The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello fellow "ling"ers, new to this site, but a proud owner of a Breitling Hercules black dial since Oct 2006 (no idea when the watch was out of the factory). Seeking your help on the following please:

1) I read at BreitlingSource.com that Hercules straps were made for it. I have a fear that the one on mine may have a weak link, the one at the top, south side, first one on the right. There just seems to be a gap wider than the one at it's straight opposite and other links as well. Is this paranaoia? I simply love this strap and can't seem to think of wearing another, but if the need arises, a) where can I get genuine Hercules straps, b) can other straps (steel) be fitted onto the Hercules and c) which others can be fitted and what are the recommendations?

2) Been reading conflicting points on the optimal time to service an automatic chrono. Mine is nearing 4 years of run (have used it almost daily past 4 years maybe except on some weekends). I read somewhere on this site that 5-7 years is recommended period. So what's your opinion, 4, 5 or more?

Many thanks!!!

Hi and welcome aboard.

Firstly, yes the Herc bracelet was made for it, and as it's an integrated bracelet that is the only one that will fit. The only place you will be able to get one is from a Breitling AD, or if you are VERY lucky, eBay (although I've never seen one on there myself).

In terms of servicing, then 4 to 5 years is perfectly fine, but often the best indication of when a service is required is if the timekeeping starts to go off. It doesn't take much to affect such a small precision device like a watch movement, so there is an element of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". That said, if you get the watch wet regularly, then it's worth getting Breitling to check the gaskets and seals for water resistance every couple of years or so, but in terms of servicing stick to 4 ot 5 years and you won't go far wrong IMO.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Welcome to BreitlingSource!

The Hercules bracelet is integrated, so no other Breitling bracelet will fit, but I believe that you can still order them from Breitling. It sounds as though the bracelet is stretching, which can happen. Not sure, but Breitling may just be able to replace the link.

In terms of servicing, the watch needs servicing when it can no longer maintain time within COSC specs or when the power reserve becomes substantially shorter. Generally that's 5 - 7 years, but the watch will tell you. The first service may be earlier if the watch was sitting at an AD for a while (just because the watch wasn't running doesn't mean that the oils weren't breaking down).

Edit - Driver8 got in first, but I typed this up so you can blinking well read it

Lovely...
Thanks for the replies guys.

1) I think I'll start (atleast start) looking for the straps. I'll enquire with an AD. My problem is that I travel a lot to places for short assignments at work. While I bought this watch in Malaysia, I was in London for so long, and now I'll be moving to India.

2) I haven't had a problem with the COSC specs. When I initially bought the watch, it was gaining 7-8 seconds a day, and after about 3 months, it settled to 4-5 which I believe is within the specs. Over the last year, the only "complaint" (NO!) that I have is the minute and second hands seem 15 seconds apart if you know what I mean. Well, the second hand gets to 60, but it takes about 15 seconds later for the minute hand "to get to the minute". I have always believed that Breitling are precision instruments (I refer my friends to it as an instrument rather than a watch ) but is this normal?

I have already enquired for servicing both in London (takes 12 weeks, as they send it to Breitling UK) and longer in India (4 months:( ) as they send it to Malaysia or Singapore.

forever. My next will be an SA or a Montbrillant, but I so LOVE the Professional series but they are seeming to go more Quartz these days to keep the "professional use" tag.

The offset between seconds and minutes is normal. You can try and synch them up, but the play in the movement will mean that they won't stay that way for long.