Breitling - Price of a battery change?
Discussion
In answer to thread title:
£25 including reseal / pressure test and return by special delivery or £12 inc post (SD) if you're not worried about the pressure test.
In answer to the question in the post:
That depends what you want done.
A simple back off, change battery for the same as fitted, put back on, an reset chrono hands should be within the abilities of any half-way competent high street shop. That said, I've seen some truly horrible mistakes made by people who's basic role is "retail of shiny stuff".
If you want water resistance guaranteed then not that many high street jewellers have pressure testing facilities, so they'll want to send it away 9and charge accordingly).
Also, very few will be able to diagnose any faults there may be ("it's not the battery, Sir, we can send it away....") or spot mistakes by previous fitters such as wrong battery installed (surprisingly common, especially on chronos!)
£25 including reseal / pressure test and return by special delivery or £12 inc post (SD) if you're not worried about the pressure test.
In answer to the question in the post:
That depends what you want done.
A simple back off, change battery for the same as fitted, put back on, an reset chrono hands should be within the abilities of any half-way competent high street shop. That said, I've seen some truly horrible mistakes made by people who's basic role is "retail of shiny stuff".
If you want water resistance guaranteed then not that many high street jewellers have pressure testing facilities, so they'll want to send it away 9and charge accordingly).
Also, very few will be able to diagnose any faults there may be ("it's not the battery, Sir, we can send it away....") or spot mistakes by previous fitters such as wrong battery installed (surprisingly common, especially on chronos!)
Edited by Variomatic on Sunday 11th October 16:20
Variomatic said:
Not on their chronos (ETA 251 series movements).
They're quite easy to damage the coils on if you're careless because 2 of the 4 coils are quite close to a battery bridle screws, but there's a difference between special techniques and avoiding incompetence
Haha. Well, if the movement is "sensitive" then I would not take it to a generic watch battery changer.They're quite easy to damage the coils on if you're careless because 2 of the 4 coils are quite close to a battery bridle screws, but there's a difference between special techniques and avoiding incompetence
I have more than a passing interest in this thread as my wife has the same watch. It has stopped and hopefully it is just the battery.
Have you decided on what you are going to do with your watch?
I enquired at a local jewellers who sell high end watches, though not Breightling. They rang me to say it would have to be sent away. A simple battery and clean was £135. A full service is £475!!!
I have yet to take them up on the offer...
Have you decided on what you are going to do with your watch?
I enquired at a local jewellers who sell high end watches, though not Breightling. They rang me to say it would have to be sent away. A simple battery and clean was £135. A full service is £475!!!
I have yet to take them up on the offer...
That really is insane pricing. To give you some idea of what's involved:
Cost price of battery in bulk: less than £1
Cost price of seals (excluding crown if needed): less than £1
Time for simple battery change: 5 minutes
Time for pressure test: 20 - 25 minutes
Insured return post: About £7.50
If you include the "extras" that the makers include (which are only there as a reason to up-sell to servicing):
test movement consumption: 1 minute
test rate: 2 minutes
So,£9.50 total cost price (most of which is post) and half an hour for the job +, say, 15 minutes admin to box up and send to the post room. At £135 that's a fairly healthy £160 / hour!
Cost price of battery in bulk: less than £1
Cost price of seals (excluding crown if needed): less than £1
Time for simple battery change: 5 minutes
Time for pressure test: 20 - 25 minutes
Insured return post: About £7.50
If you include the "extras" that the makers include (which are only there as a reason to up-sell to servicing):
test movement consumption: 1 minute
test rate: 2 minutes
So,£9.50 total cost price (most of which is post) and half an hour for the job +, say, 15 minutes admin to box up and send to the post room. At £135 that's a fairly healthy £160 / hour!
Variomatic said:
That really is insane pricing. To give you some idea of what's involved:
Cost price of battery in bulk: less than £1
Cost price of seals (excluding crown if needed): less than £1
Time for simple battery change: 5 minutes
Time for pressure test: 20 - 25 minutes
Insured return post: About £7.50
If you include the "extras" that the makers include (which are only there as a reason to up-sell to servicing):
test movement consumption: 1 minute
test rate: 2 minutes
So,£9.50 total cost price (most of which is post) and half an hour for the job +, say, 15 minutes admin to box up and send to the post room. At £135 that's a fairly healthy £160 / hour!
Can you let me know the best way to get your details to send it in please?Cost price of battery in bulk: less than £1
Cost price of seals (excluding crown if needed): less than £1
Time for simple battery change: 5 minutes
Time for pressure test: 20 - 25 minutes
Insured return post: About £7.50
If you include the "extras" that the makers include (which are only there as a reason to up-sell to servicing):
test movement consumption: 1 minute
test rate: 2 minutes
So,£9.50 total cost price (most of which is post) and half an hour for the job +, say, 15 minutes admin to box up and send to the post room. At £135 that's a fairly healthy £160 / hour!
It's been in a drawer for a while so it's not been a priority but you seem to be recommended on here not to overcharge or send the watch back with free scratches and value added damage
I have a Chrono colt too. Not being one to pay someone for something I can do myself I shirked at paying so much for a battery. I couldn't find anyone to do it for less than £45.
Really struggled to get the back off mine - you will find most high street places don't have a tool that will fit without damaging the case.
In the end I laser cut some tools in acrylic using a laser cutter:
One clamps the watch (shaped to fit the watch with the strap removed).
The other is made of 2 bits - one fits the back precisely superglued to the other which is a circle with a bar to get some torque.
Unscrewed the back nicely!
I bought a Renata battery for £1, cleaned the faces up and reused the old seal. No pressure test but then my watch never gets submerged. Its easy to reset the chrono.
If anyone wants a tool, let me know.
Really struggled to get the back off mine - you will find most high street places don't have a tool that will fit without damaging the case.
In the end I laser cut some tools in acrylic using a laser cutter:
One clamps the watch (shaped to fit the watch with the strap removed).
The other is made of 2 bits - one fits the back precisely superglued to the other which is a circle with a bar to get some torque.
Unscrewed the back nicely!
I bought a Renata battery for £1, cleaned the faces up and reused the old seal. No pressure test but then my watch never gets submerged. Its easy to reset the chrono.
If anyone wants a tool, let me know.
Edited by was8v on Friday 9th October 22:01
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