greg_r 81 Posted October 7, 2009 As I've said elsewhere, I've never been a great fan of Breitling - other than the SOH 46 and the Flying B chrono. However, the Navitimer also has a certain elegance and I have, on occasion, considered buying a budget rep of it. The problem is that all the cheap Navi reps I've seen suck big time. Anyhow, I've long been fond of Rotary watches - having owned several over the years. Rotary are a proper Swiss watch manufacturer who specialise in mid-priced watches - often 'inspired' by much more upmarket models from other manufacturers. I've long been tempted to buy one of their Santos homages, so whenever I go past anywhere that sells watches, I always take a quick gawp at the Rotary display. Last weekend I spotted this in the Rotary display at Argos. It's a quartz Navitimer clone with a lovely deep blue dial. It was marked down by around 75% on list price making it cheaper than any half-decent rep and I was immediately tempted. The watch came in Rotary's usual dark blue watch box - quite nice quality. The watch itself is about 42mm (wears a little bigger, feeling around the same size as my Deep Sea) is very well finished and much better quality than any cheapie rep you'll ever find. The 'sliderule' bezel is nice and tight, turning with the crown at 10. The pushers for the chronos have a nice quality feel too and there's the usual date window between 4 and 5. The crystal is sapphire and the watch comes on a nice quality croco strap. The dial is very smart - it looks black in the photo, but it's actually a very deep blue. The lume is reasonable, but not terribly long-lived - a little better than average rep lume. For less than the price of a cheapie faux-chrono or quartz rep Navi, this was an excellent buy and makes a seriously good argument for buying homages rather than reps where possible. Now, has anybody seen a decent homage of the Flying B chrono? . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oscarmadfish 0 Posted October 7, 2009 looks good greg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trailboss99 994 Posted October 7, 2009 Nice. And unlike the rep the slide rule proberly lines up! Col. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 7, 2009 Nice. And unlike the rep the slide rule proberly lines up! Col. Yep Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
onzenuub 307 Posted October 7, 2009 One step away from owning a Breitling, come on Greg, you can do it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oscarmadfish 0 Posted October 7, 2009 greg is a Breitling boy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 7, 2009 One step away from owning a Breitling, come on Greg, you can do it. I already own a Breit - a cheapie Flying B. It's a piece of crap - faux chronos. Ugh. I'd buy a decent rep of it if they weren't so damned expensive, but they're just not worth $400+. I'm also planning to buy an SOH at some point, which is by far my favourite Breit. That will be all, though - the other models don't do a thing for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Member X 91 Posted October 7, 2009 I just find all Breitlings to be far too fussy for my taste - sometimes I'll see one that looks alright but I could never spend my own money on one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 7, 2009 I just find all Breitlings to be far too fussy for my taste - sometimes I'll see one that looks alright but I could never spend my own money on one. The SOH is the unfussy one - lovely simple dial. I agree on most Breits though - the Navi is too fussy, but I like the shape (same goes for the Flying B ). Wouldn't have bought an upmarket rep of it, but for what I paid for this, it'll do Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
houndoggie 58 Posted October 7, 2009 Really nice looking. I like the crown that operates the bezel. I can see why you wanted to pick this up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted October 7, 2009 Looks good on the wrist Greg...I recently picked up an as new Skyland from a UK member sale on RWI as a stocking filler for Crimbo for my son. I kid you not Greg, in the flesh it's one impressive watch, weighs a ton as well. Hopefully he won't like it and it can join my ever expanding collection... edit:I've found that all my 3 Breit reps seem to be of good quality, I wonder if they're from the same specific factory...you hear that many tales it's hard to know for sure... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeyB 0 Posted October 7, 2009 I like it. Nice watch, greg. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 7, 2009 Looks good on the wrist Greg...I recently picked up an as new Skyland from a UK member sale on RWI as a stocking filler for Crimbo for my son. I kid you not Greg, in the flesh it's one impressive watch, weighs a ton as well. Hopefully he won't like it and it can join my ever expanding collection... edit:I've found that all my 3 Breit reps seem to be of good quality, I wonder if they're from the same specific factory...you hear that many tales it's hard to know for sure... The problem is that all of the decent budget Breit reps I've seen are of watches I wouldn't be interested in buying - my Breit 'likes' are rather limited Anyhow, thanks guys - this was a really good pickup for less than it cost to take my wife out to lunch on a Saturday. I'm very pleased. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted October 7, 2009 The problem is that all of the decent budget Breit reps I've seen are of watches I wouldn't be interested in buying - my Breit 'likes' are rather limited Anyhow, thanks guys - this was a really good pickup for less than it cost to take my wife out to lunch on a Saturday. I'm very pleased. Wow, a gen for the price of a Big Mac meal...I'm flabbergasted... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 7, 2009 The problem is that all of the decent budget Breit reps I've seen are of watches I wouldn't be interested in buying - my Breit 'likes' are rather limited Anyhow, thanks guys - this was a really good pickup for less than it cost to take my wife out to lunch on a Saturday. I'm very pleased. Wow, a gen for the price of a Big Mac meal...I'm flabbergasted... Well, it was a gen for the price of a couple of steaks and a couple of beers... Anyhow, what is this 'Big Mac' of which you speak? I am not aware of foodstuffs by this name.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted October 7, 2009 The problem is that all of the decent budget Breit reps I've seen are of watches I wouldn't be interested in buying - my Breit 'likes' are rather limited Anyhow, thanks guys - this was a really good pickup for less than it cost to take my wife out to lunch on a Saturday. I'm very pleased. Wow, a gen for the price of a Big Mac meal...I'm flabbergasted... Well, it was a gen for the price of a couple of steaks and a couple of beers... Anyhow, what is this 'Big Mac' of which you speak? I am not aware of foodstuffs by this name.... It is a rare delicacy, improrted by Americans from Scotland, then exported worldwide I am led to believe and it's big, hence the name... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 7, 2009 It is a rare delicacy, improrted by Americans from Scotland, then exported worldwide I am led to believe and it's big, hence the name... Ah - this is the one that tastes of cardboard and socks, yes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted October 7, 2009 It is a rare delicacy, improrted by Americans from Scotland, then exported worldwide I am led to believe and it's big, hence the name... Ah - this is the one that tastes of cardboard and socks, yes? Don't know...never tasted cardboard or socks...are they nice??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 7, 2009 Better than the Big Mac of which you speak. More nutritious too... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted October 7, 2009 It's the toe jam residue that's nutritious, not the socks themselves...by the way, you do realise you're crapping your own thread don't you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greg_r 81 Posted October 7, 2009 by the way, you do realise you're crapping your own thread don't you? ... and this is new because.....? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sconehead 5 Posted October 7, 2009 by the way, you do realise you're crapping your own thread don't you? ... and this is new because.....? true...it is the RWG 1.1 way...what was I thinking... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luthier 1 Posted October 7, 2009 Greg, very nice watch!!! Now - buy good rep, ask Mary, you'll pay about $100 less. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jameo210369 0 Posted October 16, 2009 I have seen that little baby in Argos Greg, at around £60. BARGAIN http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/part...%7C14417316.htm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jameo210369 0 Posted October 16, 2009 You the man Greg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
