Breitling Repair
Discussion
I have a Brietling Hercules but the crown has fallen off the winder. Breitling say they will repair it for £250 but they want to do a service at the same time, taking the cost of the whole job to over £600. The watch is only worth about £1,000 - any ideas where I can get this done outside of Breitling?
Assuming the watch is otherwise ok, should be a fairly quick and painless job if you still have the crown. It depends a little on how easy the old stem is to remove from the crown - if there's enough to get hold of to unscrew it then no problem at all, if it's broken off flush then it takes a while to dissolve the stub out.
Variomatic said:
Assuming the watch is otherwise ok, should be a fairly quick and painless job if you still have the crown. It depends a little on how easy the old stem is to remove from the crown - if there's enough to get hold of to unscrew it then no problem at all, if it's broken off flush then it takes a while to dissolve the stub out.
I'll call you tomorrow sir
Variomatic said:
Assuming the watch is otherwise ok, should be a fairly quick and painless job if you still have the crown. It depends a little on how easy the old stem is to remove from the crown - if there's enough to get hold of to unscrew it then no problem at all, if it's broken off flush then it takes a while to dissolve the stub out.
How do you do that? Really intrigued. 
You use a saturated solution of alum (potassium aluminium sulphate) and leave it soaking until the non-stainless steel stem dissolves leaving the stainless steel (or brass) crown behind.
Alum is a weak acid and will attack steel in preference to most other metals used in watches. It's quite slow - typically takes up to a week or so to remove a stub measuring around 1mm x 0.9mm.
You can use stronger stuff like sulphuric acid but that increases the risk of damage to the other bits and you can't use them to stop shaving cuts bleeding or to keep pickles crispy (both of which alum is also great for).
Alum is a weak acid and will attack steel in preference to most other metals used in watches. It's quite slow - typically takes up to a week or so to remove a stub measuring around 1mm x 0.9mm.
You can use stronger stuff like sulphuric acid but that increases the risk of damage to the other bits and you can't use them to stop shaving cuts bleeding or to keep pickles crispy (both of which alum is also great for).
My super avenger has the same problem. Seams to be a case of when it happens not if with breitling.
Mine has gone to https://www.rudells.com/. They one of the recommended breitling repairers.
They will say the same as breitling but at fraction of the price.
I did expect better from a luxury brand. mines only 3 yrs old.
Mine has gone to https://www.rudells.com/. They one of the recommended breitling repairers.
They will say the same as breitling but at fraction of the price.
I did expect better from a luxury brand. mines only 3 yrs old.
Variomatic said:
You use a saturated solution of alum (potassium aluminium sulphate) and leave it soaking until the non-stainless steel stem dissolves leaving the stainless steel (or brass) crown behind.
Alum is a weak acid and will attack steel in preference to most other metals used in watches. It's quite slow - typically takes up to a week or so to remove a stub measuring around 1mm x 0.9mm.
You can use stronger stuff like sulphuric acid but that increases the risk of damage to the other bits and you can't use them to stop shaving cuts bleeding or to keep pickles crispy (both of which alum is also great for).
Thanks. I so admire your knowledge. And as I said Alum is a weak acid and will attack steel in preference to most other metals used in watches. It's quite slow - typically takes up to a week or so to remove a stub measuring around 1mm x 0.9mm.
You can use stronger stuff like sulphuric acid but that increases the risk of damage to the other bits and you can't use them to stop shaving cuts bleeding or to keep pickles crispy (both of which alum is also great for).
I grew up 'in the trade', retail, but with a thirst for practical in both watches and gemstones and was encouraged by my, at the time boss, to further that inquisitiveness. Lucky me; I love the detail.
My Breitling crown winder has lost its thread so is no longer waterproof as am unable to tighten it. Dropped it off at a Brietling service centre and asked them to give me a repair cost. They just quoted me £1181.00 as they said they would give me a repair plus full service which included changing other parts and to clean and service the metal strap, despite the fact that I have been using the Breitling rubber strap as my metal strap is kept at home in excellent condition. Cannot understand how they want so much money when watch works AOK other than crown winder, and despite my requests they will not budge on their quoted price of over £1,000.
Please can anyone help me source an alternative repairer as am happy to pay a reasonable price. Thanks Faststream
Please can anyone help me source an alternative repairer as am happy to pay a reasonable price. Thanks Faststream
Faststream said:
My Breitling crown winder has lost its thread so is no longer waterproof as am unable to tighten it. Dropped it off at a Brietling service centre and asked them to give me a repair cost. They just quoted me £1181.00 as they said they would give me a repair plus full service which included changing other parts and to clean and service the metal strap, despite the fact that I have been using the Breitling rubber strap as my metal strap is kept at home in excellent condition. Cannot understand how they want so much money when watch works AOK other than crown winder, and despite my requests they will not budge on their quoted price of over £1,000.
Please can anyone help me source an alternative repairer as am happy to pay a reasonable price. Thanks Faststream
See the recommended watch repairer mentioned above! Highly recommended.Please can anyone help me source an alternative repairer as am happy to pay a reasonable price. Thanks Faststream
sidicks said:
Faststream said:
My Breitling crown winder has lost its thread so is no longer waterproof as am unable to tighten it. Dropped it off at a Brietling service centre and asked them to give me a repair cost. They just quoted me £1181.00 as they said they would give me a repair plus full service which included changing other parts and to clean and service the metal strap, despite the fact that I have been using the Breitling rubber strap as my metal strap is kept at home in excellent condition. Cannot understand how they want so much money when watch works AOK other than crown winder, and despite my requests they will not budge on their quoted price of over £1,000.
Please can anyone help me source an alternative repairer as am happy to pay a reasonable price. Thanks Faststream
See the recommended watch repairer mentioned above! Highly recommended.Please can anyone help me source an alternative repairer as am happy to pay a reasonable price. Thanks Faststream
Google for "Anglesea Watches and Clocks", I think, and then phone is probably your best bet.
I don't think Joe will be able to help on this one.
This is a common fault with Breitlings. The thread goes on the case. Breitling won't supply the tube for independents to repair this and won't repair without a full service. Here's one example, you'll find many more complaints of this problem if you google.
http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?398173-Breit...
At close to £1200 (they are having a bubble) you may be better off selling on ebay with the fault declared and getting a replacement.
This is a common fault with Breitlings. The thread goes on the case. Breitling won't supply the tube for independents to repair this and won't repair without a full service. Here's one example, you'll find many more complaints of this problem if you google.
http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?398173-Breit...
At close to £1200 (they are having a bubble) you may be better off selling on ebay with the fault declared and getting a replacement.
Certain Breitling models are/were notorious for having crown problems (I’m not sure if they have fixed the problem in the models sold today - I don’t follow the brand closely enough to know).
Problem one lay with the soft titanium used on the screw-down crown & tube on titanium models – the threads were easily stripped, so that the crown no-longer screwed down. That compromises water resistance and necessitates replacement of both tube & crown. Normally, that’s not a major issue, as both are usually replaced at service time anyway. However, that’s all well & good if they hold out until you plan/choose to service, but if those parts fail earlier than that, then it leads to…
Problems two & three, as already stated by Mike, are that Breitling don’t sell those bespoke replacement parts to independent repairers so you need to use Breitling, and Breitling insist on the expense of a full service at the same time, regardless of whether or not it’s mechanically necessary at that point, or desired by the customer. In some respects that’s because they want to be sure they don’t accidentally damage the movement, or contaminate it, when doing the crown repairs – but that’s of little comfort to an owner hit with a rather hefty bill on an otherwise functioning watch. Breitling are not alone in this approach, but it’s still a kicker.
Problem four is that some models, including most of their Aeromarine range, and certain of the Superocean Heritages, came with the crown tube permanently integrated into the larger middle case. I presume this was done for reasons of manufacturing savings, because it’s a monumentally stupid idea otherwise. Most brands realise that the crown & tube are often consumable items, replaced at service, so on the higher quality brands the tubes are either screwed in, or else they are friction-fit and glued. Stainless Steel resists thread stripping much better than softer titanium, but it can & does still happen, especially as many unaware consumers are never told how to safely screw-down their crown (don’t over-tighten, don’t force it, and ensure it seats smoothly at the outset). So, if you bugger the tube, then in addition to that being replaced, you’re on the hook for a service as well, and even worse, an expensive entire new middle case.
The wear & tear can take time, so often it happens outside of warranty. There’s an argument that the items are not fit for purpose – but that’s exactly what it would take, an argument by a sole individual against a large company, and we know how that often works out.
Problem one lay with the soft titanium used on the screw-down crown & tube on titanium models – the threads were easily stripped, so that the crown no-longer screwed down. That compromises water resistance and necessitates replacement of both tube & crown. Normally, that’s not a major issue, as both are usually replaced at service time anyway. However, that’s all well & good if they hold out until you plan/choose to service, but if those parts fail earlier than that, then it leads to…
Problems two & three, as already stated by Mike, are that Breitling don’t sell those bespoke replacement parts to independent repairers so you need to use Breitling, and Breitling insist on the expense of a full service at the same time, regardless of whether or not it’s mechanically necessary at that point, or desired by the customer. In some respects that’s because they want to be sure they don’t accidentally damage the movement, or contaminate it, when doing the crown repairs – but that’s of little comfort to an owner hit with a rather hefty bill on an otherwise functioning watch. Breitling are not alone in this approach, but it’s still a kicker.
Problem four is that some models, including most of their Aeromarine range, and certain of the Superocean Heritages, came with the crown tube permanently integrated into the larger middle case. I presume this was done for reasons of manufacturing savings, because it’s a monumentally stupid idea otherwise. Most brands realise that the crown & tube are often consumable items, replaced at service, so on the higher quality brands the tubes are either screwed in, or else they are friction-fit and glued. Stainless Steel resists thread stripping much better than softer titanium, but it can & does still happen, especially as many unaware consumers are never told how to safely screw-down their crown (don’t over-tighten, don’t force it, and ensure it seats smoothly at the outset). So, if you bugger the tube, then in addition to that being replaced, you’re on the hook for a service as well, and even worse, an expensive entire new middle case.
The wear & tear can take time, so often it happens outside of warranty. There’s an argument that the items are not fit for purpose – but that’s exactly what it would take, an argument by a sole individual against a large company, and we know how that often works out.
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