again!

And I bought it off you mate?!! As it happens, I also recently bought the blacksteel version which OP was referring to earlier and its a great watch. Would have gone for the SS version if I didn't already have the one I bought off you. I was thinking that the new blacksteel I picked up might make the earlier one with the off colour dial useless but I still actually enjoy wearing it. I think the SS case, the yellow (even if off) and the grey strap it came with is a really nice combination and I still enjoy wearing it. There's a place for both in my collection for sure! If anything its probably less stand out on the wrist than the blacksteel so flies under the radar a little more. I personally think the new version with the more orangey yellow (if that makes sense) goes really well with the SS and the black rubber. I tried the earlier version with the black strap and just didn't really works as well I don't think so put it back on the grey...

Edited by Marcoman

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Glaude
5 hours ago, GenTLe said:

(I need to run at work now)

When you get back, post us some good pics of your new watch (or after you finished your work on it)

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GenTLe
When you get back, post us some good pics of your new watch (or after you finished your work on it)
I will add the pics and process at the 1st post to make it more readable :)

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Mr_B

That watch outlet is cheap. Looking forward to your pictures. 

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NCRich

Nice, I have the old swiss wolf.  Never wear it but it looks good in the box.  :lol:

 

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kennycoder
On 12/6/2017 at 11:43, Marcoman said:

And I bought it off you mate?!! As it happens, I also recently bought the blacksteel version which OP was referring to earlier and its a great watch. Would have gone for the SS version if I didn't already have the one I bought off you. I was thinking that the new blacksteel I picked up might make the earlier one with the off colour dial useless but I still actually enjoy wearing it. I think the SS case, the yellow (even if off) and the grey strap it came with is a really nice combination and I still enjoy wearing it. There's a place for both in my collection for sure! If anything its probably less stand out on the wrist than the blacksteel so flies under the radar a little more. I personally think the new version with the more orangey yellow (if that makes sense) goes really well with the SS and the black rubber. I tried the earlier version with the black strap and just didn't really works as well I don't think so put it back on the grey...

No, I still have it. Slightly older release but still awesome.

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Nikosaldente

Awesome mate!

Looking forward to seeing it assembled back again!

Enjoy wearing it in the best of health Alex!

Cheers!

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GenTLe

Updated the initial post with refinement finished.

I also checked the water resistance to 5 bar: all good to go!

 

 

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Mr_B

Looks the business mate. I'm sold on this version thanks to you! 

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Nikosaldente

Great job!

Enjoy wearing it in the best of health mate!

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brang1

i really envy the way you can tear a watch down and service it... so damn brilliant, what a fantastic job my man. That YELLOW, absolutely jumps out at you. Simply Beautiful

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GenTLe

Thanks guys :)

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cvp3

Every time I think I've owned all the Breitlings I would ever want to....a post like this comes along and ruins my plan. Great post, great pix. Wish I had the skills to pull one apart and make it truly right. Sadly, sizing a bracelet is about the extent of my expertise. 

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Glaude

Great job on the watchsmithing, I would love to have that sort of skill... well maybe one day, must order some crappy dhgate stuff to train !

Thank you for the update and pics !

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Foxindebox

Looks awesome mate, mine is in the air as we speak!!

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Breitlingfan83

Beautiful peice.  Been looking to grab one for awhile. Just waiting for one to popup in the sales threads. Great review sir.

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gulfmaster

Thank you for the review, been wanting to get this Avenger 2 Seawolf but the thickness is 18mm! Thats thicker than a Luminor Submersible! :bugeyes:

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Haltec

Only thing which stoping me from buying it is strap buckle on rubber instead of deployment clasp like a SOH.

 

:(

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GenTLe
2 hours ago, Haltec said:

Only thing which stoping me from buying it is strap buckle on rubber instead of deployment clasp like a SOH.

 

:(

You can get it after ;)

Look here: http://www.band16.com/goods.php?id=629 (and yes, it has the logo on the deployant)

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Haltec

Thnx Gentle!!!

But I couldn't put any other clasp to Breiling Ocean Racer strap - than this: 

BREI802721__221.jpg

 

These are available on ali, but without fine regulation "PUSH" part - which bother me less, but they have holes sideways which is unacceptable. 

rBVaJFk7nL6AYGNGAAAwJ6wPbgo847.jpg

 Some td's have them but about 120 USD.

 

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Foxindebox

Mine just arrived!!!!

F774_CA66-_E3_F7-4901-828_A-_D24810_DC89

B40_B0152-9660-4_D5_E-9_F6_C-1846_C881_F

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GenTLe
1 hour ago, Foxindebox said:

Mine just arrived!!!!

F774_CA66-_E3_F7-4901-828_A-_D24810_DC89

B40_B0152-9660-4_D5_E-9_F6_C-1846_C881_F

Spot on! Beautiful!!! :)

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Foxindebox

Cheers mate.

It’s a lovely rep, great quality. Very happy with this one. 

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