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No AR coating, and it's ok...
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Author:  dlNYC [ Sat Nov 17, 2012 1:20 pm ]
Post subject:  No AR coating, and it's ok...
I had the outer AR coating on the crystal of my watch removed (underside inner coating is still there), and much prefer it this way cause:

1) I no longer have to worry about the AR coating scratching (annoys the heck outta me when this happens). What's the point of having a scratch free sapphire crystal when the AR coating does scratch?
2) I can use a cape cod cloth to polish out scratches on the case chimney and high polished sections of the rider tabs without worrying about polishing out sections of AR coating on the crystal.
3) I actually prefer the look without the AR outer coating, as I don't like the blue tint of the AR at certain angles.
4) I think Breitling uses scratched AR coating as an excuse to make you buy a whole new sapphire crystal when it comes time to service the watch when the crystal is perfectly fine (just that the AR coating is worn). IMO, they should only put the AR on the underside of the crystal in the first place. It would save a lot of folks having to spend an extra $200 for a new crystal at service time.

No AR and lovin it!...
Image
Author:  rgilbert24 [ Sat Nov 17, 2012 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
Who did it for you?
Author:  dlNYC [ Sat Nov 17, 2012 4:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
It was done during a polish at an AD, but honestly you can do this yourself by using some Flitz metal polish to remove it.
Author:  natesen [ Sat Nov 17, 2012 6:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
Looks awesome, I always wondered how much the external coating really helped. Did it they charge much for to remove it?
Author:  superavenger [ Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
I love the AR Coating on my Super Avenger to be honest, from some angles it looks so clear that it doesn't look like the watch has a glass, which looks cool since the Super Avenger has such a sucken dial.

Also, I think it differentiates it from the sea of replica watches I've seen without AR.
Author:  nickzac [ Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
I have a love/hate relationship with the AR crystal. I think the second coating helps a lot in some cases, but it is NOT very durable relative to the abuse watches see. I've seen scratches on every used Breitling, although some are small enough you can't see with the naked eye. For indoor usage, I find the double AR to give a nice advantage over a single AR. NOW, I think Breitling uses this because they make watches for people who fly, rather than because they want to make more money. To my understanding, they work isn't even done in-house. The Rolex models my friends have do not have any AR coating on them and I find them hard to read on some angles.

As far as reflections go, I think watches with domed crystals reflect light differently than non-domed ones, and so if you remove a top AR from one type then it will not have the same characteristics as the other. Don't as me why but my domed ones without AR on the top seem harder to read inside than flat, and vice-versa outside. Metal Glo will remove it in under a minute, and PolyWatch should do the same. Also the blue tint the AR makes can make a black watch seem blue.

But I think the nicest thing about removing it is the durability one. Sapphire crystal is stupidly hard and the crystals on most Breitlings, especially their dive watches, are quite thick...so without an AR coating, you have a crystal that you have to work hard to mess up. A coating is always just that, a coating, and so many people have said an AR coating on a sapphire crystal beats the purpose over mineral crystal...they have a point.
Author:  dlNYC [ Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
@Natesen, they didn't charge any extra over the polish job for the AR removal. Again, you can easily remove the layer yourself though, with some Flitz or other polish creme.

@Superavenger, yep it looks fine if you never get a scratch on the AR, but once you do, it'll drive you mad. Keep in mind, I still have AR coating on the underside of the crystal. Pic below in daylight, which still shows that it is pretty glare free. Plus, I no longer have to worry about brushing up against something and accidentally scratching the outer AR anymore.

@Nickzac, I agree that maybe Breitling put the AR on the outside for pilots, but in reality, if the watch has a slight reflection when you're looking at it, just rotate your wrist a bit to see the dial then. It's no big deal. I mean, I can see how AR can be useful to deter reflections on a cockpit gauge panel that is fixed and cannot be rotated, but when the watch is on your wrist, just tilt it and any reflection will go away. Lol.

I mean by all means, if you guys like the outer AR, keep enjoying it. I personally just prefer it off as I have less worries with it not being there and can polish the watch myself more without worry of scratching it off in places by accident. Plus, I think it looks great with it off...and honestly, the reason I knew I would like it this way is cause I have Rolexes and Bvlgari watches that don't have the AR coating (and a Bvlgari also that does), and if you look at my watches with the AR coating after a few years, the scratched AR looks really crappy, and my watches without the AR still look great.

Image
Author:  nickzac [ Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
Oh I agree once the AR gets scratched up it looks terrible. Also its tendency to make a black watch look blue can be frustrating...most pictures I have seen of your watch have a blue huge to it but yours doesnt given the AR removal.
Author:  dlNYC [ Sun Nov 18, 2012 12:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
I still have that bluish hue in certain conditions due to the AR on the underside, but it's much less than before...
Image
Author:  nickzac [ Sun Nov 18, 2012 2:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
Do you like the single sided AR as much, more, or less than none at all? Also, is the Speedmaster AR'd?
Author:  dlNYC [ Sun Nov 18, 2012 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
I really have no preference to be honest. I just don't like the AR on the outside cause it scratches so easily. It makes me always have to be careful when wearing my watch because of that, and that cuts into the enjoyment of my watch. Removing it lets me enjoy it a bit more cause I no longer have to worry about fine hairline scratches to the AR.

My Speedmaster, Bvlgari Scuba, and Rolex do not have any AR coating. My Bvlgari chrono does, and it's scratched up.
Author:  angstfree [ Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: No AR coating, and it's ok...
It may already exist, or not, but a crystal with built in
AR is something to perfect. If properly formulated, it
will be part of the crystal, not coated, & hopefully will
retain high scratch resistance as a sealed in component.
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