Breitling screw-in crown trouble, advice please!
Discussion
My Avenger Blackbird also had a body thread failure. Luckily under warranty. I now only screw it down very gently.
I don't see why Titanium should be weak as posted above. I used to use titanium spherical joints on my F2 European Hill Climb Championship Ralt, as it was stronger than the standard stainless steel, given how bumpy some of the tracks were, compared with a race track and you are often accelerating hard out of hairpin bends, with a corrugated surface. The only thing you had to be careful of was not to get the fake joints, which were made from sintered and not forged titanium. My guess is that the threads on the crown are being cut "too sharp" when the threads should have radiused bottoms of the grooves. This causes stress concentration and then fatigue failure.
I don't see why Titanium should be weak as posted above. I used to use titanium spherical joints on my F2 European Hill Climb Championship Ralt, as it was stronger than the standard stainless steel, given how bumpy some of the tracks were, compared with a race track and you are often accelerating hard out of hairpin bends, with a corrugated surface. The only thing you had to be careful of was not to get the fake joints, which were made from sintered and not forged titanium. My guess is that the threads on the crown are being cut "too sharp" when the threads should have radiused bottoms of the grooves. This causes stress concentration and then fatigue failure.
thornettj said:
Weirdly just found my old post from 6 years ago when searching the forum because, you guessed it, Breitlng titanium crown will not thread on again. THis is the 3rd or 4th time in 9 years. Clearly a design fault - I don it over tighten the crown.
Does anyone have any ideas?
James
Reading through this thread is really interesting and informative. Is it true the titanium is not an aerospace grade? I don't really see the point of not using a high strength and high toughness alloy as it's not really anymore expensive and machining is just as easy.Does anyone have any ideas?
James
A possible solution to the problem though might be the same solution I eventually went for on my wife's aluminium bulgari. I took the crown tube out and replaced it with a quite thick stainless steel one with a deep thread. Also replaced the crown so the materials and threads matched. No logo on the end of the new crown though. Is the crown also titanium on the Breitling?
Lorne said:
I took the crown tube out and replaced it with a quite thick stainless steel one with a deep thread. Also replaced the crown so the materials and threads matched.
That’s a good idea, but the problem with Breitling is that, in their infinite wisdom, most of their Aeromarine range, and certain of the Superocean Heritages, came with the crown tube as part of the larger middle case, as an indivisible extension of it i.e. not later screwed or glued in as a separate part, so if the crown tube goes, then the entire mid-case requires replacing as well, and like many brands, Breitling restrict supplies of spares to their official channels only. I presume this was done for reasons of manufacturing savings, because it’s a monumentally stupid idea otherwise. In theory you could of course machine out the damaged tube and retro-fit an after-market replacement, but that’s not an easy or cheap fix either. Most brands realise that the crown & tube are often consumable items, replaced at service if required.Mines literally stripped again for the third time today, I walked past it on the shelf and noticed it had popped out again tried to screw it in and nothing completely ruined again 🤬 it’s already been away twice in the last 4 years for the same issue costing almost £2000 having full service and Crystal each time , surely I shouldn’t have to pay again ..😡
Reno said:
I think mine is going again. The crown locks after only a 3rd of a turn after pushing in! I will take it back to the OD and see what they say.
I love this watch- think it is stunning looking! But I could be changing to a Rolex before i thought
I love this watch- think it is stunning looking! But I could be changing to a Rolex before i thought
Just spent £900 with luxury watch repairs having my Stem and Crown replaced for the second time in 10 years and very little wear in that time
It was away with them for almost 6 months!
It’s back all polished and looking brand new….. BUT the crown wheel is difficult to get to “lock” away and you have to fiddle around to get some purse on the thread to shut the crown completely down…. So I leave it in the winding position now…. Bottom line is….. NEVER will I buy another Brietling…. They clearly ignore this inherent problem and couldn’t give a dam about it.
It was away with them for almost 6 months!
It’s back all polished and looking brand new….. BUT the crown wheel is difficult to get to “lock” away and you have to fiddle around to get some purse on the thread to shut the crown completely down…. So I leave it in the winding position now…. Bottom line is….. NEVER will I buy another Brietling…. They clearly ignore this inherent problem and couldn’t give a dam about it.
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