The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I am one of those WIS guys who's adament about keeping the rubber away from watches, mostly because I don't think rubber is durable enough to be worn for decades. A lot of sunshine, water contact, getting wet <--> drying cycles, and generic everyday punishment is surely not where rubber would stand the chance in the long run. Rubber straps are okay, because you can change it anytime to a steel bracelet or buy a new strap for relatively small $$.

And so when the specifications about the new SuperOcean II was first revealed, and it became obvious that it has a rubber coated bezel, I was the first in line to express my huge disappointment. I even thought it's a galactically stupid idea to add rubber to a diver's watch.

However, lately I've seen quite a few watches with slight or more rubber content, e.g. Chrono-Matic, Airwolf Raven, Skyracer Raven. Shel's new Airwolf Raven (with its very black look of black dial, black bezel, black pushers, black rubber strap) particularly caught my attention. Then I've started wondering: maybe when the watch is not prone to heavy punishment, rubber could be a nice "spicing" on a generally stunning stainless steel watch. When one is bored with endless Navitimer/Montbrillant variations, a Chrono-Matic with its rubber insert on the bezel really stands out and says "cool" in some way.

But I'm not sure if that theory is actually true. Does rubber actually survive 20-30 years with gentle wear? If you don't take the watch near any water (except for cleaning once a month), does the rubber stay nice and fresh in the long run? If anyone here happen to own a watch with rubber bezel or rubber pushers (e.g. an old Chrono-Matic), I'd love to hear about past experiences about this matter.

In the case rubber bezels need to be changed after a couple of years, it would be useful to know how long one can order a new bezel for e.g. an Airwolf Raven or a Chrono-Matic 49.


Thanks,
Fiery

PS: Please forgive me if I'm completely ignorant and mistake rubber bezels with black DLC bezels. It would be nice if someone can clear this up too. Which Breitlings has rubber parts, and which has DLC'd parts?

I must be honest, but rubber has no place on luxury watches IMO. I'm OK with a rubber straps as I'd just consider them to be consumables like leather straps, but rubber bezels and rubber crown protectors (like on certain Corums) is just a total no-no IMO. I can't speak from personal experience in terms of wear, but I have heard of display models showing the odd nick and scratch in rubber bezels which is an immeidate reason for me not to buy one. But that aside I just think that rubber components look a little cheap.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Again, no personal experience, but I thought that rubber aged - over several years doesn't it become brittle?

Rubbers and plastics contain materials called "plasticizers" which keep the material pliable and supple. There are tons of ester-based additives that claim to keep rubber soft and bouncy "forever". In practice, however, there is little that you can do against the march of time. Over the course of years the additives leach out and are destroyed by UV light. No stopping it. Period.

Over time the material becomes brittle and may even delaminate.

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

The rubber used on speaker surrounds lasts in normal use around 10 to 15 years. As you can guess those rubber surrounds are designed to last the most severe stress possible. Still by that time it becomes Brittle and easily starts to crumble.

Rubber is a trendy material right now and it´s used as a coating in alot of surfaces that are exposed to touching because of nice feel called "the soft rubber touch". You can see it on car consoles, cameras, cellphones, remote controls, some home appliances etc. and yes now on watches too. Unfortunetaly in some cases it has some tendency to wear of or peel of.

As your sole , everyday watch - rubber may be problematic. As a watch in a rotation - not so problematic. IDK, I love the look on my Skyracer Raven. But I would not have bought that watch as an everyday watch.

Like it or not, the new SOs will be flying out the display cases and a whole new, younger crowd will own Breitlings.

Buuuut, I'm still new and about as far from a WIS as one can get. What do I know?

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SHARKMAN

Well, I like it!

I don´t have anything against the rubber on watches. Used right it looks good and feels even better. I was just pointing out some charestiristics of the material. I see it in my profession daily.

...And hey, if the rubber bezel can stand for 10-15 years. (which build right it can) Not too bad in my book!

I could care less if a watch has parts that wear out after 20 years. I dont really expect to keep anything that long, and if I ever did, im sure it would hvave received a full service in that time frame to be up and looking like new. If I had to worry about babying my watch every time I wore it, I probably wouldnt wear a nice watch in the first place. I think there is a fine line between treating something well, and becoming too obsessed to the point that it isnt enjoyable any more.

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-RJ

I'm with you guys!

Hey, if people choose not to own a watch with any rubber components, I can understand. However, believe me, Breitling is NOT stupid, and they're not going to use components that cheapen their line!

Rubber can give a nice feel to a watch, a different (less blingy, more tool) look, while maintaining the overall elegance, in my opinion. Yes, the rubber may need to be replaced in 20 years, it may crack, but as RJRJRJ says, I don't really care! Right NOW, I plan to wear and enjoy my watch, and having some rubber components makes it, in my opinion, easier to wear casual, on a daily basis, in my uniform of choice, jeans and a t-shirt! No guarantee that a chrome bezel won't need to be replaced, either.

I'll probably eventually get the bracelet for the Airwolf, which will suitably dress it up for the occasional formal functions.

Anyways, my two cents!

To each, his/her own! Just make sure to get the watch that speaks to YOU!

I'm a big fan of rubber straps, but only for a casual look. I have an old pro-diver daily strap which i wore daily for almost a year, and i have noticed the rubber to be less resilliant, and the black colour has faded somewhat. However, i agree that they are consumables, and aren't too expensive to replace, even if you need a replacement every 3 years or so. Also, i HATE rubber bezels/crowns. Nothing against them in particular, but just not for me.

IMO, there's something just too impermanent about rubber to be appealing on a watch.

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

I think that the problem I have is that I don't expect things like the bezel to be 'service parts'. I never sell watches, they'll be with me for life and I hope that they will be passed down when I'm gone. I have no issue with having springs, wheels, etc replaced during servicing, but the idea that a bezel would need to be replaced at every 3rd service or so seems wrong to me, but that's just personal opinion.

I can appreciate that perspective, but in my mind its just the trade off that you have to be willing to make if the look is something that is appealing to you. Its like buying a pair of white shoes. They turn ugly long before a black pair, but if you like the look, its just something youve got to deal with.

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-RJ

I have just purchased a new Avenger SeaWolf Chrono and I had them take the black calf off it and I got the new pro 2 diver strap that I can wear with my Oceanracer deployment clasp. I wear my watch(s) to work and in the summer especially I prefer the rubber to leather or croc. They get sweaty and begin to stink so I use the rubber. The OR and the new diver pro are the best rubber straps I have ever owned BTW. Eventually I will prob get a pro 2 bracelet for it to wear in The cooler months or if I want a more dressy look. I don't care for the rubber anywhere else on the watch tho. Just my 2 cents.

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CW4 Joe Phillips
UH-60 A/L/M SP/IE
Platoon Leader
Eastern AATS
Ft. Indiantown Gap
Annville, PA

I looove my Skyracer Raven. I'm willing to gamble.

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SHARKMAN