The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I just got my Navitimer world, and it has been keeping perfect time for about a week now. However, last night it seems to have fallen 10 seconds behind. I have not been putting it on a winder at night, so could this be the cause?

It should have around a ~40 hour power reserve, so as long as you're wearing it all day, you do not need to put it on a winder. If you're not wearing it at least 8 hours a day, I'd suggest giving it a few turns of the crown once a day.

I have been wearing it every day, but it is off my wrist 6 to 10 hours at night. Like I said, it has been keeping perfect time until last night. I had it on the previous day, but I was sitting around most of the day and then let it sit for 8 hours overnight.

It is possible that you were inactive enough to let it wind down. They will definitely start to run slow if you let the power get too low. Give it a few winds before you put it to bed tonight.

Doesn't sound like its stopping to me, the chances of picking it up just in time to lose 10 seconds seems pretty rare. Sounds more like its something to do with how it was laid during the day, I know i've read on here before depending if the watch is laid on its side, crown up or down, or on its back etc. it can run slower or quicker.

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I just want to be sure that there is nothing wrong with it. Seeing as it kept perfect time for 5 days and then seems to have fallen behind in one night, is it most likely okay and probably just ran a little slow because I let it wind down a little too much?

I'd think so. Usually the simplest explanation is the best one(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor).

Sorry, but that's completely inaccurate. If a low power reserve is going to impact the rate of a watch then it will run fast, not slow.

As to this watch losing q0 seconds, it couls be a number of things, but I wouldn't be too concerned with a one off, just keep an eye on it. A couple of possibile reasons would be putting it in a different position, changing whether the chronometer is running.

If the watch is new then it's most likely still adjusting and I certainly wouldn't be concerned.

That contradicts the behavior I have observed with watches that have a power reserve indicator.

Don't know what you have observed, but a lower power reserve will increase the rate of a watch, it will not decrease it - period.

So have a little more time this morning, so here's the explanation..........

The mainspring transmits power through the running train (hour, minute and second wheels) and to the escapement (escape wheel, pallet fork, balance). In theory the power transmission is even, but unless the watch has some degree of protection to stop the mainspring from being fully wound and fully unwound there will be some variation at the extremes, especially at extremely low power reserve.

The release of power from the mainspring is controlled by the pallet fork engaging with the escape wheel. In a 4Hz movement (which Breitling use for all mass market watches) this happens 8 times a second. The pallet for pivots back and forth releasing and re-engaging the escape wheel. The movement is powered by the mainspring through the running train and is resisted by the increasing tension in the hairspring created by the spinning balance (which in turn is caused by the pallet fork engaging with the impulse pin.

When the mainspring is low on power it may not have enough energy to transmit into the balance for a full cycle of the balance wheel. The distance traveled by the balance wheel (amplitude) is therefore reduced and the rate of vibration (frequency) is increased, thereby speeding up the watch.

For a real world example drop a ball - as the height that the ball bounces decreases to the frequency of it hitting the ground increases - same basic concept.

Regardless of anecdotal observations, this is dealing with the laws of physics, and if there is nothing else wrong with the watch, this is what happens!

Hey Roff I don't know exactly what you do for employment but have you considered working for Breitling? You sure seem to know everything about Breitling watches and or watches in general. I'm sure there is a cooperate position out there with your name on it. Having an abundance of knowledge (such as yourself) on watches makes you an asset to any company.....just a thought

Hmmm...so then what could have caused it to lose so much time in one night when it was working perfectly for the week before?

Thanks deeznutts!

I currently run my own company, which has nothing to do with watches. I would love to be able to make a living from watches, but not sure how practical that is - especially here in Canada. That said, if anyone reading this wants to offer me some money for something watch related then I'm more than happy to listen



As I said earlier, it could be a number of factors, but if the watch is new then it is likely still settling and I really wouldn't be too worried. Something as simple as the way that it is laid down overnight or the temperature can affect the rate. If it continues to consistently lose time and doesn't improve after 6 weeks or so then it can be regulated, but if it's a one off then it really isn't a big deal. Try laying the watch differently at night (on it's back or on it's side with the crown up) and see if that changes anything.

I bought the watch used and it is about 10 months old. It kept perfect time for about 1 1/2 weeks, but now it loses about 6 to 9 seconds per day, even when I am wearing it. Should I have it sent in to Breitling? What could have caused it to start running slow?