The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi Everyone!

It would appear that the brushed finish on my Chronomat 01 LE is the same as the other brushed finishes from Breitling. If so, which would be the best tool to take scuffs out of the finish, and reapply the grain? I'm thinking a little fiberglass pen from Bergeon is likely the key, but which one?

Thanks very much!!

Hi there,

For what its worth. The brushing stylus pens are not good for what you want. I have tried it, and for me it was a total failure. They are great for putting brush marks in, but hopeless for refinishing. You either need to be very careful (which I try to be) or very skillful (which I probably am not - hence my dissatisfaction).

What does work really well is a finishing pad. They are available for stainless and tungsten, and IMHO can be more easily controlled to deliver a great finish than just about anything else. Slow and easy to start off with and steady as she goes. Each stroke make a difference, even if you can’t see it straight away. Its not like sanding and you need a lot of time and to read the instructions very carefully. Might have to do an area bigger that the scratch, just to get a uniform finish over the area in question. You can mask with tape, any ware you don’t want to finish, and you will be surprised that the pad won’t score the masked area.

Superb.

Later

Jim

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Jim

"You have Control".

There are quite a few threads on here that talk about DIY refinishing, but P51 has covered it all pretty well.

Personally (and other's will agree) I use green Scotchbrite pads. They do the same job as a finishing pad, and with care and a little masking the results are very good. I've related the tale on here before, but a few years ago I part-exchanged a two year old, daily-worn Omega SMP at an AD, but before I took it in I made sure I'd taken the time to use a Scotchbrite pad on it. The jeweller carefully examined the watch and then asked me if I'd ever worn it!! That's a big thumbs-up for the Scotchbrite in my book.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I have been considering one of the pens to touch up the links on my Navi bracelet, but I am now wondering if that is the right way to go. I am not looking to re-finish per se but just prep for sale. Any advice for the small nooks and crannies on a brushed bracelet?

I'd be surprised if the real nooks and crannies were actually all that scratched given the fact that if they're hard to get to anyway. But of they are then a fibreglass pen will probably do it. For very small hidden away areas they are fine : just don't be tempted to use them on a larger area as it can look very uneven.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks very much guys; I'll order the 2 pens for small areas here and there I want to poke at, and get a scotchbrite for the rest.

Is there a reason the green scotchbrite is preferred over the red?

Thanks again!

I've only ever seen green!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

One of our members here swears by some type of 50 grit sandpaper. He thinks the Scotchbrite is too coarse, though I had good results using scotchbrite to brush a couple polished deployants and the bracelet of a Tag Link Chrono I gave away.

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SHARKMAN

Driver8,

Redish/Brown is the scotchbrite I use here on Aluminium etc. Just curious more than anything as to why green. Wait a sec, can you post a pic here of the scotchbrite you use? i'm wondering if your using the pad designed for finishing metals, or the ones for cleaning which IIRC is green...

Sharkman,

The watch has one tiny little dent in it right on top of the lug, smaller than a grain of sand that is now shiny so it catches the light, and one scratch on the band. Shouldn't be too hard! I will let you know if I go down in flames.

FYI: there are a lot of different scotch-brite finishing pads available depending on application... here is a link:

http://www.shop3m.com/3m-hand-pads-8xsskbx771.html

Thanks sracer, I'm going to grab one from a local machine shop.