The Breitling Watch Source Forums

It was a sad day for me Saturday because I had to part ways with my B01 for the next few weeks. I've been having some strange issues with it and my AD wasn't even interested in trying to fix it; he immediately wanted it to go back to BUSA. I've outlined the issues a couple times, but for anyone who hasn't seen my previous posts, here's the short of it:

- The sweeping chronograph hand normally moves in 1/4 second increments. However, when this hand is between the 28 and 32 second indicators on the dial, it begins moving in 1/2 second increments. After it passes the 32 second mark, it resumes moving in 1/4 second increments.
- As you let the chronograph run for a while and the minute totalizer reaches about 10 minutes, the 1/2 hour totalizer begins to "creep" ahead to the next notch. Once it racks up 20 minutes of time, the 1/2 hour totalizer has completely moved to the next notch (30 minute mark). If you didn't necessarily know when you started the chronograph and just picked the watch up, it would look as if it's getting ready to move to the 1 hour spot when the minute totalizer reaches 30, even though it hasn't captured 30 minutes of time yet. When the watch was new, the 1/2 hour totalizer would not move ahead until the instant the minute totalizer reached 30.

The watch has been running continuously since October 4th, 2009, so it's possible I've racked up more hours on the watch than any of the other B01 owners on here. I'm really hoping this issue is isolated to me and the rest of the B01 owners don't see this develop. I was not able to replicate the issue on any of the 3 B01's at my AD, but mine also didn't have this problem when it was new. My watch hasn't received any type of impacts, been dropped, mishandled, etc., so I'm not sure why this started. I noticed the issue about 3-4 months ago. As I'm leaving on vacation for the next two weeks to Mexico, and I wasn't planning on having my watch anyway, this would be a fine time to send it in.

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

That is an odd set of circumstances. I would be very interested to know what the people at BUSA say. My B01 is only 2 weeks old, so no problems yet,

enjoy your vacation.

haven't heard of any B01 concerns yet. Let us know what they say.

I'll definitely post an update when I get the watch back. I'm actually wondering if Breitling will even disclose to me what the issue was . . .

I'm hoping they don't need to replace the entire movement. I finally got my watch to run consistently at +1 sec/day. I really don't want to go through the break in period again.

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

wow so sorry to hear that. hopefully BUSA fixes this asap! how long ago did you get this watch? i wonder if you are the only person that has had this problem or if this is something that we are going to see more of with this new movement.

The watch was purchased in July by my girlfriend, but I did not receive it and begin using it until October 4, 2009.

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

just glad its under warranty. hopefully they get it fixed asap.

I just got my B01 back from the AD. I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to have it on my wrist again. For what it's worth, Breitling's turnaround time on the watch was 31 days. Here's what they did to the watch, as listed on my receipt:

- Factory Complete Service
- Hands
- Barrel Bridge
- Jumper
- Crown
- Bridge
- Gaskets
- Refinish

Some of these things are a little obscure to me, so I'm not sure if they were necessary for the problems I stated in the fist message of this thread. The chronograph sweeping hand is fixed and works as it should. However, the 30 minute totalizer is still creeping ahead to the next notch prior to the minute totalizer reaching a full rotation. I really don't think this is normal. If any other B01 owners care to chime in and tell me if their watch does the same thing, I'd appreciate it. Two months ago I went into the AD and tried to get the B01's in stock to replicate my problem, but was unsuccessful. They all worked fine. I'm thinking about calling Breitling myself to try and get a straight answer as to if this is normal or not. I REALLY don't want to send the watch back again . . .

On the bright side, they did send my watch back in a cool little travel case that I get to keep. No more worrying about a TSA employee mishandling my watch in the airport security lines!

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

With a bit of elbow grease you should be able to get in touch with an actual technician at BUSA to answer your questions.

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-RJ

Some chrono minute hands do creep - not all movements tick at the 60 second mark, but other B01 owners should be able to report their findings.

The replacement of bridges is intriguing to me. That suggests that there was a problem with the running train that had nothing to do with the wheels themselves, but rather the positioning of the wheels relative to themselves. I would have though that it should simply be a case of replacing the jewels, but maybe they just replace the bridge as a matter of course as it's quicker and then rejewel the bridges later.

Roff,

I was hoping you'd chime in . I figured you'd find the replacement list of parts interesting. Thanks for the info on the chrono minute hands. Perhaps I was crazy when I was in the AD last time and just didn't let the other B01 chronos run for long enough. Again, I do hope some other B01 owners read this and test the 30 minute totalizer on their own watches. I'm still going to try and get a Breitling tech on the phone, though.

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

I apparently spoke too soon. The sweeping chronograph hand is still not functioning correctly. It still will go from moving in 1/4 sec increments to 1/2 sec increments. However, instead of doing it between the 28-32 second marks on the dial, the issue has moved to the 47-53 second marks. I'm HIGHLY irritated . . .

Basically, none of the problems I sent it in for have been fixed. I'm going to call Breitling today to try and get this figured out. If I have to send my watch back and be without it for another 4 months, I may just tell the AD he can have the watch back. I'll take my money to Govberg's and get that Zenith I've been lusting after instead. This is ridiculous . . .

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

Sorry to hear you are still having the same problems. Having never seen the B01 disassembled it is impossible to speculate about what is wrong.

I do see that the movement has a column wheel chronograph. The start/stop/reset is much more positive with the column wheel.

The jumper was probably the one for the minutes counter. It should have reduced the creep. It prevents the hand from moving freely. When the tension of the jumper spring is finally overcome the hand "snaps" to the next position.

I don't know if the B01 uses a tilting pinion or intermediate gearing to engage the chrono sweep hand. The fact that two bridges were replaced makes me think it is intermediate gearing and not a tilting pinion. This would also explain the shift in the behavior from the 30 sec area to the 50 sec area. The teeth on the intermediate gears are extremely fine and are easily damaged, giving watchmakers many grey hairs. One reason why most modern chronographs use the tilting pinion. If there is slight damage to the intermediate gear, it could easily be in a different position when the movement was assembled and shift the problem to a different point on the dial.

I would love to get my hands on the B01 movement, but not at the price of a new watch!

Let us know how this plays out.

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger

onewatchnut, thanks for the reply. This is really fascinating information, and exactly the type of post I was hoping for. I'll definitely keep this thread updated with the latest info I get from Breitling. I'm sure most could care less, but I'm assuming there may be a few people on the site that are interested to hear more about the B01 internals. To my knowledge, I think I'm the first one on the board to actually have an issue that warrants sending the watch back to BUSA.

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

I just got off the phone with Breitling . . . and I actually got to speak with a technician! Unfortunately, the watch will need to go back to BUSA. However, they're going to expedite the service, so hopefully I won't be without the watch for another month.

In any case, while I had the tech on the phone, I did inquire about whether the B01 chrono uses a tilting pinion or intermediate gearing. The tech was very cryptic as he explained it uses neither. All he would say is that the chrono is completely integrated into the movement. I'm not knowledgeable enough to question him, so I left it at that. I just wanted to share that piece of info in case anyone wanted to chime in with thoughts.

I guess I'm back to rocking a Seiko until the B01 returns . . .

-Craig

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000