The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Sorry to say, but this is a very complicated case.

Every watch has some limitations to waterresistance. The first one, obvious is the pressure. Everyone who can read, knows, that 100 meters waterresistant sounds good. Good enough for swimming, snorkling and sailing. Should be. But there are other influences, the damned watch industry does not like to talk about. They just sit back and let the dealers explain. And if You don't get the explanation by a dealer (or an informed forum), You are pritty much on Your own. One limit to water resistance is the age of a watch. Almost every watch is sealed with rubber seals. Those damned rubber seals loose softmakers with time (as every damned plastic product does). According to my experience, after about 3 - 5 years (furtheron called 3 years) there starts to be a risk of a waterresistant watch to loose that resistance, as the seals get old and worn. This 3 year rule again gets influenced by different facts: A watch, that is 500 m waterresistant will usually stay waterresistant a little bit longer, than a watch that is only 100 m wr. Also the 3 years start with the time of production and not with the date of sale (Specially in a hot showcase or shopwindow, the seal suffers even more than on a wrist) A special influence are watches with a multifunction crown, like the Aerospace or Airwolf. If You often use the funcitons, the seals at the crown tend to give up earlier than expected. Normally this does not really matter, as You have to change the battery on the watch anyways. This happens also earlier, if You use the functions more often. Now comes the big problem of changing a battery at a store: Open the watch, take old battery out, put new one in, close the watch again. Check waterresistant with vacuumpump. Waterresistant! Yea, did only cost 10 bucks... But there lies one of the problems. Whowever changed the battery should have also changed the seals on the back, the seals for the crown (better the whole crown including seals) and the seals for the crystal. Now, of course that costs extra. But only then You will have a garanty, that a watch will again be waterresistant for another 3 years.

If a retailer or watchmaker tells You, it is different, don't trust him. There are thousands in our business, who don't know anything about waterresistant and watchmaking, but who sell watches and change batteries. But if You buy a Breitling (or any other luxury watch), You should be aware, that the watch will need professional treatment after the sale as well. It is nearly the same, as with a car. The more expensive and complicated the car gets, the fewer people can really service it. Sure, the mechanic next door can make an oilchange for Your new Mercedes, but do You really want to risk that? Rather bring it to a specialised dealer/mechanic.

Now back to the case:
If You have received a written statement from the company (and still have it), who exchanged Your watches battery, that the watch was waterresistant again, You should be able to hold them liable to repair the watch at no charge. But be aware, that most batterychangers will restrict waterresistance warranty to 6 month or a year maximum. If You are not successful with that and You are one of their regular customers, who already bought a few things from them, You can still try to get them to give You a better price than 500 pound. They should be able to reduce that to about 300 to 350 (unless they already reduced it from 700 to 500!). And by the way You cannot hold Breitling itsself or any other Breitling watch dealer responsible for the damage, as someone else has tamperd with the watch, which seems to be the major problem.

Best greatings
Thomas

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http://www.ellert.at

Guys - I took your for advice, shut up and bit the bullet and saved up the £470 needed to fix it and sent it off last week. They just sent me a revised estimate for £867. Same watch but October instead of May. To say I'm gutted would be an understatement.

The only scant explanation is 'revised estimate due to price variations and caliber change'. That means nothing to me as there havent been any such major currency fluctuations here in Europe. What is caliber though?

I'll try their good side and ask they please honour their original estimate, as I prepare for the worst. I just cant afford £867.

Here is the breakdown:

702.e10.351.5 movement £387
green dial £37.87
titanium crown £17
rider tabs £103 (what are these?)
hand set £35
labour £135
Tax £129

>sob<

that is terrible. I hope you get it for the original price stated. If you dont you would be as well off purchasing a new one or a mint second hand one that shell out over 800 for the repairs.

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

caliber - you are getting charged more for the quartz movement (claiber is the specific movement in any watch). This is why some earlier posts were offering to get you hooked up with an identical movement from a brand that uses the correct movement - like a Tissot.

Rider tabs - the pieces on the bezel at 12, 3, 6, 9.

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SHARKMAN

Wowzers!

Hope you can get it fixed but you can buy a used Ling for that much!

Sue.

Of course the American suggests this, lol, but at this point it is really your only reasonable recourse... They have forced your hand- it's less you being a litigious prick, and more them basically suing themselves.

I would be surprised if a suit even plays out in your case, however. My feeling is that you have most likely been getting the perpetual run-around from lower-level folks at Breitling who have probably been charged with cutting costs in their department during this dire economic climate. A lawsuit will raise awareness of your situation within the company, and attract the attention of people who actually have the ability to do something other than mail you outrageous repair quotes. It's a fair bet these people, rather than wasting a few thousand pounds letting their legal department defend a suit they will most likely lose, will just push through a gratis repair on your watch.

I generally wouldn't feel right advising someone to utilize this tactic (as larger companies will usually buckle in this situation even if they are in the right, due to the fact that the legal costs of successfully defending their position are generally greater than a repair or replacement), but in your circumstance, it appears Breitling should have stepped up to the plate in the first place... You have had it serviced only by Breitling, you have apparently kept up to date with service, and they are asking for nearly 900 pounds because your 4-year-old splashed you. Ridiculous.

Thanks for the continuing advice guys. I have drafted a letter to appeal to them to honour the original quote; I'll let you know how it goes. Diesel (not Sue )

Happy New Year all! And a quick update:

They did agree to honour the original quote (excluding rider tabs) after I wrote to BUK & Switzerland so that was good news. They have had it about 8 weeks now. They advised a snail paced turnaround of 10 weeks, but only IF they had the necessary parts to hand!

Still, I'll be glad to have it back as the cheapie replacement is bust!

All the best

D

PS What's the time

Good.

It's later than you think.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

Looking forward to a happy ending.

Wait.....you took it back to the same dealer that serviced it and they concluded it was watertight? Sounds to me like they didnt make sure the caseback was sealed when you did the battery change and repaired the issue while it was back there to avoid having to accept blame. Operating the crown and pushpieces underwater isn;t something you would be unaware of doing underwater. I hope you can get this worked out on their dollar and not yours. I sure can say this though.....aIt would be the last time I went back to that AD for anything at all. Good luck with it and please keep us updated.

Be sure to get some pictures up when you get it back!

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Breitling
SS/18k Crosswind Blue Dial w/Leather strap
SS/18k Crosswind MOP Dial w/18k/SS Pilot Bracelet
Aerospace - Titanium and Gold

Rolex

18k Day Date President
SS/18k Submariner
SS/18k Yachtmaster Mid Size

There should be no serious reason to replace the rider tabs. There alone You could save 100pound....

BG
Alien

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http://www.ellert.at