That would be an impressive way to start your Breitling collection if you wanted a smaller piece like the Monty!

Personally though, I never really see the point of platinum or white gold for watch-making. Apart the fact that both white gold and platinum are much rarer than steel (platinum is actually 30 times rarer than gold and around twice as expensive), they look very similar to steel, and yet do not wear as well due to them both being softer metals! (Platinum is harder than gold, and can be alloyed with iridium to produce an alloy that is almost comparable to steel, but the type used in jewelery and watch-making is softer).

So basically you get the look of steel, with none of the benefits, for at least double and maybe triple the price. Hmmmmm, that's a hard sell for me.

That would be an impressive way to start your Breitling collection if you wanted a smaller piece like the Monty!

Personally though, I never really see the point of platinum or white gold for watch-making. Apart from the fact that both white gold and platinum are much rarer than steel (platinum is actually 30 times rarer than gold and around twice as expensive), they look very similar to steel, and yet do not wear as well due to them both being softer metals! (Platinum is harder than gold, and can be alloyed with iridium to produce an alloy that is almost comparable to steel, but the type used in jewelery and watch-making is softer).

So basically you get the look of steel, with none of the benefits, for at least double and maybe triple the price. Hmmmmm, that's a hard sell for me.

Personally I think that if you want something a bit different (and don't mind the softness) you can't really go wrong with red or rose gold.

Although my watches aren't to impress anyone else, so the aesthetic side doesn't bother me, the fact that gold and platinum are less practical is definitely an issue.

The platinum used in watches is 850 Platinum (you can see it on the caseback of the Navitimer listing) - that's 85% platinum and 15% iridium by weight (slightly less platinum by volume). That gives a hardness rating on the Vickers scale of around 160 (higher is better) compared to between about 150 - 200 for 316L stainless steel.

shamrock

If you fancy a Montbrillant don't waste your money on a Platinum one you can have one that looks just as good for alot less.

http://breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3995

I'm selling mine and as you have small wrists maybe this is just for you!

haha, nice watch! i'm still looking around, but thanks for the offer ;D do the navitimer montbrillant come with pilot bracelets? is the legende a little bit bigger?

thanks

just checking the retail prices here in the uk.... looks like the montbrillant starts at 2500 roughly, while the legende starts at 3500... on average, what do you think 2nd hand watches come at? (of course depending condition etc), roughly around 20-40% off?

great!

thanks for answering all these NEWBIE questions! i appreciate your patience.

only thing about the legende face is that it doesn't look as good as the mont (in my opinion)... been using the catalogue (2008) as reference... got a price list with it as well... some very nice watches there!