Breitling service/overhaul options

[Soupie69uk]

My Breitling Chrono Avenger M1’s battery ran out over the weekend. This is the 3rd battery and I have always taken the watch back to the Goldsmiths in Edinburgh where the watch was purchased 9 years ago to get the battery done. Watch would go away for a couple of weeks and come back. I do not think it went to Switzerland though as I was always charged under £100. Anyway Goldsmiths has closed and the Breitling website has Laings as the dealer now. I am thinking I should get a service/overhaul rather than a simple battery replacement. My watch rarely gets wet and is just worn to work and out at weekends. Will the service be enough as it still holds perfect time. I think the service is £170 and the overhaul is £540. I know the jeweller will recommend the overhaul due to the age but it mentions checking the seals and oiling on the service. What you guys think?

[hilly10]

If it goes back to Breitling it will come back as looking like a brand new watch. At nine years old if its never had a full service, then it really should now. It might not be cheap at Breitling but it will be dam good when it gets back. Worth it IMHO.

[Moose.]

Those prices seem a tad high from Breitling. I had my Emergency serviced and both the batteries changed (watch and ELT) and it came to £322 including delivery and VAT. According to the invoice they did the following:

Maintenance service
The maintenance service for the watch-instrument, Breitling Emergency includes all necessary procedures
to ensure the correct operation of the movement and the transmitter - particularly the exchange of batteries and gaskets, as well as refurbishing the case and bracelet; exception - watches made of precious metals. Watch returned with BREITLING soft case

It came back as good as new and they'd taken out all the tiny scratches etc from the case. It looked amazing! Then I dinked it on the fuel cut-off valve in the aircraft a month later...

[chris.mapey]

Have to say that when I sent my B1 back to Breitling for the 'full service' they didn't refurbish the case at all, and forgot a seal meaning my watch filled with water the first time I wore it afterwards... yes, the movement was replaced 'as long as I paid for a new battery' (!) but it still left a very sour taste...

The B1 has been in the cabinet most of the time since, my daily wear is now a Fortis B-42

[S1CHEWY]

Just put my Transocean in for a battery, nearly fell over at £105 for a battery.. Although had been quoted £125 from another shop.

Asked at the same time for a price on service as last was done in 2011 and quite fancy having a nice new looking bracelet and case.

Heres looking forward to 4 weeks of my Orient Mako Auto.

[hilly10]

S1CHEWY said:

Just put my Transocean in for a battery, nearly fell over at £105 for a battery.. Although had been quoted £125 from another shop.

Asked at the same time for a price on service as last was done in 2011 and quite fancy having a nice new looking bracelet and case.

Heres looking forward to 4 weeks of my Orient Mako Auto.

But you will have peace of mind the watch will look brand new all the seals will be water tight, and you can look forward to 5 years or so of a trouble free watch

[Variomatic]

First point:

It's quartz so it will not be harmed mechanically by lack of servicing. Unlike mechanical watches they'll simply stop running before there's any danger of wear happening. The first sign is usually that you'll find the battery life dropping as the stepper motor works harder to drive against sticky oil.

Second point:

Seals do matter, but don't need to be changed "on time". Pusher seals wear but back and glass seals won't leak unless they're disturbed - which only happens on battery or glass changes. Battery changes won't affect the sealing of pushers and a good battery changer will correctly seal the back.

With that in mind, as long as your watch is keeping time, all the functons are working, and the last battery lasted as long as you expected, get a battery and pressure test (to confirm all the seals) done by any good independant. If you can't get change out of £50 for that you're looking in the wrong places

[S1CHEWY]

Just got my watch back today, including service £123.... Not to happy with the shop as my service book was not with the watch when i collected, they cannot find it and would not give me a copy of the Breitling headed paperwork but said my receipt is enough.

Supposed to be looking over weekend and calling Breitling to check, but as i argued you have lost my service booklet that has the historical service recorded in it and the basically the watches log book with serial number and if i come to sell the watch, how can i prove its service and that it is genuine.

Cannot say that i was impressed, but after being quoted £320 for the service including battery not unhappy.

Does anyone know if duplicated can be obtained? I think Ernest Jones will be paying...

[Troubleatmill]

Maybe it is just too obvious... but how about contacting Breitling UK.

Phone them. [phone]
Fax them. [phone]
E-mail them. [e-mail]

Write to them.
BREITLING UK
P.O. BOX 309
TN2 3YB TUNBRIDGE WELLS


They must have had this happen before. I'm sure they will want to help you.



Also - complain to EJ...

6 WASSAIL SQUARE, THE QUADRANT
SA1 3QW SWANSEA

Phone
[phone]
Fax
[phone]
E-mail
[e-mail]


I'm sure they will put things right too.

[S1CHEWY]

Will let EJ have a go at sorting first, then go down the chase and find route later. Will demand some sort of compensation from EJ if i have to do it.