Breitling acquires Universal Geneve

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I would have preferred literally anyone else but them (i.e., a pure-bred financial investor plus GK)

Sorry, but I feel it’s appropriate here: 🤮
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Not a big fan of the new owners considering how they handled F1 under their stewardship, they’ve done a bit better with Breitling but their reputation for milking a cow until it’s dead still persists
 
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I would have preferred literally anyone but them (i.e., a pure-bred financial investor plus GK)

Sorry, but I feel it’s appropriate here: 🤮

What would have been a better partner? At least Breitling did some fantastic stuff regarding their vintage heritage. I think it is in good hands.
 
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Some fantastic watches in the UG back catalogue to bring back to life that's for sure. I'm curious as to how it will go.
 
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@paysdoufs

watch (sic!) out:

Volkswagen = Audi, Seat, Škoda, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, MAN, Scania, und Das WeltAuto
 
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I'm sure Breitling would do better than this
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Better than nothing, but not the best scenario. As the company was defunct for so long, I don't know how they can handle the "heritage" part, as not a single person from Universal will work in the new company - it is just a name now.
And if it was acquired by SG or Rolex would be a better perspective maybe. But still lets hope that this will be a worthy come back.
 
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Breitling has done well with their movements lately and their vintage reissues. I think this is a positive development. This will change nothing with the original UG models everyone loves; but to have such a great name producing watches again is absolutely great.

The name only holds value with vintage people anyway so the first watches will almost certainly be very high quality vintage reissues.
 
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What would have been a better partner? At least Breitling did some fantastic stuff regarding their vintage heritage. I think it is in good hands.
Hi Nico,
Nice seeing you here, too…

Personally, I would have preferred a smaller and vintage focused “re-founder”, maybe like Guillaume Laidet or the guy from Airan (Sorry -forgot his name).

I’m afraid that Partners Group and GK are just going to want to maximize the hell out of their (probably considerable) investment. Nothing wrong with running a profitable business, but a bit of “Herzblut” doesn’t hurt either, IMHO…

However, this coming from someone who does not consider the last years of Breitling as being very convincing - despite the occasional vintage goodness sprinkled over the big marketing machine.
 
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I pledge for a Breitling-Microrotor in a 39mm - case 😁
How much are you willing to bet on that? 😉
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Personally, I would have preferred a smaller and vintage focused “re-founder”, maybe like Guillaume Laidet or the guy from Airan (Sorry -forgot his name).

Sure but would it really be a great relaunch of UG using the same microbrand movements of those companies? I don't personally think so, and having the financial reserves plus watchmaking capability of Breitling we have a better chance of true excellence inside and out
 
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Sure but would it really be a great relaunch of UG using the same microbrand movements of those companies? I don't personally think so, and having the financial reserves plus watchmaking capability of Breitling we have a better chance of true excellence inside and out
@abrod520 - You here, too? 😀

Sure - but let’s be honest: Breitling’s current catalogue consists to 80% of cased-up Sellitas.

I think this already gives you an idea of how much of the UG launch Budget will be devoted to R&D and how much to marketing…
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Sure - but let’s be honest: Breitling’s current catalogue consists to 80% of cased-up Sellitas.

If you've ever handled those Sellita-base watches you'd know they are really well-finished. No rotor issues, chronometer timekeeping does not fall off after a year, etc. Breitling does a good job these days on all fronts.

We'll have to wait and see about whether they put out a Polerouter with one but the comments about this taking time suggest they're looking into other solutions. If they were to go with Sellitas they could have waited 6 months to announce and launch day-of with a slapped-together Polerouter, and they didn't.
 
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I think a well done relaunch can only help with vintage resale value. Archives are thin because much was lost when the company disintegrated. Wait and see.