The Breitling Watch Source Forums

So I'm in Calgary on business and I just check into the hotel lobby and am about to put my watch an hour back and realise that the crown is missing! I look on the lobby floor and there is the crown, sitting there. Looks like the crown has just sheared off...

So, I'm stuck with a watch that is not telling the correct time and I can't set (I can live with this) but what do I do?

Do I find a local watch shop and have them fix it while I'm here? I'm here for 4 days.

Is it something that needs more attention so should just wait to go home and give it to the AD?

Some advice would be great!

Wait until you get home, then take it to the AD.

If 'home' is still in Canada then it doesn't really matter - the watch will be sent to Toronto to be fixed anyway.

If home is outside of Canada then I would wait until you get home and not wear the watch in case dust / moisture gets into the movement.

I'm not sure I completely understand what you are saying. If the crown sheared off it would have to have been a severe hit which you would have noticed. It would have to be hard enough to break the crown off the stem and also break off part of the case tube. If that is truly the case, the watch is probably damaged internally as well and needs to go to a Breitling service center. If, on the other hand, the crown merely unscrewed from the stem, it can be reinstalled rather easily if the threads are intact.

If you can examine it under moderate magnification, look to see if the stem has broken off and is still attached to the crown. If so, it's off to Breitling. If, however, the center of the crown has the hole with the threads intact, look to see if the threaded part of the stem is still in the case tube. If it is, I would try screwing the crown back onto the stem. If the threads are damaged, you won't be able to screw it back on because there is not enough resistance in the winding parts. You will just wind the watch instead of screwing on the crown. If you can get it back on the stem it will help keep the dust out. Ultimately, it will have to go to Breitling anyway but you might be able to wear it if you can reinstall the crown.

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger

Seal it until your return home where it will be off to Breitling. After sealing, proceed directly to nearest AD in Calgary. Buy whatever other Breitling you have been lusting for.

That would be my quick fix.

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SHARKMAN

It's easier if I just show you - I didn't notice the crown come off, I think I was lucky that I was in the same place as when it fell so I found it. Looks to me like the stem has sheared off. It can't have been a big hit as I would have noticed that and I definitely had not been drinking

If I put the crown back on and turn it, it feels like it's winding the watch but the crown just pulls off again.

The stem broke. You can see a piece of the stem still in the crown. Put a bit of tape over the case tube until you can send the watch to your Breitling service center.

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger

wow! how did you broke that???

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Kiudog