Nice review, I'm definitely picking one of these up. The only mechanical chronograph under $1000 is the Sea-gull ST19 series which seems to have an endless amount of problems, so honestly for this price range mecha-quartz is the best way to go. For a quartz it seems a bit thick, but most automatic chronos are 15mm+ thick so it seems Dan is just trying to be true to the original. That attention to detail can be seen with the slightly bigger 24h register too. On the original Breitling Co-pilot that was a 15 minute register for the purpose of getting planes ready to launch in 15 minutes, so it was made bigger and easier to see. The sandwich dial is a nice touch too. For the price this seems like a hell of a watch as the original Breitling it references goes for about 10 grand.
Agreed Dan Henry undoubtedly makes a pretty quality product for a fair price. Plenty based off of designs that either don’t exist or are impossible to get affordably. I’m not the biggest chrono guy but a mecha Quartz does just fine for me! Hope you enjoy yours
Another great review 👍🏼 I noticed one small thing when comparing the 1963 to the original 41mm breitling copilot that it homages. The 42mm Dan Henry proportions are closer to the original, while the 40mm proportions are kind of chunky (mainly the bezel) even though it’s a smaller watch. The bezel on the 40mm is thicker compared to the dial than on the 42mm. Same with the spacing of things on the dial. The original has a little more space on the dial like the 42mm.
Very fair point! I never considered looking at the original. I guess for purity the 42 is a great option, and based on the dimensions it would still wear well. I just prefer smaller watches so was still. Fine with this one.
Hadn't thought of that. That would look sick tbh. I have the original metal bezel, black face version. That had a more useful 1/10th subdial at 3 o'clock. I like the coloured bezel, it looks a very different watch than the silver.
I really didn’t notice the thickness, part of it comes from the domed crystal. It’s honestly doesn’t feel any thicker than a standard 12mm watch or so. Fits well for me!
One of the the sub-dials is clearly closer than the other. I am surprised you didn't talk about it. I am not sure if it is a QC issue or was done purposely for vintage effect?
Something I just didn’t notice wearing it. Looking back I can see it. The 24hour register is a little bigger than the other sundials for some reason. Clearly a design choice but a little of an odd one,
I bought a Dan Henry chronograph a few years ago. Complete trash, the lowest quality watch I've ever owned. Within a few weeks the Chronograph wouldn't reset to zero, instead it stuck at roughly the ten second mark. A few years (three I think) later and now the whole movement has failed: the second hand still ticks but the hour and minute hands don't. One of my worst buys ever.
Quartz.... Quartz.... How can it be a great chronograph if it has a quartz movement?..... The best place for any quartz watch is in the trash bin....... 👍
The design isn't quite my favourite style personally, but that blue is perfection
Agreed! The blue is a winner.
Nice review, I'm definitely picking one of these up. The only mechanical chronograph under $1000 is the Sea-gull ST19 series which seems to have an endless amount of problems, so honestly for this price range mecha-quartz is the best way to go. For a quartz it seems a bit thick, but most automatic chronos are 15mm+ thick so it seems Dan is just trying to be true to the original. That attention to detail can be seen with the slightly bigger 24h register too. On the original Breitling Co-pilot that was a 15 minute register for the purpose of getting planes ready to launch in 15 minutes, so it was made bigger and easier to see. The sandwich dial is a nice touch too. For the price this seems like a hell of a watch as the original Breitling it references goes for about 10 grand.
Agreed Dan Henry undoubtedly makes a pretty quality product for a fair price. Plenty based off of designs that either don’t exist or are impossible to get affordably. I’m not the biggest chrono guy but a mecha Quartz does just fine for me! Hope you enjoy yours
Another great review 👍🏼
I noticed one small thing when comparing the 1963 to the original 41mm breitling copilot that it homages. The 42mm Dan Henry proportions are closer to the original, while the 40mm proportions are kind of chunky (mainly the bezel) even though it’s a smaller watch. The bezel on the 40mm is thicker compared to the dial than on the 42mm. Same with the spacing of things on the dial. The original has a little more space on the dial like the 42mm.
Very fair point! I never considered looking at the original. I guess for purity the 42 is a great option, and based on the dimensions it would still wear well. I just prefer smaller watches so was still. Fine with this one.
If they went for the older yellow-ish lume, I'd buy one. Hate the green-ish on a vintage style watch. White or yellow.
Hadn't thought of that. That would look sick tbh. I have the original metal bezel, black face version. That had a more useful 1/10th subdial at 3 o'clock. I like the coloured bezel, it looks a very different watch than the silver.
does the chronograph minute stop after 60 minutes or keeps going?
This would be almost a no-brainer to buy if it weren't freaking 14 mm thick. That's like, ridiculous.
I really didn’t notice the thickness, part of it comes from the domed crystal. It’s honestly doesn’t feel any thicker than a standard 12mm watch or so. Fits well for me!
The original Breitling it's copying was 14mm
One of the the sub-dials is clearly closer than the other. I am surprised you didn't talk about it. I am not sure if it is a QC issue or was done purposely for vintage effect?
Something I just didn’t notice wearing it. Looking back I can see it. The 24hour register is a little bigger than the other sundials for some reason. Clearly a design choice but a little of an odd one,
It's a nod to the vintage Breitlings that did the same thing.
I bought a Dan Henry chronograph a few years ago. Complete trash, the lowest quality watch I've ever owned.
Within a few weeks the Chronograph wouldn't reset to zero, instead it stuck at roughly the ten second mark.
A few years (three I think) later and now the whole movement has failed: the second hand still ticks but the hour and minute hands don't.
One of my worst buys ever.
Quartz.... Quartz.... How can it be a great chronograph if it has a quartz movement?..... The best place for any quartz watch is in the trash bin....... 👍
True it would suck for a chronograph to be as accurate as possible
Yeah something is wrong with you
If it was mechanical it would cost much more.
#facepalm
You must be new to watches. Most chronographs are quartz....