The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Looks really yummy!

Carbonised steel is just another name for DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon or Diamond-Like Coating, depending on who you speak to). But it's the diamond part that's important - i.e. carbon. Basically it's a tougher version of the old PVD coatings that have been used for years. DLC is applied by a PVD method, but it's still a surface coating over otherwise ordinary 316L steel.

The case on IWC Top Gun (and the non-Top Gun version) is solid ceramic but the movement is encased in a soft iron "shell" inside the ceramic case to give it suitable anti-magnetic properties.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Ok, I'll be the odd man out. I am a Breitling freak, and although I would love to own a Top Gun, I'm going with the AS BS. I own a SA BS and love it. Ofcourse I'm a large jar-head who appreciates the big pushers and great readability. Like I said, love the IWC, but it's the Breitling for me.

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An ever changing collection.....

This forum is generally very objective when it comes to all brands of watches and the IWC is generally seens as a superior watch - with a price to match. I said the IWC in an earlier post, but it doesn't mean that I don't like the AS BS - I own one. But, from your choice of two the IWC is a better watch in my opinion.

Hello All!

I agree with Roff albeit this is a Breitling forum it tends to be very objective – that’s why this place is very special!

I am with you Driver 8 IWC by a Million + 1! lmao

Best Regards,

Enezdez

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IWC - Big Pilot 5002 - 01
IWC - Pilot Chrono 3717 - 04
Panerai - 183
Omega - Speedmaster 145.012 / 67
Rolex - Explore II (Black Dial) - 216570
Rolex - Explore I 114270
Blancpain FF 5015

Thanks for the education on the DLC process.

Really being a noob..if the casing is solid ceramic, it would not be as tough as steel? Is there a reason why IWC choose to use ceramic for this watch?

That's what I like about the BreitlingSource forum!! No bias!

When we talk about these type of ceramics we aren't talking about the same kind of ceramic that dinner plates are made from! There are many different types of ceramic out there - for example, remember the heatshield on the space shuttle is made of ceramic tiles, and that can resist thousands of degrees centigrade and also mechanical wear as a result of the re-entry process.

The Zirconium Oxide ceramic used in these type of watch cases is very VERY hard and as a result it extremely scratch resistant. The downside is that it is more brittle than steel (due to it's extreme hardness) and if you drop it from a height onto a concrete floor you may crack or otherwise damage it. However under normal usage conditions (i.e not throwing it onto hard floors!) the benefits of incredible scratch resistance considerably outweigh possible disadvantage of increased brittleness.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

What do you mean? I think I should be able to throw my watches at whatever I want!

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

I love Breitling, but given the choice, I'd take the IWC in a heartbeat.

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Current Collection: Breitling Montbrillant Legende, Breitling Navitimer, Breitling Chronomat Evo, Breitling SuperOcean Heritage 46, Omega Seamaster 300M Ti
http://www.twitter.com/paulsmerdon

Thanks for the information! Learn something new everyday.

Does it also mean the Zirconium Oxide ceramic watches mean no polishing is required since it's more scratch resistant?

Thanks for sharing the pics, looks great on your wrist!

Correct. Not to mention the fact that you'd need some pretty specialist polishing equipment for it as it is more like corrundum than metal in terms of hardness.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

As long as I'm allowed more than one grail then that IWC has to be one of them.

Even though I own the Skyland blacksteel, think I would still have to go for the IWC assuming cost is not an issue

IMHO when buying a watch, objectivity can't be applied like when you buy a computer for example. I think the look is very important when buying an expensive watch and not only the written characteristics.

In this case, for me the look of the Breitling outweighs the great characteristics of the IWC.

Of course, everybody have his own preferences.