The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Did you ask George to send the watch to BUSA? If the watch is a lemon, I don't know what George can really do, but if he were to have sent it in, that would at least have prevented you from laying out all the shipping costs. I can't imagine he would have refused that request.

Also, was George aware of your wearing habits when he suggested the winder? In general, it's not a bad recommendation. However, if you're literally wearing your watch all hours of the day and night, except when showering or at the gym, then I agree that a winder will be of little benefit, since obviously there wouldn't be any significant time your watch would be on it. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't be winding the watch yourself. Depending on your activity level during the day (and night), it's possible the watch isn't getting enough motion to keep it fully wound. If it is winding down, or getting low on power reserve, that could affect the accuracy. Ensuring the watch is fully wound on a daily basis is a good way to rule out that possibility.


His watch is running outside of COSC specs. It's appropriate that he would want it to run within specs. If it's within specs, and he's still not happy with it, then he might be happier with quartz. But let's not put the cart before the horse.


Fair enough. I just meant that I had never heard of personal wearing habits requiring regulation or constituting a factor in a watch being considerably outside of spec range.

I resent that remark. I bought the watch I WANTED, knowing it was an automatic. I'd be happy if it met the specification and Breitling stood behind it and provided appropriate customer service.

I can understand your frustration, and I hope things work out for you with your colt. However, I do think its funny that only a group of people like us would make a whole big deal over four seconds a day.

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sco
Breitling Chrono Superocean
Omega Aqua Terra 8500
Rolex Submariner Date Ceramic

FWIW, I had a similar problem. New Breitling running 10 seconds slow each day. However, mine stopped a couple of times as well. So, I tried manually winding the watch before bed. Suddenly, it was running maybe 1-2 seconds fast per day. I sit at a desk all day so I decided, on my own, to get a winder to help keep the watch closer to fully wound. I suppose I could try jumping jacks at my desk.

I would make a big deal out of it. COSC certification costs a fair chunk of change, and manufacturers pass the costs along to us. So, for one, it's a matter of getting what we pay for. Also, a chronometer grade movement is supposed to be able to run within specs; indeed, it's the only grade of mechanical movement theoretically capable of that level of accuracy, and we pay a premium for that grade of movement. If BUSA can't get it to perform as it should after repeated attempts, that suggests there is something wrong with the movement. So, as I see it, it's not just a matter of wanting it to be four seconds more accurate. It's making sure the movement is actually working the way it is supposed to. It's entirely possible, though, that only a group of people like us would know that.

Jackson, I agree with you and the OP. I would have had the same frustration if I had similar issues with a watch. They are supposed to be high quality accurate instruments, and when they're not... It sucks. But I stand by my statement of being in the (proud) minority group of humans that would care about this.

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sco
Breitling Chrono Superocean
Omega Aqua Terra 8500
Rolex Submariner Date Ceramic

You'll get no argument from me on that.

I'm sorry you feel that way, but I always think if guys get so up tight about cosc spec. watches, they might be better suited to a Quartz.

for what it's worth, there are a lot of factors that would make me question how I use, wear, store and how often I use the watch before I would consider returning it.

If you want to pay for things that don't work the way they should, go ahead. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with expecting a certified watch to operate the way it is supposed to. Remember, we're paying a double premium for certified watches: one for the movement grade, and another for the certification. If I wanted a watch that performed outside of specs, I could get a non-certified, non-chronometer grade watch and save quite a bit of money.

I fully understand your pov, but before returning anything I would be 100% sure there was nothing I could do that might effect the watch performance, just wearing and keeping a full charge and leaving it crown up or crown down overnight may improve things.

I totally agree with you there. I certainly wasn't advocating that returning a watch for service was the only answer, just that the expectation that it run within specs is reasonable. That said, I get the feeling the OP is new to this game, and might not know all the tricks without the benefit of hanging out with us for a while. I didn't either, before becoming a member.

Edit: Just to clarify, I meant I agree that a customer, in general, should try ruling out various causes for inaccuracy before sending the watch in for service. That said, in the OP's case, given that BUSA themselves can't seem to make his watch run correctly, it would seem he's well past simple home diagnostics.

If a watch is running +10 then changing position shouldn't get it back in spec. The only way that a +10 watch is going to 'fix' itself is if it is new or newly serviced and it will take a few weeks to settle and adjust to the user's routine.

If a watch is varying that much in different positions then there are still issues that need to be addressed.

That's hardly a fair comment. This fellow has what purports to be a Chronometer that consistently runs far out of COSC specs and has been to BUSA multiple times. I would be furious. Frankly, his post is professional given the circumstances he relates - a watch that seemingly is incapable of being regulated, complete failure of BUSA to address the problem, and a disapointing (and surprising)AD fail.

I will say this to the OP - Breitling is a popular brand for many reasons, one of which is quality. Your experience, while terrible, cannot be spread across the entire brand.

I would take it one step further - a letter to the President of BUSA and CCed to the CEO of Breitling, SA outlining in detailt the entire damn experience. Not nasty, just the facts. Close with BUSA's comment that suggests the watch can't be fixed properly. Then insist on a replacement timepiece. What do you have to lose?

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SHARKMAN

No worries, I'm sure that some Breitlings will have issues from time to time, but this watch has been back to the workshop several times, I'm wondering what paperwork has been returned with the watch and does it show that the watch has passed the relevent tests while on the bench.

BUSA sends a receipt/invoice of work done whether warranty or otherwise, not test results or anything near that detail. You may pay $900 or so for a full chrono service and you get an invoice showing "Full Chrono Service $_____" "Replace Hands $______" Typically you will have no idea precisely what they did.

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SHARKMAN