The Breitling Watch Source Forums

anyone know why breitiling discontinued the production of titanium cases?
it is because of high production costs because it's difficult to work on?


d

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Breitling Antares B10047
Breitling Chronomat B13050
Breitling Chronomat A13050.1 - pilot bracelet
Breitling Chronomat Blackbird A13050.1 - serie spéciale
Breitling Avenger Seawolf E17370
Breitling Chronomat EVO A13356 - pilot bracelet

It's been discussed a few times before.

No announced reason, but I suspect that they just didn't sell so well - at the end of the day that will drive everything.

Also, quite a few have had problems with the crown threads as they got stripped.

I had a CA earlier, sold it and have thought about getting one back but the thread problem have kept me away.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

wow,thanks for let us know that!


d

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Breitling Antares B10047
Breitling Chronomat B13050
Breitling Chronomat A13050.1 - pilot bracelet
Breitling Chronomat Blackbird A13050.1 - serie spéciale
Breitling Avenger Seawolf E17370
Breitling Chronomat EVO A13356 - pilot bracelet

Grade 2 titanium (commerically pure), which is what I think Breitling uses, is not as hard as the better alloys, such as 6AL-4V (grade 5). The upside is that tool maintenance costs aren't much different than when cutting steel. The downside is that it is more prone to damage such as scratching, dents, and stripped threads. Breitling really is in a catch-22 when it comes to titanium. If they switch to grade 5, prices would definitely go up considerably. But if they stay with grade 2, stripped threads and other damage will continue.

Personally, I would love a B made with 6AL-4V, but most people would probably balk at the additional cost.

Regardless of what the specific details are, I can understand Breitling's decision.

Ironically, grade 2 isn't even used in the aerospace industry.

thanks man, this is a great and prof explanation... i felt that the titanium of my avenger seawolf is not as hard as it should be... i.e. like the one of my litespeed road bike
and now you explained us why... my litespeed is in 6AL-4V (grade 5), and the case of Avenger Seawolf is in grade 2 titanium, because to work with a grade 5 case the cost would have been 3-4 times more expensive.
got it!

c

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Breitling Antares B10047
Breitling Chronomat B13050
Breitling Chronomat A13050.1 - pilot bracelet
Breitling Chronomat Blackbird A13050.1 - serie spéciale
Breitling Avenger Seawolf E17370
Breitling Chronomat EVO A13356 - pilot bracelet

Hi All!

I have never had a problem with my Seawolf! I wear & shower with it nearly every day - just in case any wiseguys I shower ever day, just may not be wearing it - lol. I even go to the gym with it!

NEVER HAD A PROBLEM & HIDES THE SCRATCHES PRETTY WELL TOO!

Best Regards,

Enezdez

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IWC - Big Pilot 5002 - 01
IWC - Pilot Chrono 3717 - 04
Panerai - 183
Omega - Speedmaster 145.012 / 67
Rolex - Explore II (Black Dial) - 216570
Rolex - Explore I 114270
Blancpain FF 5015

hi enezdez, me too i never had a problems, but the topic and the discussion was about why Breitling dismissed to produce it and about which exactly titanium is a Breitling titanium case...


thanks,
d

_________________
Breitling Antares B10047
Breitling Chronomat B13050
Breitling Chronomat A13050.1 - pilot bracelet
Breitling Chronomat Blackbird A13050.1 - serie spéciale
Breitling Avenger Seawolf E17370
Breitling Chronomat EVO A13356 - pilot bracelet

Heres a question: I know JLC uses grade 5, and Breitling uses grade 2. Are there grades 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 a well, and are their properties basically in order of number?

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-RJ

There's more grades than you can shake a stick at. They are basically defined by what is added to titanium (as well as how much and how) to make the alloy. Basically, grades 1-4 do indicate increasing strength, followed by big leap to grade 5, but after that it's more complex. Wikipedia's has a decent page on Ti grades - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_alloy.