The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I'm new to Breitling but is hooked on Blackbird. Knowing that there are brushed and polished steel cases and a white gold case, I'm confused as how to differentiate them. Can anyone advise the correct model numbers for each of these variants?

I'm now inclined to the brushed steel case model. Is the Pilot bracelet also fully brushed? Or is is partly polished, partly brushed. Again, what is the model number for a brushed case brushed bracelet?

Thanks.

Hi Kwoksun,
I am not sure about the model numbers, but I have seen both the brushed and polished stainless steel models. Brushed: is brushed on the top, and the sides of the bezel, case and pilot bracelet are polished, as well as the crown and subcrowns. Polished: the whole thing is polished, even the bezel which is kind of unusual. The pilot bracelet for the Blackbird is unique, and has bevelled edges. It is very comfortable, and looks great. On the polished model, even the bevelled edges of the bracelet are polished. It is certainly the most polished Breitling I have ever seen! The brushed to me is the better choice of the two. The dial, while looking outstanding, is very subdued in that it is not bright at all, at to me looks a little out of place on the polished model. To me, the polished model should have some treatment on the dial as well, like a guilloched effect, to give it a little sparkle.
As for the white gold, according to the old price list from 2007-2008, it is considered a Limited Edition - of how many, I don't know - and it is over $41,000. I have never seen one, only a picture on the website, but from that I can't tell if it's polished or not. It looks just the same to me as the stainless one.
Hope all this info helps. I have been looking at the Blackbird for over a year now, but probably will be a while till I can afford one.
Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

New blackbird is:
A4435912/B811 on steel pilot retail is $6940

Old school (if there is one) satin:
A4435910/B811 on steel pilot retail is $6940 as well.

White gold:
J4435911/B835 on white gold pilot is $48080 (just a tiny bit more)

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Thanks to Carl and Mario fast and detailed replies.

So just to be double sure: is the bracelet on the brushed model A4435910/B811 brushed on all parts and not like many that I saw which have ther center links polished? Are there other models that have the all brushed steel bracelets? (I hate polished links). Thanks.

The one you saw would have been the brushed version.

The new polished version is all polished.

You of course have the option of getting the watch on a strap to solve that problem, or one of the titanium models will have a brushed finish (Seawolf, M1 - slthough that's quartz and being discontinued, Emergency, Aerospace).

There is also a member on here who managed to persuade Breitling to apply a brushed finish to his Skyracer, or you can have any watch / bracelet brushed out aftermarket.

By the way, the prices Mario quoted are US, not Canadian.

Thanks, you've been great help. Does the titanium one fit Blackbird? Although size-wise it's same at 22mm, what about the shape of the end links? I heard titanium is more easy to get scratches than steel although it's tough metal.

I don't think that you'll get a titanium bracelet (which would be a Pro II and not a Pilot) to fit the Blackbird because of the different end links. I don't own a titanium watch / bracelet so I'll let others comment on scratch resistance vs. steel.

Titanium is softer but tougher than steel. You'll easier get scratches on the Ti bracelet but they will not show as much as they do on a SS bracelet, since Ti bracelets tend to be brushed and that hides quite a few scratches.

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You are quite correct Aleister, but I always find that a strange paradox - "softer, yet tougher".

@Kwoksun - corrosion resistance and lightness (titanium is 43% lighter than steel) are the main other benefits of titanium, which is why it's often the metal of choice in the aeronautical industry, but in a watch it just tends to come down to aesthetics.

BTW, I don't think a titanium bracelet on a steel watch like the Blackbird would look very good anyway, even if you could find one that fitted.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Yes I know, it sounds strange, but without mentioning hardness test and tensile strengths which would confuse people even more, this is as far as I know it the easiest way of explaining.

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