The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I think Breitling is handling this as well as anybody could hope for - early teething issues with a new product, but an outstanding way of trying to make it right. my (surprised) respect.

Yeah that's not been my experience.

Watch ordered back in May 2014.

-Originally told it would be 8 weeks, which I believed to be optimistic
-then told September at Reno
-since September I have been told on four separate occasions 2/3 weeks....nothing...told possible tech issues with watch? What does that mean?
-4 weeks ago my AD has told me that Breitling confirmed my B50 Night Mission was coming into the UK I.e they had a date...again to be denied due to another recall
-I'm now told March 2015! (discovered purely by calling in to another Breitling boutique whilst on business)

The frustrating bit of all this is that its not my AD's fault they have been very good, they have passed on the information they've received. I have had to chase for info or worse still stumble across it.

Al- if possible can you PM me I will be following this up with Breitling direct. I'd like a contact if you have one?

Thanks,

Chris

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Breitling Emergency 2

Two months old. Tried to recharge using wall socket and it overheated and locked up. Both digital windows and analog went blank. Connected USB To my computer and it came back to life. However, I tried to turn the crown to adjust the time and the crown came off!! I am out of the country but when I get back it's going to Breitling service. Very disappointed because it is my favorite Breitling. But a watch listing for over 7k should not have these issues! Since I live one hour from Breitling service in Connecticut, I am going to take it to them in person. Over the years, I have had about thirty Breitlings and sped a huge sum of money for their watches. I would think they will either repair (quickly!) or replace it. And God forbid it's a design flaw then I'm really screwed because this has turned out to be my favorite watch. I am totally bummed.

That's really disappointing, I know EXACTLY how you feel!

The 'fully functioning' watch I was promised 7 weeks ago for 'road test' still hasn't arrived from BUK... make of that what you will.

Good luck.

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Bell&Ross BR03-94 - for sale (9.75/10)
Breitling Aerospace Evo
Breitling Aerospace Evo - Night Mission LE
Breitling Navitimer World
Rolex DeepSea

Next week i will personally take my B50 to Breitling Service. After, I will post a report on the action they're going to take to fix what is, in my estimation, an inexcusable situation for this otherwise outstanding brand.

That's terrible Al. As per other thread mine goes back on Monday for crown related issues. All this isn't good.

Chris

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Breitling Emergency 2

Yesterday, Jan 5, I drove to Wilton, CT, and took my B50 to Breitling Service. The CSR was very accommodating and said she "heard" about the issues with the B50 software. I told her I also had a serious issue with the crown--it fell off!--and the watch actually overheated! As suspected, my B50 has to wing its way to Switzerland. I wrote up a two page report outlining the issues with the watch which will be included when they ship it. I didn't get a sense of urgency, though, only that "we will fix the problem" ASAP. I also explained that I have been buying Breitlings since the 1980s and have had, at one time or another, maybe fifty of them and that I expected a more than normal response to my issue. In other words, more than lip service and another baseball cap. But if anyone knows about the dreaded black hole sick watches fall into, they know that shipping to Switzerland could mean an absence of several months. It seems all watch repair situations like this have two speeds: slow and slower.

I would've thought that with the problems associated with this newly intro'd, $7K plus watch that Breitling would have updated their service people and conveyed a bigger sense of urgency to assuage them, which I did not get. On the other hand, I can accept shipping it to Switzerland where there are many more resources to repair such a complex watch.

The Breitling CSR I dealt with was filling in for the rep normally assigned to my state, New Jersey, and I was told that within two days she would contact me with an update. These things are never simple. More details as they come in.

Al,
it's interesting that you bought it from a boutique.

I've just been told by a local AD that the first run of B50s went out to boutiques. He said that generally these problematic ones were the ones recalled. Hence the delays to ADs everywhere.
The fixed first batch went back to the boutiques for sale.

The second run out, presumably fully re tested batch straight from factory are the ones that are landing in ADs now.

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Oyster Date '78, Blackbird chrono DLC '10, Blackbird chrono' 02, Navitimer Fighters '02, Aerospace Evo , Seamaster Chrono Diver 300' 02, Carrera cbm2110

Sorry guys.
I'm a Breitling fan. Probably even a Breitling fan boy but this B50 thing takes the cake as far as I'm concerned.
What I read about the B50 and the associated dramas is simply inexcusable.
The problems reported so far seem to be mostly SW related.
Microsoft has experienced similar problems in the past and of course fixed it with a bit of a SW update here and there. Service Pack 1 or 2 here and there.
On the other hand that was a $150 mass market consumer product!!!
We are talking about a $7,000.00 apparently luxury watch and piece of jewellery and one would have thought that they would have tested it a bit before throwing it out there on the streets and letting you, the early adopters be the guinea pigs.
Sorry but I do not like what I see.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

Around September 2014 I stepped into my AD’s shop in Wyckoff, NJ, and spotted “B: The Insider – The Breitling Magazine.” There on page 4 was a rather extensive story about the B50, “The Vanguard of Innovation.” For Breitling fans and B50 owners, this issue of the mag is a must have. The 10 X 13 format is massive and obviously follows in the footsteps similar sized Panerai magazines, massive with superior photography. It is, as they say, a collectors’ item. I asked my AD to order the B50 and the next day was told it would arrive in November. I was bit surprised when it made it to the store on Oct. 28, and that day I purchased it.

My AD is not a boutique, so I don’t have any idea where his shop stood in getting a B50 ahead of boutiques or other Ads. I have no idea if this was part of the initial batch to be distributed, or if was in a batch of recalls. Whatever distribution it was, it worked until Dec. 26, 2014, at 1:45 pm when it overheated, all functions went dead and the crown came off in my fingers. That’s pretty shocking when you consider the price and the reputation of Breitling.

Right now, it’s at Breitling Service in Wilton, CT., where I took it on Monday and was told I’d hear what the remedial plan was to fix or replace it. The initial assessment was that it was going to Switzerland, and that’s all the info I got before I left the building. So, now I’m waiting for an update call.

Any further information on this situation would be appreciated.

I entirely agree with you Wes.

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Jim

"You have Control".

I love the watch, but I guess I'll wait a little longer to buy one.

I spoke with a CSR at Breitling Service in Wilton, CT, yesterday regarding my inoperable B50, which I dropped off Monday. She informed me that the B50 does, indeed, have to go to Switzerland for evaluation. They ship to Switzerland on Fridays, today. Once there, it will be "evaluated" and the results passed along to the CSR in Wilton, probably next Friday, at which time she will call me with a report. She did add that she knew of the software issues with the watch. When I told her the crown came off in my fingers, she sounded a bit surprised. If it is a software issue, fine, they probably can fix it. But if the crown issue is part of a design flaw then that's not good. When I asked her if there was a chance it would be replaced she said "no", that it would be "repaired." So, until next Friday and a phone call from the CSR I'm standing at ground zero.

Really bad news, I can't believe the magnitude of the apparent failures of this watch. I love the look of the watch and if I had the money I'd have bought one. I hope Breitling can resolve this before their reputation is irreversibly damaged. Good luck, hope you get a good outcome.

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Breitling B-1 1999
Breitling Chrono Superocean 2004
Casio G Shock
Citizen Eco Drive AT4000-02E (for gardening)
Seiko 5 SNZG15J1
Hamilton X Wind LE

My B50 Night mission has gone back to Switzerland.

On the plus side Breitling Uk and my AD have been very helpful so I'm anticipating a happy resolution.

Chris

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Breitling Emergency 2