Issue with my Breitling Crown

[I'm Rick james]

Evening all,
Haven't worn my SuperOcean 44 at all this week due to work, came to it this morning and unscrewed the crown adjusted the time/date then went to screw it back in and now it won't

Have tried several times and even left it to come back to and still can't do it. It just won't seem to catch on the thread to screw in.

Can't see any reason why and has always worked before. Watch is only two years old so how do I stand with Breitling warranty etc. A friend of a friend has already said it is easily fixed as he suffered exactly the same problem and it cost him £250 at Breitling for this to be repaired including a service? Shirley that can't be right? Thought a service was more than that alone!

Any help appreciated.
Regards
Rj

[hilly10]

It happened to my SOH which I was told a common fault,and one now fixed by Breitling. Mine also was just under two years old the work was carried out under warranty. The fault I was informed was that it strips the thread.

[westberks]

me too, after the 2 years though so had to pay for service and repair

[I'm Rick james]

Thanks for the replies. Popped into goldsmiths and they have said it appears to be a stripped thread and would be under taken at the same time as a service as even on warranty work B won't do a partial job. It would have to be serviced at the same time.

Doesn't bother me huge amounts but the turnaround they informed me would be 8 - 12 weeks. Although some have been coming back at nearer 14 weeks! My next questions is, is there anybody I can send it off to in the UK an indy of some sort or does anybody know of a reputable repair shop they've used before etc? I just don't want to send it off now and not see it til February time or later

Thanks
Rj

[yeti]

I'm Rick james said:

Thanks for the replies. Popped into goldsmiths and they have said it appears to be a stripped thread and would be under taken at the same time as a service as even on warranty work B won't do a partial job. It would have to be serviced at the same time.

Doesn't bother me huge amounts but the turnaround they informed me would be 8 - 12 weeks. Although some have been coming back at nearer 14 weeks! My next questions is, is there anybody I can send it off to in the UK an indy of some sort or does anybody know of a reputable repair shop they've used before etc? I just don't want to send it off now and not see it til February time or later

Thanks
Rj

Where are you based? I'd wager that if you can get it into the Bond Street boutique they'll offer a far better customer service and a quicker turnaround (if this is a warranty repir - under 2 years?).

If it needs a service, it needs a service, if it doesn't then I wouldn't want to pay for it. If they insist on a service, they can do it at their cost. A 2 year old watch doesn't need s service unless you're a diver who wears it in the water constantly, then having the seals looked at doesn't hurt. The workhorse ETA in there is fine for 5 years at least.

[I'm Rick james]

I'm down in Essex. London is only a 40 minute train journey away so will bear that in mind. Watch is not used for anything out of the ordinary, bit of swimming every now and again but no real stress put on it so I shouldn't imagine it would need one just yet.

Just hoping there might be someone out there able to fix it quicker than Breitling.
Thanks
Rj

[yeti]

I'm Rick james said:

Just hoping there might be someone out there able to fix it quicker than Breitling.
Thanks
Rj

The answer to that is no.

Breitling won't supply the parts to independent specialists. If it needs a service, sure, a competent watchmaker can do it, but a part is needed and that is Breitling only; especially as it will be fitted with an upgraded part.

[hilly10]

I can assure you it's an upgraded part. One thing though because they put the new upgraded stem under warranty they only put in new seals. They did not carry out a service. Bit of double standards me thinks

[bry1975]

Rj,

Do you want me to ask my Breitling contact I'm sure he can supply the part(s) you need?


Bry

[I'm Rick james]

If you could Bry that would be fantastic. Getting hold of the parts seems to be the hard part judging from a few calls I made today.
Cheers
Rj

[bry1975]

Email sent to contact.

[bry1975]

Rick

Do you have the reference code possibly A17?

[I'm Rick james]

Afternoon Bry, It's A17-391.
Regards
Rj

[blackphantom]

I had the same problem with my six month old Super Avenger my local AD sent it back to Breitling UK where it was fixed under warranty , i read on Breitling Source that on the Aeromarine models that the tube that the crown screws onto is part of the case . http://breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=...

Edited by blackphantom on Wednesday 27th November 21:36

[I'm Rick james]

Looks like it might be a Breitling job after all, someone in the trade has informed me that as far as he is aware the tube is formed as part of the case and not pressed in such as other Breilting's. Something only B can sort out apparently.

I'm just in the warranty period as well, got 2 months left!
Rj

[hilly10]

You are OK then Rick. The will put the upgraded stem in and replace the seals. Mine was sent by Ernest Jones where I purchased it, it was only gone 3 weeks.

[bry1975]

Rick,

You need to send the watch to Breitling UK and be strict don't budge from your warranty claim.

[yeti]

And so, after all that faffing, back to my original point

Get it to the boutique on Bond Street and they will prioritise it over sending it via a normal AD.

[GC8]

So: an authorised dealer lying in order to secure their share of the cost of an overpriced service, then?

[yeti]

GC8 said:

So: an authorised dealer lying in order to secure their share of the cost of an overpriced service, then?

Hard to tell if it's an outright lie or if they just don't know their arses from their elbows. I certainly wouldn't go into a Goldsmiths for advice on anything

Warranty should cover all of this; they'll change the seals and gaskets at their cost I would hope/think; pennies, literally.

I popped the bezel off my old Blancpain not long ago when I caught it badly, took it into WofS on Bond Street for them to have a look at and it was taken away to Swatch in Eastleigh; returned in 2-3 weeks with new sapphire bezel (even though original was immaculate), bezel spring and bezel clicker plus what they called a 'partial service'. Cost of this was plum zero and the watch returned with apologies. It was a second hand watch, not bought from them and dated 2008. The right dealer will do the right thing for the right person.

Be 'that guy' and go to the boutique, don't darken Goldsmiths doors!