Breitling Aerospace Battery Change
Discussion
Can anyone recommend a place in the Reading (Berkshire) area where I can get a battery change done on my Aerospace. Local AD has quoted a figure of £140 to send it back to Breitling...……….but that figure could change IF they find other work that needs to be carried out. I was also pretty shocked at the £80 admin/handling fee should I decide not to proceed with the work following a quote from Breitling.
I've owned the watch from new (2013) and am not confident enough to change the battery myself (regardless to how easy people say it is to do) so would like to find a local (cheaper) alternative to sending to Breitling.
Any suggestions appreciated.
I've owned the watch from new (2013) and am not confident enough to change the battery myself (regardless to how easy people say it is to do) so would like to find a local (cheaper) alternative to sending to Breitling.
Any suggestions appreciated.
The £140 is a Maintenance Service not just a battery change but I suspect your watch is due a Complete Service for £475. You can send it to Breitling direct & they will only charge £21 if you don't go ahead (plus £18 for return postage).
They are expensive watches to keep serviced but I found then to be very efficient to deal with.
If you don't want the comfort of the Breitling warranty then try Watch Lab in the Oracle. They did my Omega battery change for around £65 including pressure testing.
http://www.thewatchlab.co.uk/branches/reading-watc...
They are expensive watches to keep serviced but I found then to be very efficient to deal with.
If you don't want the comfort of the Breitling warranty then try Watch Lab in the Oracle. They did my Omega battery change for around £65 including pressure testing.
http://www.thewatchlab.co.uk/branches/reading-watc...
I take my watch to an old fashioned jewlers in wokingham and £15 but I did sent it to breitling for a full service as once in a blue moon I would loose 5 mins at night so needed a full service but that was after 10 years ownership! 1st time I did a battery change didnt know they sent it back to main office and the battery didnt last a year!
bonerp said:
A good local jeweler will put a battery in an aerospace for about 15 quid. Heck even timpsons yts could manage that! Someone is robbing watch owners if they/you think it requires a job valued at even 65 quid to change a battery.
To be fair, it depends a little on what they include. If the open it up, throw (3) batteries in, close it and set it then even £15 is a little steep for what's involved.Edited by bonerp on Wednesday 28th November 17:17
If, on the other hand, they also check & replace seals as needed, check power consumption as a guide to possible future issues, and pressure test the thing once finished, then £15 is going to send them bankrupt in short order.
Ideally, whoever's doing it should be able to explain the pros & cons of those approaches and leave the owner to make a (newly) informed choice about what he wants done.
If you are happy to have a wet watch in the near future, or even a broken lcd display due to an incorrectly fitted battery, or even a watch you cannot set due to the crown being worn,......
If you are happy with those outcomes, then feel free to take your watch to any of the people above.
If you want it done properly, then trust that having it done by a Breitling accredited watchmaker(Not a cobbler, or a yts) is well worth the money you would pay.
The watch is fully checked for errors in the lcd and the circuitry, which can only be done by someone whom Breitling have supplied the equipment to.
The watch is also tested mechanically, to ensure that it is running well and no wheels are damaged or worn.
The seals are all changed as standard. (Case back seal &glass gasket.)
The crown is replaced, as the springs and seals wear as one would expect. A new crown ensures that the hand/time & date setting can be completed without issue.
End of line.
If you are happy with those outcomes, then feel free to take your watch to any of the people above.
If you want it done properly, then trust that having it done by a Breitling accredited watchmaker(Not a cobbler, or a yts) is well worth the money you would pay.
The watch is fully checked for errors in the lcd and the circuitry, which can only be done by someone whom Breitling have supplied the equipment to.
The watch is also tested mechanically, to ensure that it is running well and no wheels are damaged or worn.
The seals are all changed as standard. (Case back seal &glass gasket.)
The crown is replaced, as the springs and seals wear as one would expect. A new crown ensures that the hand/time & date setting can be completed without issue.
End of line.
Mr Pointy said:
VEX said:
I use Watch Doctors in Tring for my and mrs V's watch servicing.
Fully checked, serviced and pressure tested with cert and warranty.
How much does it cost though?Fully checked, serviced and pressure tested with cert and warranty.
That’s a new battery, all relevant seals, pressure test and ultrasonic clean.
As per above I wouldn't take my watch to someone who didn't replace seals or pressure test it. But I also wouldn't pay £120 for a battery to be replaced every year or 2. I've even replaced batteries myself with a few cheap tools on watches that will never get wet.
My tip is get to know a good local jeweler/watchmaker, ask him how his service works (ie seals and pressure test if that is important to you), and make an informed decision.
As for getting watches wet, I don't take a watch worth a few grand to the beach (scratches) or the pool.
My tip is get to know a good local jeweler/watchmaker, ask him how his service works (ie seals and pressure test if that is important to you), and make an informed decision.
As for getting watches wet, I don't take a watch worth a few grand to the beach (scratches) or the pool.
Edited by bonerp on Monday 10th December 09:11
Aerospace is back on my wrist with a new battery, resealed and pressure tested Used the WatchLab (Oracle, Reading) as recommended, £99 and all done with a 7 day turnaround. Watch will go back to Breitling when this new battery expires for a service. Original battery lasted over 5 years which I think is very good.
Used the WatchLab (Oracle, Reading) as recommended, £99 and all done with a 7 day turnaround. Watch will go back to Breitling when this new battery expires for a service. Original battery lasted over 5 years which I think is very good. dolphins3 said:
Aerospace is back on my wrist with a new battery, resealed and pressure tested Used the WatchLab (Oracle, Reading) as recommended, £99 and all done with a 7 day turnaround. Watch will go back to Breitling when this new battery expires for a service. Original battery lasted over 5 years which I think is very good.
When you do send it back it's cheaper to contact Breitling yourself rather than take it in to an AD. There's a very helpful lady who deals with everything. Used the WatchLab (Oracle, Reading) as recommended, £99 and all done with a 7 day turnaround. Watch will go back to Breitling when this new battery expires for a service. Original battery lasted over 5 years which I think is very good. In 2016, a simple Aerospace battery change, seal, pressure test etc. at the Breitling Boutique in London cost £90. Today I found out that they wanted £140 for the same thing, so was naturally very angry and demanded an explanation.
After a few choicely spoken words, they soon agreed to a lower charge of £100 including return by Royal Mail Special Delivery.
Utterly ridiculous to expect customers to accept a 55% price hike for such basic work.
After a few choicely spoken words, they soon agreed to a lower charge of £100 including return by Royal Mail Special Delivery.
Utterly ridiculous to expect customers to accept a 55% price hike for such basic work.
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