A Personal Review Of The Breitling Shadow Flyback

Article:Author: Robin OBrien
I bought my Breitling watch about 7 years ago and wear it nearly
everyday. Despite wearing it nearly every day, having gone
diving with it, kiteboarded with it, and trekked across
Australia, Scandinavia and the Far East, it looks as good today
as the day I bought it.

In all honesty I’d never heard of Breitling watches until I went
into a store to buy a Tag Heuer – everyone I knew seemed to be
wearing a Tag and it seemed like the ideal watch that could be
worn both formally and for sport. Anyhow, while I was in the
department store looking at the Tag collections, the assistant
said, that if I liked Tag, I might also be interested in
Breitling.

Well, it was love at first sight. I know not everyone is going
to like Breitling watches. While I think they are beautiful, I
can understand why some wouldn’t like them. They aren’t as
’rounded’ as others like Tag or Seconda. Although stylish, they
have a certain old fashioned, harder-edged style to them. I
learned later that most collections of Breitling watches were
designed over 50 years ago and, despite some changes to the
movements and minor aesthetic modifications, they are pretty
much the same wristwatch as they were 50 years ago.

The Shadow Flyback I bought features an ETA 2892-A2 mechanical
movement. The movement is a chronograph, is automatic and has a
flyback complication. Most stopwatch second hands can be stopped
and then set to zero; with a flyback complication the second
hand can be reset to zero without stopping the timer – it
continues to run from the zero position. The power reserve of
the movement is 42 hours.

Like all watches in the Breitling Windrider collection, the
bezel is raised and is unidirectional – it’s not a diver’s watch
where the bezel is one-directional. However, the watch is water
resistant to 100mm – I’ve been diving with this watch to a depth
of 20 meters so I can vouch for its water tightness.

Although the dial comes in a few colors, the one I purchased is
of a very dark blue which looks black unless seen in sun light.
There are 3 subdials; second hand, 10 minute interval and 3 hour
interval. The subdials are the same color as the dial and are
set in a tri compax configuration, which means they are placed
at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock position. The date aperture is found
between the 4 and 5 hour marker. I like this layout as it’s the
more unusual in the Windrider collection; most other watches
come with subdials at the 6, 9 and 12 o’clock position with the
date aperture at the 3 hour marker.

The hour markers are just that; there are no numerals, which
gives it a very sophisticated look, I think. The markers along
with the hour and minute hand are luminous as is the tip of the
stopwatch second hand. Incidentally, the stopwatch second hand
is nicely counterbalanced with the Breitling ‘B’ logo.

Finally, this Breitling watch is available in stainless steel,
18k gold or two-tone. Mine is stainless steel (the best finish)
and comes with one of the best watch straps you can possibly
buy, the Pilot strap; the slightly diagonal, chunky rectangular
links really are very attractive.

As I’ve said I’ve had the Shadow Flyback for 7 years and apart
from some minor scratches on the clasp there isn’t a mark on it.
Since, buying it I’ve become a huge fan of Breitling watches and
it’s my intention, when I save enough money, to buy the
Navitimer Comsonaute – another beautiful timepiece.

About the author:
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