The Breitling Watch Source Forums

As I posted the other day, I'm quite smitten with the Chronomat 01 Frecce Tricolori, and I've been doing a bit of digging for a decent price..... although it seems there are very few decent deals to be had these days. (It's been a while since I bought a brand new Breitling!)

However, a question by Novacastrian the other day regarding the durability of the rubber-inlaid numbers on the bezel just got me thinking about the durability of rubber components in general.

It's no secret on here that while I quite like rubber straps (as I see any strap as essentially a consumable), I'm in no way a fan of using rubber parts on the watch head, and Breitling's use of it has put me off more than one watch in recent years. That said, on the Frecce Tricolori I was prepared to overlook it due to the fact that the rubber numbers are very small, and they actually look like DLC'd or matt enamelled numbers anyway.

However, Nov's comment alone got me wondering about the durability as I've seen other rubber items (no jokes please!) dry out, crack, crumble, "go sticky", peel, etc, etc over time, and any one of those is the last thing I'd want to happen on my bezel numbers.

The other problem I have with rubber is that it's not "user refurbishable" unlike steel, and it's not tough enough to never need refurbishing unlike ceramic, tungsten or sapphire crystal.

So I guess my question is to you guys who own Breitlings with rubber bits on the head - what's the durability like? Any cracking, peeling, etc? Does it scratch easily? Does it attract fluff and dust like some I've seen? Additionally, does anyone have any idea how the rubber is bonded to the metal substrate on these type of bezels? It seems to me that bonding a flexible substance to a rigid one is asking for trouble over time as any tiny gap in the bond will let water in and provide a perfect place for corrosion and accelerated "peeling". Thoughts?

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Driver8

Site Moderator

It’s a good point for concern, but one that you might assure yourself of by taking another critical look at the TF, again. I don't have a rubber bezel Breitling, but I do have a Mido with a somewhat similar setup. It’s more of a very hard plasticized material rather than rubber in my case. Stands up to wear very nicely. True, it is the reverse of the Breitling in that the numbers are metal and the bezel is the synthetic material. In this case it may be an all in one and not separated, a little difficult to tell.

If the TF numbers are a little spongy to the feel, then perhaps that might be an even better arrangement as bouncing off or glancing may be less damaging than something harder. If the projection of the numbers is low, they are less likely to get caught or snagged. Higher profiles might be levered out much more easily.

Just some thoughts.

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Jim

"You have Control".

My simplistic understanding was the vulcanised rubber they use on the bezel was much harder and more durable than the rubber on our DP straps... and obviously isn't being bent and stretch all the time by wrists... I'd expect it to last for decades?

I have a Superocean Chono II with the rubber bezel for over a year now. I wear it almost every day and even for swimming from time to time (in chlorinated swimming pools). I can not make out any scratches on the rubber bezel so far - but of course I am über-careful not to bounce it against whatsoever.
It does not attract any fluff, unlike the rubber DP II or III straps that do attract some fluff (which one will notice most when taking a picture and reviewing the picture on the desktop computer).
Just my two cents, hope this helps.

No problems so far with my 2010 Skyracer Raven though don't know exactly how this kind of bezels are made.
I have scratched several times the bezels on my Skyland Avenger & my Aerospace but Skyracer's bezel has proven ''scratchproof'' so far.

A quick bath with water and mild soap and looks like new every time.

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Breitling Skyracer Raven
Breitling B-1 A68362

Thanks a lot guys - good information from first-hand experience! You've set my mind at rest about it, so all I need to do now is get that deal!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Dying to see that rare event. D8's wrist shot for a start and with a Chronomat 01 of any sort will be an added bonus
Hope we don't have to wait too long

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"It is just a matter of time!"

Yeah I don't do too many wrist shots (or photos in general) as I don't share everything publically. But if I manage to land one of these, then rest assured I will be posting some pics...... if for no other reason that to prove I've "gone over to the Buck side" (to quote Al)!

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Driver8

Site Moderator