The Breitling Caliber 17, often referenced as the B17 movement, holds a significant place in the brand's history. While not a bespoke, in-house movement like some of Breitling's more recent offerings, the Caliber 17 represents a robust and reliable workhorse, powering a range of popular Breitling watches, most notably the SuperOcean Heritage collection. This review will delve deep into the Caliber 17's specifications, performance, history, and place within the broader Breitling movement landscape. We will explore its strengths and weaknesses, comparing it to similar movements and assessing its overall value proposition.
Breitling Caliber 17 Review: Foundation and Functionality
At its core, the Breitling Caliber 17 is a modified ETA 2824-2, a highly regarded automatic movement known for its reliability and widespread use in the watch industry. ETA, a subsidiary of the Swatch Group, produces millions of these movements annually, contributing to their affordability and accessibility. Breitling's modification of the ETA 2824-2 involves adding its own finishing touches, branding, and often incorporating specific features to align with the brand’s aesthetic and functional requirements. This approach allows Breitling to offer a high-quality movement at a price point that remains competitive within its market segment.
The Caliber 17 is an automatic movement, meaning it winds itself through the natural movement of the wearer's wrist. This eliminates the need for manual winding, offering convenience and ease of use. The ETA 2824-2's architecture provides a solid base for the Caliber 17, boasting a robust construction and a proven track record of longevity. The movement typically features a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), ensuring smooth and accurate timekeeping. The power reserve is generally around 40 hours, meaning the watch will continue running for a full day and a half after being fully wound. This is a standard power reserve for movements in this class and sufficient for most users.
One key feature incorporated into the Breitling Caliber 17 is the quick-set date function. This allows the user to rapidly adjust the date without having to cycle through the entire month, a valuable feature for ease of use. This enhancement, added to the base ETA 2824-2, demonstrates Breitling's commitment to enhancing user experience.
Breitling Calibre 17 Automatic Movement: A Deeper Look at the Specifications
The Caliber 17 boasts several noteworthy specifications that contribute to its performance and reliability. These include:
* Jewels: While the exact number of jewels can vary slightly depending on the specific iteration of the movement, the Caliber 17 typically utilizes 25 or 26 jewels. These jewels are synthetic rubies, strategically placed to reduce friction and wear on the movement's components, contributing to its long-term durability and accuracy. This is a common number for movements of this class and reflects its robust construction.
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