The Breitling Watch Source Forums

About 9 months ago, I purchased a NOS Diver Pro on ebay for my Old Navitimer. It was definitely brand new, but the seller said he was selling off old stock. At the time he had several. My guess is that I probably wore the watch with the Diver Pro maybe 25-30 times, max. Well, yesterday, as I opened the refrigerator, my Navi fell off my wrist onto the tile floor.

Fortunately, the watch does not seem to have suffered any damage. I checked the band and saw that the rubber failed where the "T-L-I-N-G" side attached to the buckle. The rubber still seems very flexible, so I assume that it may have been a manufacturing defect. However, it may just be that, since it was old stock, the rubber is starting to get brittle and just failed at that point. Has anyone else had this problem?

In any event, I would like to purchase a new Diver Pro, Black 22/20mm band. There are two on ebay right now, but I am not willing to buy one that is not brand new. I do not want to risk damaging my watch, or worse, losing it if it the band were to fail.

Does anyone know the best place to buy a new Diver Pro at a reasonable price? Also are the rubber parts available for purchase without the buckle?

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Breitling: SS Old Navitimer on strap, Rolex: YG Bark Day-Date, SS/18K Daytona, SS GMT IIC, AP: SS/18K Royal Oak Date, Breguet: Rose Gold Transatlantique on strap

I'd just go to your local AD. They're not that expensive (around $110.00 if I recall correctly) and you get the satisfaction of knowing it's genuine.

And you did say this was on a Navi? A Navi on rubber? That's just wrong man. I think that's the reason the band broke. That's karma crawling all over you. Navis are for leather or steel only.

Yep, list is about $110 from an AD. You may be able to find them online for around $100 but much easier to just call up the local AD. Most will discount if you ask them!

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Mmmmm

You could go to your AD, buy a new Breitling for your collection (you clearly need more Breitlings for cryin' out loud) and ask them to throw in the rubber diver for free (my AD did that with an Ocean Racer with deployant).

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Omega21

Doesn't sound like much wear for a Diver Pro. They're normally pretty durable.

I assume it was deffinitely genuine. If you fold the strap over right back on itself, does it go white at the bend? Also the fakes smell rubbery, like a car tyre

MarkC: Yes it does turn white at the bend when I turn it back on itself. However it does not smell rubbery like car tires. Does the turning white mean that is a fake or genuine?

br549: Yes it was on my Navitimer. I perspire a lot and do not want to keep buying new leather bands on a regular basis. Also, I find the Diver Pro to be much more comfortable than the leather. Most of my watches have metal bracelets. Leather or rubber on the Navi give me a chance to have a different look on an everyday watch. I really like the look of the Diver Pro on my Navi and that is what counts the most to me.

Guess I will be going to an AD to buy a new Diver Pro.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

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Breitling: SS Old Navitimer on strap, Rolex: YG Bark Day-Date, SS/18K Daytona, SS GMT IIC, AP: SS/18K Royal Oak Date, Breguet: Rose Gold Transatlantique on strap

Cheers.

From my personal experience, I would say yes the strap you had/have is a fake. A friend of mine bought 2 of these fakes unknowingly from Singapore through eBay. At the time I had a Colt on a Diver Pro and compared them. The fakes were very good, but:
Pin buckle wasn't as nicely made, the logo was quite poorly defined.
The rubber went white when folded over tightly
Also a strong rubber smell

The smell can go away because of wear (sweat, water, etc). You should definitely old onto the old band and compare it to the one you get at the AD. If someone out there is selling replica Pro Divers as genuine, let us know.

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Mmmmm

I bought one of those off ebay as well. Although sold as "authentic" it was clearly fake. The wall of the spring bar holes was irregular and very thin in places, so I'm not surprised yours broke. After examining it, I immediately returned it for a refund and went to my local AD and ordered the new Pro II rubber - very nice! Funny thing is, the fake cost about $85, and the real deal was only $25 more.

Actually (in economic terms) your new one cost you $185...

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Omega21

I guess ill be the first to suggest asking BUSA for a free replacement (assuming its a genuine strap). You might have to get around the fact that you didnt buy it from an AD though.

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-RJ

$85 for fake strap + $100 for real strap = $185 for what you have left which is the real strap. I was being 'creative' with the term "economic cost". Either way, it sucks you got stuck with a fake strap!

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Omega21

Read my post again . . . I returned the fake for a refund, so I was only out the $110 for the genuine article (which is very well made and worth every penny!).