The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Any thoughts on the change from Titanium to Stainless for the Avenger Seawolf? Anyone know the reason?

Probably because the titanium was never very popular.

any reason, quality, durability?

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"You either step up, step out or step back".

Nope. People just seemed to prefer stainless steel.

I like the Ti, it makes a lot of sense to me.

i myself never liked the titaniam seawolf, it made sence as it looks like a verry good evrey day watch and doesnt rely matter if you can get it scrached as it looks like thats what is made for. but the new one looks a little more special, it has loads of atention to detail

There's pros and cons either way..... and some things that are "pros" to some people, while are considered "cons" to others.

Titanium is light and corrosion resistant, but (at least in Breitling models) has quite a dull "tool watch" finish. The lightness is a great thing to some people, while others (like myself) just don't get on with the lightness. I like a bit of heft and weight to my watches. Yesterday I checked out Stefan Tapp's lovely yellow dial ti Seawolf which, believe it or not, was the first Seawolf I'd ever handled. It's a very nice looking piece (I much prefer the dial to the yellow dial on the newer steel version), and while the head was actually heavier than I thought it would be, the lightness of the strap would definitely still be an issue for me. I thought maybe I'd have changed my mind since my shortlived M1 a few years ago, but no.

As RJRJRJ said, I think Breitling have started to reduce their ti watch output simply because thet haven't been that popular of late with the trend towards the more shiny pieces. Ti is also harder to work with than steel as it has a tendancy to "rip" when cutting it, and I also read recently that over time titanium can "re-weld" itself if two parts are forced together for a period of time. For example, I read that unless casebacks are removed every couple of years, the screw-threads can be torn out when you eventually come to remove the back. Interesting stuff.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

With the current trend to 'monster' watches - big, deep, heavy, shiny watches like the SA the titanium watches are very much becoming specialist. It works fine on things like the Emergency because no one buys that simply because it's Ti, but the market has been suffering for others.

I don't think that this is going to be a forever thing, as trends continue to evolve you'll no doubt see Ti make a comeback in a few years. I'm also hoping that with the recent popularity of Breitling there is going to be more room for niche watches which will increase choice for everyone.

Speaking of the titanium Seawolf: I was at La Swiss today, at Pacific Centre Mall in Vancouver. They have still got one of the titanium ones, with a Diver Pro strap. I must say the combo looks great. I remember one of the guys on this forum got an OR strap for his, and had it brushed to closely match the titanium. It looked awesome.
I'm afraid the older Seawolf is a model I am sorry to have missed out on. After I got my SuperOcean in 1997, in later years I kept looking at the Seawolf, but could not afford it. After seeing that one again today, must say I do prefer it over the newer version.
Oh, well, one cannot have everything. However, what could possibly be wrong with having 3 Breitlings?
Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

Driver, as usual, is correct on the material properties of titanium. In my work we use a lot of Ti and the propensity to cold weld (what it sounds like) when two pieces are threaded together, as well as the significant waste and re-tooling from the breakage during cutting make it costlier than SS. Likely not worth it if demand is waning.

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Chronomat, Steel/Gold, MOP Dial, 2-tone band (2008)
Super Avenger Black Baton Dial (2009)
Bentley B04 GMT Silver Dial (2013)
Avenger Blacksteel Baton Dial (2014)