Breitling service advice please
Discussion
I have had a Colt for about 14 years. I know it's bottom of the range but I like it.
It started losing time recently so I took it to Golldsmiths to arrange a service. I had never bothered before.
The service fee of £375 wasn't unexpected and they did warn me that they would inform me if anything else needed doing.
A 3 month turn round was a bit of a shock though.
I had the following email from Goldsmiyhs on Saturday:
"Good Afternoon,
We have today heard from Breitling with regards to your watch and would like to submit the following estimate to restore it to full working order:
A complete service £375.00
Exchange of the bezel - existing is dented and suspected thread damage £515.00
Exchange of the crown - existing is scratched and dented £55.00
The work will take approximately ten weeks to complete."
Now, the watch is 14 years old and has been worn every day whether I'm in the office, in the garden or working on the car so I expect it to be scratched. And it will get scratched again, I guess, so I'm not convinced it's worth changing the crown or crystal.
The big shocker was the bezel, though. I hadn't realised that it had stopped rotating and assumed that there maybe a little grit/ dust in it, but I'm advised that it's £515 to replace. That strikes me as taking to the p...roverbial.
For the £1036 quoted and I can buy a second hand one or an Aerospace etc with a warranty from one of the on line watch dealers, or I could buy a couple of Tag, 3 X Seiko or a couple of Chritopher Ward.
I'm actually thinking of telling them to service the watch only and not bother with the bezel, crystal, crown.
Any thoughts?
Cheers.
It started losing time recently so I took it to Golldsmiths to arrange a service. I had never bothered before.
The service fee of £375 wasn't unexpected and they did warn me that they would inform me if anything else needed doing.
A 3 month turn round was a bit of a shock though.
I had the following email from Goldsmiyhs on Saturday:
"Good Afternoon,
We have today heard from Breitling with regards to your watch and would like to submit the following estimate to restore it to full working order:
A complete service £375.00
Exchange of the bezel - existing is dented and suspected thread damage £515.00
Exchange of the crown - existing is scratched and dented £55.00
- Exchange of the crystal - scratches notes on anti reflective coating £91.00
The work will take approximately ten weeks to complete."
Now, the watch is 14 years old and has been worn every day whether I'm in the office, in the garden or working on the car so I expect it to be scratched. And it will get scratched again, I guess, so I'm not convinced it's worth changing the crown or crystal.
The big shocker was the bezel, though. I hadn't realised that it had stopped rotating and assumed that there maybe a little grit/ dust in it, but I'm advised that it's £515 to replace. That strikes me as taking to the p...roverbial.
For the £1036 quoted and I can buy a second hand one or an Aerospace etc with a warranty from one of the on line watch dealers, or I could buy a couple of Tag, 3 X Seiko or a couple of Chritopher Ward.
I'm actually thinking of telling them to service the watch only and not bother with the bezel, crystal, crown.
Any thoughts?
Cheers.
Its a fair call on the crown, but i hadnt noticed a problem a problem with it. I think its just a slight dent in it from wear that can only be seen when looking for it.
The bezel is the kicker. Ithas always "crept" slightly but now its stuck solid at about 1400. I hadnt even noticed it. Im annoyed its stuck but it doesnt affect the working of the watch. Im even more annoyed about the cost to replace.
The bezel is the kicker. Ithas always "crept" slightly but now its stuck solid at about 1400. I hadnt even noticed it. Im annoyed its stuck but it doesnt affect the working of the watch. Im even more annoyed about the cost to replace.
Just to update, I have spoken to Variomatic and found him very helpful. As a result I have recovered my watch from Goldsmlths/ Breitling and will send it to Joe on Monday.
Joe' s forecast Service charge was significantly less than Breitlings, although the bezel repair can't be costed until seen.
In the mean time, I have spent some of the potential money saved on a Christopher Ward C7!
Joe' s forecast Service charge was significantly less than Breitlings, although the bezel repair can't be costed until seen.
In the mean time, I have spent some of the potential money saved on a Christopher Ward C7!
Another update, and a thank you to those that recommended "Variomatic" (Joe).
I received my watch back today. Cleaned, serviced, pressure tested and working fine. The bezel was freed by the simple expedient of ultrasonic cleaning and lubricated.
All for a very small % of the Breitling quote. Indeed with the cost of the service and the purchase of a Christopher Ward C7, I still had change from the original service estimate of £375, let alone the cost of the bezel replacement!
I do appreciate that Breitling polish and refurbish to a near new standard, however, I wasn't actually after that. I might have actually paid their price for the service, but the cost of replacing the bezel, which ultimately didn't need replacing, was the real issue, that I couldn't stomach, and I just think they were either taking the P or trying to get me to part ex for a new watch.
Anyway, very happy with Variomatic's service. Well recommended.
I received my watch back today. Cleaned, serviced, pressure tested and working fine. The bezel was freed by the simple expedient of ultrasonic cleaning and lubricated.
All for a very small % of the Breitling quote. Indeed with the cost of the service and the purchase of a Christopher Ward C7, I still had change from the original service estimate of £375, let alone the cost of the bezel replacement!
I do appreciate that Breitling polish and refurbish to a near new standard, however, I wasn't actually after that. I might have actually paid their price for the service, but the cost of replacing the bezel, which ultimately didn't need replacing, was the real issue, that I couldn't stomach, and I just think they were either taking the P or trying to get me to part ex for a new watch.
Anyway, very happy with Variomatic's service. Well recommended.
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