IWC vs Breitling – Which is Better?

The IWC Wristwatch model is produced by the leading Super Clone manufacturer workshops with an 18K thick gold-plated case, 41 mm diameter and a high-precision automatic Super Clone mechanism architecture. It is among the most successful 1:1 super clone watch reviews on the market, with its sapphire crystal AR coating glass, original case tolerances and detailed workmanship.

IWC and Breitling Watches

In this comparison, we will compare Breitling and IWC from many different perspectives to give you a holistic perspective on your decision to purchase a quality watch. We will compare them on many levels, including:

Workmanship – Durability – History – Brand Awareness – Watchmaking – Second Hand Value – Price

workmanship

Most IWC watches come with a clear sapphire glass case back that allows you to see the mechanical movement that powers the watch. These movements (aka calibers) use a variety of crafting techniques that make the movement shine in a way that raw metals cannot achieve. Seeing the mechanism decorated in this way adds to the aesthetics of a watch. Most of the time, various signs are engraved on them, describing the features of the movement and the brand.

Breitling watches are a different type of watch, and although they offer quality workmanship, they do not always have a transparent case back. But when they have it, you can see a beautifully crafted mechanism. At this point, it should be noted that many Breitling watches use battery-powered quartz movements instead of mechanically powered ones. These do not offer the watchmaker the opportunity to machine the various plates and create that eye-catching look as in a mechanical watch. Maybe this is why many of their watches have a solid (closed) case back.

durability

Breitling watches tend to have a more heavy-duty construction. Although it is never recommended to subject a watch, mechanical or not, to hard impact or shock, it is possible for such things to happen. If this were to happen, I would be more comfortable wearing a Breitling rather than an IWC, which tends to be a more refined watch rather than a tool watch like most Breitling watches.

Many watch manufacturers have developed shock-absorbing technologies that they integrate into their watches. However, the mechanics of a watch consist of tiny gears and screws, and it is NEVER recommended to try shock absorbers and see what happens.

History

Both Breitling and IWC emerged around the same time in the late 1800s. IWC, which started its journey in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in 1869, has approximately 15 years more experience in this business than Breitling, which started in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland in 1884.

Both are considered very established names in the watchmaking industry and have made their own contributions to the craft during their nearly a century and a half in the business. For a more detailed history of these two brands, you can visit our brand page and learn more by using the links below.

Breitling IWC

Brand Awareness

BREITLING: Breitling is the 15th most recognizable Swiss watch brand in the world* and has an estimated brand value of 359 Million Swiss Francs (CHF), according to a recent report by brand valuation firm Interbrand. Breitling is a major player in the Swiss watch industry and is particularly well known to pilots and aviation professionals who enjoy the many watches Breitling creates with pilot-only features.

IWC: According to the same report, IWC Schaffhausen has the upper hand when it comes to brand awareness. They are ranked as the 10th most recognizable Swiss watch brand in the world and have an estimated brand value of CHF 779 Million. Many watch collectors also consider IWC a more prestigious brand compared to Breitling due to the watchmaking they put into their Grande Complication watches, which combine many additional features that all work mechanically.

Both are very popular brands and deserve to be on the list of the 50 best Swiss brands. But here we are comparing different types of brands. In a popularity contest among pilots, you may find that many prefer Breitling (although IWC also has a great line of pilot watches of its own). But when you ask luxury watch collectors, more of them are turning to IWC. Both are excellent brands that cater to a different niche.

watchmaking

In terms of watchmaking, both watchmakers have made generous contributions to the craft, each in their own way. IWC produces both high-quality simple watches that show only the time and date, and watches with high complications. High complication watches or Grande Complications; The stopwatch function simultaneously accommodates a variety of mechanical complications that allow for additional features such as perpetual calendar, moon phase, minute repeater, retrograde and more, all mechanically actuated by springs and gears.

Watch enthusiasts often look at the precision of a watch and use it as a yardstick to determine its value. That's why many watch manufacturers pay extra to have their calibers tested with COSC. Obtaining COSC certification allows them to put the word 'Chronometer' on the watch. Doing this indicates that the clock mechanism has a certain minimum precision that does not deviate by more than -4/+6 seconds per day. But not all premium watch manufacturers do this.

IWC is one of the watch manufacturers that believe that brand prestige should speak for itself and are extremely satisfied with their in-house testing and adjustments. Other watch manufacturers who think the same way include high-end brands such as Patek Philippe; so it is clear that COSC is not the determining factor of the quality of watchmaking that goes into a watch.

Breitling, on the other hand, certifies most of its watches by COSC and these come with a COSC certificate and the word 'Chronometer' written somewhere on the watch. In fact, even battery-powered quartz watches are often COSC Certified Quartz calibers and have Quartz Chronometer status. Quartz movements are categorically more precise than even the most delicate mechanical movements. This is even more true for the Quartz Chronometer. But here's the catch: most luxury watch collectors show little or no appreciation for quartz movements because they do not carry the long-established craft and tradition of traditional, purely mechanical watchmaking.

Second Hand Value

When it comes time to purchase a watch, most people look at the value they get from a new watch purchase. However, some people also look at the average value that a watch will maintain once worn. Like any consumer product, a watch loses some of its value when first used and depreciates further over time. Experienced watch buyers often look at the average resale value of a watch or watch brand (not to be confused with return on investment) to maximize their return in case they choose to sell their watch or trade in their second-hand watch.

Some people use phrases like "investing in a watch" casually, but the truth is that a watch does not gain value like a traditional SEC-regulated security or stock-based investment, and so using the word investment to refer to any watch is a misnomer. The rare occasions when a watch appreciates in value are so rare in fact that trying to buy a watch in the hope of increasing value is literally a gamble.

However, looking at the average resale value of Breitling and IWC watches, the IWC will, on average, retain more of its original value when resold on the second-hand market.

Price

IWC has had some of the best value high-quality Pilot watches, starting at around XXX list price. Made in-house, Big Pilot watches offer more, but also come with a heftier price tag, starting at around XXX list price. At the higher end of the price scale, some high-complication IWC watches, such as the IWC Portuguese Grande Complication, can reach a list price of XXX.

Breitling's Aviator watches start at a slightly lower price point. For example, a 41mm Aviator 8 watch starts at a list price of around XXX for a stainless steel model and around XXX for an 18k rose gold model. The most affordable entry-level Breitling watch would be the 44mm Breitling Endurance Pro Quartz, which has a list price of only about XXX.

Prestige Time offers both IWC and Breitling for sale at discounted prices. Browse the various collections from both brands using the buttons below.

Breitling Collections

Avenger

Aviator 8 and Navitimer 8

Blacksteel

Breitling for Bentley

Chronomat

Chronomat Colt

Galactic

Limited Edition and Special Editions

Navitimer 1

premiere

Professional

Superocean

Superocean Heritage

IWC Collections

IWC Aquatimer

IWC Da Vinci

IWC Ingenieur

IWC Pilot Watches

IWC Portofino

IWC Portugieser