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Rolled Gold falling off bicolor bracelet links
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Author:  thatonealex [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 8:08 am ]
Post subject:  Rolled Gold falling off bicolor bracelet links
A family member came to ask for help today, he showed me his bicolor chronomat where the 18k rolled gold was falling off the bracelet lugs.

I remembered how proud he was when he showed me his shiny ling after getting a polishing wheel and I realised he probably polished the sides off the rolled links.

His AD told him to get a new bracelet, they quoted around €3000. He bought the watch in a time when they weren't much more expensive than that so there's no way he's spending that on it and will probably just accept his mistake.

I'd really like to hear if anyone has idea's on alternative repairs and if this is something that has happened to anyone from normal wear and tear.

Thanks guys, I've attached a picture for those curious about what it looks like.
Author:  Roffensian [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 8:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rolled Gold falling off bicolor bracelet links
Never seen that before. The gold is applied as a laminated sheet which is much more stable than the molecular application of standard electroplating and I've never heard of a 'natural' delamination. Note however, that the sides of the links are not covered in rolled gold if that's what you were implying - i.e. looking at a link from the side will show the thickness of the gold layer.

In this case I think that he is going to have to live with it.
Author:  thatonealex [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 8:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rolled Gold falling off bicolor bracelet links
Roffensian wrote:
Never seen that before. The gold is applied as a laminated sheet which is much more stable than the molecular application of standard electroplating and I've never heard of a 'natural' delamination. Note however, that the sides of the links are not covered in rolled gold if that's what you were implying - i.e. looking at a link from the side will show the thickness of the gold layer.

In this case I think that he is going to have to live with it.


Thanks for your quick reply. I'm aware it's quite a thick layer, much thicker than electroplating. Just goes to show how much he polished it!

Do you think there's any using in contacting Breitling directly to see if there's anything they can do?
Author:  Roffensian [ Sat Mar 21, 2015 9:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rolled Gold falling off bicolor bracelet links
Breitling won't recoat it, you might be able to find an independent that could do it? It's 20 microns thick by the way.
Author:  Wim [ Mon Mar 23, 2015 1:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rolled Gold falling off bicolor bracelet links
Obviously an overpolished piece... Layer of gold gets thinner and thinner and will eventually be so thin it will fall of. Watchmaker or polisher should have told this to your friend.
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