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scratches in breitling: why?
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Author:  jacobbreitling [ Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:51 pm ]
Post subject:  scratches in breitling: why?
Hi, this is my first post at breitling source and I thank everyone in advance for their kind advice.

I have 2 breitlings: a colt auto II and a chrono superocean. I love both my watches for their sturdiness, great visibility from any angle and exceptional time keeping capabilities.I work in a manufacturing environment where we manufacture personal care products so the stainless steel breitlings are just great and very clean looking.

I do have a pet peeve however; the bracelets seem to scratch easily. Considering that the watches are made of stainless steel and are very sturdy: they do seem to scratch easily when compared to other brands. I also have a rolex watch but the bracelet do not seem to scratch as much. Please do not think that I am knocking breitling as I do like my breitling watches a lot.

is breitling steel of a different grade or maybe just the type of finishing done on the colt and cso? I was wondering if the chrono-evo or navitmer does't scratch so badly?

In any case, i like both my breitlings: very readable, very comfortable and easy to wash and clean everyday 8)

Thank you again for reading and for your kind replies.[/b]
Author:  RJRJRJ [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Its definitely the high polished finish. Check out a brushed model like the steelfish and youll see that it holds up as well as any of the others that you mentioned. The polished finish is like a black car...tough to maintain it, but looks the best when you do.

Check out Cape Cod polishing cloths and Sunshine Cloths if you havent already. Some forum searches for either of those will yield some useful info.
Author:  Driver8 [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:12 am ]
Post subject: 
Breitling steel is the same grade as pretty much every single other watch maker out there.... apart from Rolex. Rolex use 904L steel whereas pretty much all others (including Breitling) use 316L steel. 904L is more expensive and does have greater corrosion and scratch resistance, but 316L is more than adequate in terms of performance (unless you plan to sit in a bath of sulphuric acid or something!) One of the issues is as bnewbie said, that the highly polished Breitling finish tends to show scratches more than a brushed finshed. Having said that, a polished finish is pretty easy to maintain with Cape Cod cloths (or similar), again as bnewbie rightly suggested.
Author:  ling4life [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:50 am ]
Post subject: 
I recently purchased a chrono evo and have found it also to scratch easily....
Author:  jacobbreitling [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:07 am ]
Post subject: 
Hi, thank you for your kind replies and comments.

I went out with some friends ( rolex and IWC wearing group of friends) just awhile back and asked them if they could see the light light scratches in the cso polished steel bracelets. i was surprised when they said they couldn't see them unless the bracelet was held really closed up. they thought that the scratches where part of the design as they were unformly spread over the entire bracelet.

YEs, i do agree that polish steel is very much like a black car... I did see the steelfish matt/ flat steel finish but i really liked the cso polish steel much more.

I guess the scratches are really part of owning the steel bracelet. And i would never consider using a rubber or leather strap as i constantly wash up during work. The CSo is a really good watch: just requires constant cleaning.

thank you guys again for the replies.
Author:  Kwoksun [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:09 am ]
Post subject: 
Yes, I don't know why. Though it's a different story. I recently received a blackbird (brushed version) from an AD. Right after I took it out from the pouch, I already found a couple of scratches on the lugs before I even unwrapped the protector plastic :( . The AD did not acknowledge it but agreed to replace it with another one. I'll send it back tomorrow and hope for the best. :P
Author:  aleister [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:24 am ]
Post subject: 
I don't have a problem with scratches. I have no idea if I'm subconsciously very careful or if it's just the way I wear a watch but the only place I notice scratches is on the clasp. But sure, as it is highly polished it will be much easier to detect any disturbance on the surface.
Author:  Driver8 [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:27 am ]
Post subject: 
aleister wrote:
I don't have a problem with scratches. I have no idea if I'm subconsciously very careful or if it's just the way I wear a watch but the only place I notice scratches is on the clasp. But sure, as it is highly polished it will be much easier to detect any disturbance on the surface.

:yeahthat .... on all counts.
Author:  hnb [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:15 am ]
Post subject: 
I hate scratches, but I accept them... it is the price you pay for wearing highly polished masterpieces.

However, I am a bit disturbed by the twotoned bracelet on my Chronomat - since the rosegold links are not solid gold, what if I start to polish away the scratches on them? After a few years (?) will I polish through the gold and reveal the steel?
OK, it is not just a thin coating, but still.... gets me a bit worried.
Author:  crod [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:18 am ]
Post subject: 
you also have to realize its a lot eazier to FIX the scratches on a fully polished watch/bracelet. you just polish/buff them out. on a brushed bracelet usually if you start doing it you start the polishing process.....lol..
Author:  breitlingsource [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Actually I find it easier to fix up a brushed finish.. you just use a 15 and 30 micron polishing cloth or a nail polishing block or a fiberglass refinishing pen, and its back to new... without those tiny hairlines that plague polished bracelets no matter how much cape cod you use...

two-tone brushed and polished are the most hard to maintain (aside from bead blast)..
Author:  Roffensian [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
hnb wrote:
I hate scratches, but I accept them... it is the price you pay for wearing highly polished masterpieces.

However, I am a bit disturbed by the twotoned bracelet on my Chronomat - since the rosegold links are not solid gold, what if I start to polish away the scratches on them? After a few years (?) will I polish through the gold and reveal the steel?
OK, it is not just a thin coating, but still.... gets me a bit worried.


It would take a lot of polishing to get through, but I don't see my TT as a faily wearer anyway as gold is inherently a soft metal.
Author:  veilsidegs3 [ Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:11 am ]
Post subject: 
stratches will only get worst with more wrist wearing action.... :l
Author:  davo [ Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:11 am ]
Post subject: 
The bracelet is where 95% of my scratches occur, I just cape cod it once every month or two & the watch looks like new again. The way I figure it, if the bracelet lasts 10 years this way, it would be worth every cent since the bracelet will look like new for most of its life. Easy to replace it, & I can wear my watch every day without fear of the dreaded scratches.
cheers
Author:  Driver8 [ Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:51 am ]
Post subject: 
davo wrote:
The bracelet is where 95% of my scratches occur, I just cape cod it once every month or two & the watch looks like new again. The way I figure it, if the bracelet lasts 10 years this way, it would be worth every cent since the bracelet will look like new for most of its life. Easy to replace it, & I can wear my watch every day without fear of the dreaded scratches.
cheers

That's a very pragmatic approach there, Davo. :thumbsup:
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