The Breitling Watch Source Forums

A question for any of the Breitling experts out there: What grade of steel does Breitling use of their cases and bracelets? I know that Rolex harp on about using their own derived highly corrosive resistant stainless steel 904L grade and that surgical stainless steel is 316L. Does Breitling use 316L or anything different?

Gabriel

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BREITLING Colt Automatic II

316 is a likely candidate but probably more so for its superior anti-magnetic property over many other SS alloys.

They use 316L.

As Bn said.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

I don't quite get the Rolex 904L - questionable improvement over 316L and significantly more expensive.

I read somewhere that the Rolex steel has less nickel content which is good for people with allergies. It's probably all marketing.

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Rolex DeepSea, GMT Master II TT, Pres 18038, DJ TT 16013
Breitling Chronomat 39mm (bullet+UTC), Starliner SS/MOP (wife)

back with ROLEX

Can anyone explain or point me to a post that explains what the numbers 916L nad 904L mean? Thanks in advance!

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SA Blue Dial Silver Subs Pro 2

Not 916, 316.

There are 'series' of stainless steel - each indicated by the first digit - 3xx are all austentic chromium nickel alloys, I'm not sure whal the 9xx series is. As far as I know the last two digits are just sequential variations.

The L is an indication of low carbon (less than 0.03%)

904L actually has a much higher nickel content that 316L which makes it bad for people with nickel allergies. Nickel is pretty expensive, and along with molybdenum, it's these elements that push the price up. It's actually a very industrial steel, with primary uses in plant equipment that is used in highly corrosive environments - e.g. sulphuric acids plants, industrial scale gas scrubbers, etc.

Apart from the higher corrosion resistance (which would be the least of your worries if your arm was in a bath of sulphuric acid!), 904L is also a little more scratch resistant, but not really enough to justify the additional expense. It's over-engineering basically. I certainly don't have a problem with that at all, but that's essentially all it is.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Due to the higher nickel and chromium content of 904L its a much brighter steel. You can really see the difference between the steel Rolex uses and the steel Breitling uses when they are side by side. (Im looking at my Seawolf and Seadweller next to eachother right now.) This might be the fact that I have a gray dial on my Seawolf which could be dulling the contrast between dial and case/bracelet, but I can definitely see a difference in the bracelets. Funny thing is when compared to my Skyland (High Polished) they dont look that different at all.

If Im honest the 904L really seems to be Rolex saying we are better than everyone else because of this....(insert Rolex marketing hype here)-In this case different steel than everyone.

Vacheron Constantin, Audemars, Blancpain, Breguet and many others all use 316L for their steel models, so really is 904L that much better? If it were, wouldnt all the top names use it too? Id say no its probably not better for the wear a watch will see. Is it different than everyone else? Certainly, which Rolex translates into a form exclusivity in their Ads. I will say its definitely (in my eyes) brighter though.

Can you please share a picture with us?
We are starving for pictures, around here

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Rolex DeepSea, GMT Master II TT, Pres 18038, DJ TT 16013
Breitling Chronomat 39mm (bullet+UTC), Starliner SS/MOP (wife)

back with ROLEX

Sorry Spartan, I managed to snap some quick shots but the battery has died on my camera and I cant find the charger. The minute I do Ill post some to show the difference.

Ive owned Rolex's and TAGS's and hey both use 316 and 904 respectively. I was considering a Breitling and wanted to know the grade of steel that they use and came across this thread. I wear my watches while working out- with cycling being my preferred form. With the TAG I get a nasty gray residue on my wrist, with the Rolex, I do not. Obviously the chemical composure of my perspiration works best with the Rolex. Ive also been known to have an issue with mineral depletion with long hard workout efforts.

Holy old threads Batman!


Other way round - Rolex uses 904L while TAG uses 316L.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I believe it was due to older submariners having corrosion/rust on the inside of the case back from many years in salt water, so the 904L is far more anti corrosive, and goes well with the 'Oyster Perpetual' tag line.

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Rolex Daytona Panda Dial 116509 40mm
Breitling Chronomat GMT Limited AB0412 47mm
Tag Heuer Link Chrono Auto CJF2110 42mm