Breitling - when is maintenance needed?
Discussion
Had a quick look in the archives and didn't find any info before, so here goes:
I have a Breitling SuperOcean Heritage II that I bought around 2 years ago.
Given that it has the B20 movement, it is 'eligible' for the extended 5 year warranty, which requires a water resistance test every 2 years - at no cost.
I was looking over the service prices and they mention a recommended maintenance every 2 years (at 160 euro) https://www.breitling.com/be-en/service/all-prices...
Does it make sense to have that performed or should I just go for the water resistance test?
First mechanical watch...
I have a Breitling SuperOcean Heritage II that I bought around 2 years ago.
Given that it has the B20 movement, it is 'eligible' for the extended 5 year warranty, which requires a water resistance test every 2 years - at no cost.
I was looking over the service prices and they mention a recommended maintenance every 2 years (at 160 euro) https://www.breitling.com/be-en/service/all-prices...
Does it make sense to have that performed or should I just go for the water resistance test?
First mechanical watch...
As above... test for being waterproof and keep the certificate/paperwork for your warranty.
Generally speaking, you should only have a watch serviced (i.e. stripped down to component parts, cleaned, reassembled/oiled) when it starts behaving oddly - losing time, typically.
Most watchmakers will replace any worn parts with new parts during a routine service and a repair is almost identical in time and cost to a service.
Many watches can go 10 or even 20 years without ever being serviced.
There are some owners who will say that their watch needs servicing routinely every 3 years or 5 years. This is completely pointless. Wait until your watch tells you it needs doing - the process and cost is the same.
Generally speaking, you should only have a watch serviced (i.e. stripped down to component parts, cleaned, reassembled/oiled) when it starts behaving oddly - losing time, typically.
Most watchmakers will replace any worn parts with new parts during a routine service and a repair is almost identical in time and cost to a service.
Many watches can go 10 or even 20 years without ever being serviced.
There are some owners who will say that their watch needs servicing routinely every 3 years or 5 years. This is completely pointless. Wait until your watch tells you it needs doing - the process and cost is the same.
I have watches that have gone 10 years plus without being serviced...
I also owned a JLC Gran' Sport automatic that needed servicing every 4 years.... Jaeger said it was a small movement and notorious for needing to be serviced. It cost £800+ to service and was away for over 2 months every time. None of which was in the JLC brochure! Sold it eventually, too much hassle.
I also owned a JLC Gran' Sport automatic that needed servicing every 4 years.... Jaeger said it was a small movement and notorious for needing to be serviced. It cost £800+ to service and was away for over 2 months every time. None of which was in the JLC brochure! Sold it eventually, too much hassle.
Glad you asked this, I have a Breitling Chronomat 38 that's a 2019 model - It has only seen light use in my ownership, I rotate it on for a month or so and use a watch winder during that time, but then let it rest for a month or so.
Given it's not my main watch I begrudge unnecessary servicing costs, a friend just sent his Tag F1 Quartz for a service, bear in mind the watch is £950ish new.....£480.
Is it best to look for a local watch specialist or send it to breitling? Mine is highly polished all over, was wondering if they polish it up again as part of the service too.
Given it's not my main watch I begrudge unnecessary servicing costs, a friend just sent his Tag F1 Quartz for a service, bear in mind the watch is £950ish new.....£480.
Is it best to look for a local watch specialist or send it to breitling? Mine is highly polished all over, was wondering if they polish it up again as part of the service too.
joropug said:
Glad you asked this, I have a Breitling Chronomat 38 that's a 2019 model - It has only seen light use in my ownership, I rotate it on for a month or so and use a watch winder during that time, but then let it rest for a month or so.
Given it's not my main watch I begrudge unnecessary servicing costs, a friend just sent his Tag F1 Quartz for a service, bear in mind the watch is £950ish new.....£480.
Is it best to look for a local watch specialist or send it to breitling? Mine is highly polished all over, was wondering if they polish it up again as part of the service too.
It might be 2029 or later until you’re prompted to service it. Given it's not my main watch I begrudge unnecessary servicing costs, a friend just sent his Tag F1 Quartz for a service, bear in mind the watch is £950ish new.....£480.
Is it best to look for a local watch specialist or send it to breitling? Mine is highly polished all over, was wondering if they polish it up again as part of the service too.
I had my Planet Ocean serviced recently by someone who still has access to the now restricted parts supply. Cost me about £200 for the movement service and I specifically didn’t want it polished.
It was 12 years old and hadn’t been serviced until then as far as I know.
Nice!
Mine only has a few very light abrasions on the clasp, otherwise it is like new so as far as polishing goes ideally I just want to get that bit cleaned up.
On a similar note, I also have a Tag F1 Quartz ceramic. I want to keep it watertight and running nicely, it's still on the original battery and is my daily. What's the best option for keeping a quartz ticking, bearing in mind I will keep the watch for life (wedding watch).
Also, I have a small, light scratch on the crystal - is it known to get these out when being tidied up or do you need replacement crystal?
Mine only has a few very light abrasions on the clasp, otherwise it is like new so as far as polishing goes ideally I just want to get that bit cleaned up.
On a similar note, I also have a Tag F1 Quartz ceramic. I want to keep it watertight and running nicely, it's still on the original battery and is my daily. What's the best option for keeping a quartz ticking, bearing in mind I will keep the watch for life (wedding watch).
Also, I have a small, light scratch on the crystal - is it known to get these out when being tidied up or do you need replacement crystal?
joropug said:
Nice!
Mine only has a few very light abrasions on the clasp, otherwise it is like new so as far as polishing goes ideally I just want to get that bit cleaned up.
On a similar note, I also have a Tag F1 Quartz ceramic. I want to keep it watertight and running nicely, it's still on the original battery and is my daily. What's the best option for keeping a quartz ticking, bearing in mind I will keep the watch for life (wedding watch).
Also, I have a small, light scratch on the crystal - is it known to get these out when being tidied up or do you need replacement crystal?
You would need to make it extremely clear (in writing) that you only want the clasp polishing. Personally, I'd leave it.Mine only has a few very light abrasions on the clasp, otherwise it is like new so as far as polishing goes ideally I just want to get that bit cleaned up.
On a similar note, I also have a Tag F1 Quartz ceramic. I want to keep it watertight and running nicely, it's still on the original battery and is my daily. What's the best option for keeping a quartz ticking, bearing in mind I will keep the watch for life (wedding watch).
Also, I have a small, light scratch on the crystal - is it known to get these out when being tidied up or do you need replacement crystal?
I don't know too much about quartz, but I would say that always keeping a fresh battery in it would be a good thing (old batteries leak and I'm not sure quartz likes being unpowered). Not expensive either. There is minimal servicing on most quartz watches - but it might be worth Tag having it back to change the battery and seals at 5 years - which is the rough life of a battery.
A light scratch on the crystal can be buffed out using brasso wool - you won't do any damage. Don't go mad, just gentle rubbing. Try on a cheapie watch if you have one in a drawer somewhere.
joropug said:
Nice!
Mine only has a few very light abrasions on the clasp, otherwise it is like new so as far as polishing goes ideally I just want to get that bit cleaned up.
On a similar note, I also have a Tag F1 Quartz ceramic. I want to keep it watertight and running nicely, it's still on the original battery and is my daily. What's the best option for keeping a quartz ticking, bearing in mind I will keep the watch for life (wedding watch).
Also, I have a small, light scratch on the crystal - is it known to get these out when being tidied up or do you need replacement crystal?
Honestly I would leave it.Mine only has a few very light abrasions on the clasp, otherwise it is like new so as far as polishing goes ideally I just want to get that bit cleaned up.
On a similar note, I also have a Tag F1 Quartz ceramic. I want to keep it watertight and running nicely, it's still on the original battery and is my daily. What's the best option for keeping a quartz ticking, bearing in mind I will keep the watch for life (wedding watch).
Also, I have a small, light scratch on the crystal - is it known to get these out when being tidied up or do you need replacement crystal?
On the quartz I imagine the recommendation is to have the seals replaced when you have the battery replaced. Is the scratch on the crystal or on a coating?
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