Let's see your Breitling.
Discussion
don logan said:
I know, it got a bit out of control!
I've just kept the others rather than replaced them with anything, so it's mostly Rolex, Bremont, the Pelagos and that Zenith you hated! (Also going)
The Zenith with the stars on the bezel no wasn't a fan but the Pelagos that's a different story. If Mrs B lets me get another watch that's what it'll be, saying that she did get a nice Nite Hawk stealth for Christmas which I was very happy with I've just kept the others rather than replaced them with anything, so it's mostly Rolex, Bremont, the Pelagos and that Zenith you hated! (Also going)
don logan said:
Yep, there logo has a star!
The Pelagos is great but sometimes people find it a bit "sterile" but that's the "tool watch" vibe of it, have you seen the Pelagos LHD? It's interesting, it's not technically a Ltd Ed but a numbered watch, aside from that it's interesting and arguably better looking!
You wear your watch on your right wrist don't you? I'm a lefty so the crown would annoy me being on the back. The Pelagos is great but sometimes people find it a bit "sterile" but that's the "tool watch" vibe of it, have you seen the Pelagos LHD? It's interesting, it's not technically a Ltd Ed but a numbered watch, aside from that it's interesting and arguably better looking!
don logan said:
neilbauer said:
I agree but the price..................oobster said:
Chaps,
Got a Breitling B-1, purchased as a gift for me in 2002.
It's needed a battery 2 or 3 times since then, work was carried out by Breitling each time (even got the watch back once in a nice black Breitling hard pouch thing).
Last month I got the dreaded EOL on the display, battery time again I reckoned, put it into Beaverbrooks and was £133 lighter.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and Beaverbrooks have just called me to say Breitling have advised that a battery won't cut it this time and want to relieve me of a FURTHER £417 to give the watch a full service.
The watch is a daily wearer but never gets wet, should I get the watch back and get a jeweller to put a battery in it for a few quid or is it really worth spending £550 on the watch?
Ta
Andy
I had an Aerospace Advantage very similar setup to your B-1, I had the exact same dilemma and said no thanks I'll have the watch back. Got a Breitling B-1, purchased as a gift for me in 2002.
It's needed a battery 2 or 3 times since then, work was carried out by Breitling each time (even got the watch back once in a nice black Breitling hard pouch thing).
Last month I got the dreaded EOL on the display, battery time again I reckoned, put it into Beaverbrooks and was £133 lighter.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and Beaverbrooks have just called me to say Breitling have advised that a battery won't cut it this time and want to relieve me of a FURTHER £417 to give the watch a full service.
The watch is a daily wearer but never gets wet, should I get the watch back and get a jeweller to put a battery in it for a few quid or is it really worth spending £550 on the watch?
Ta
Andy
I traded it for my Seawolf Avenger as that's an auto and would not incur the running cost of a Quartz Breitling.
I bought the watch to avoid spending money on watches and have one nice watch for best to last my lifetime.
The Quartz Breitling went against every reason I wanted an expensive watch and I didn't like being held to ransom by Breitling.
My auto although missing the gadgetness of the Aerosapce now fulfills it promise.
E24man said:
I have had my B-1 for 20 years now and in that time it's been for just two 'Services', both times when it had already developed faults. On the second occasion a couple of years ago the jeweller called me say that Breitling were saying it 'required' a new strap... for nearly £500 extra.
As there was nothing wrong with the strap when I'd handed it over I spoke to the jeweller and asked for the repair reference so I could call Breitling UK directly and discuss the matter. Breitling were very honest and open and said they'd only 'recommended' a replacement strap - they were more than happy to just polish up the existing as they would normally do during a service. The watch came back with the existing, original, strap quite literally looking as good as new!
For battery changes in between times I got fed up with the exhorbitant charge and bought a specific B-1 case back opener and now do them myself. Have the battery ready, do it quickly and tidily, give the inside of the echo chamber a quick clean and it's never once leaked on me.
As for whether its worth you spending your money on it now - that will have to be your call. Second hand examples hover just above £1.5k for a working example so a broken one will be considerable less but IMHO they are tremendously useful watches with all the available functions, moreso if you know how to use the circular slide-rule (which I would hope all Breitling owners would know).
In your position you have to know whether the watch was working correctly when you handed it over; then call Breitling yourself to get the full story of what they actually recommend and then make a decision from there.
HTH
Good on you for replacing battery yourself. As there was nothing wrong with the strap when I'd handed it over I spoke to the jeweller and asked for the repair reference so I could call Breitling UK directly and discuss the matter. Breitling were very honest and open and said they'd only 'recommended' a replacement strap - they were more than happy to just polish up the existing as they would normally do during a service. The watch came back with the existing, original, strap quite literally looking as good as new!
For battery changes in between times I got fed up with the exhorbitant charge and bought a specific B-1 case back opener and now do them myself. Have the battery ready, do it quickly and tidily, give the inside of the echo chamber a quick clean and it's never once leaked on me.
As for whether its worth you spending your money on it now - that will have to be your call. Second hand examples hover just above £1.5k for a working example so a broken one will be considerable less but IMHO they are tremendously useful watches with all the available functions, moreso if you know how to use the circular slide-rule (which I would hope all Breitling owners would know).
In your position you have to know whether the watch was working correctly when you handed it over; then call Breitling yourself to get the full story of what they actually recommend and then make a decision from there.
HTH
I loved the Aerospace but love the chunky Seawolf as much.
I do miss the day date, very useful for shift work
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