The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have been looking at Gold Navitimer 806's and there appears to be two different lug designs where they attach to the case
Can someone educate me on the difference, it appears to be that solid gold have one design and gold plated or filled are as the SS case. Would that be correct?

Many thanks in advance for any replies.

Both can be correct , some have , what look to be , soldered lugs amd others the normal 806 lugs
If you can post a pic we can advice

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Thanks for the reply,
I have attached a couple of pictures of examples. From what I have been looking at I have only seen the soldered on lug as you describe it on 18K gold examples and the more normal lug design on gold filled and plated. Is the soldered type lug only used on 18k cases in your experience? is it specific to an age range? i.e early watches only.

Again thanks for any replies.

All was and remains a question of cost . Steel or brass metal cases are either stamped from metalsheet then machined, or machined for a billet , thanks to cheap material .
In the case of high value material like massive gold, few machining operations are involved as metal losses would drive to heavy costs . That is why soldered horns can be used for massive gold cases and not for stainless steel or gold plated metal .

The top one looks gold plated to my eyes, and I have never seen a solid gold Navitimer with same lugs as the stainless steel version.

In other words, I have only seen solid gold pieces with soldered lugs.


Kurt B http://www.kurt-b.com