The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Swhat does it mean when the warranty card has the AD punched oit bit date field not filled in on a breitling? Does this have any affect on the warranty?

Well technically and by the letter of the (Breitling) law, it means the warranty isn't valid, and I've heard stories of Breitling asking for proof of purchase to accompany the warranty booklet when a watch goes in for warranty work. The reason for this is because some AD's like to "do the customer a favour" by leaving the date fields blank so the customer can fill them in at a later stage if needs be and thereby get warranty work when the watch is actually out of warranty. Breitling (obviously) frown upon this practice and can therefore refuse a warranty claim on a card that hasn't been correctly filled in.

That said, I've heard of some people having no issue at all with Breitling with non-fully completed cards.....

If you have one of these on a recently bought watch, I'd return to the originating AD and ask them to complete the card for you. If you bought it used, then you're kind of out of luck. Obviously there's nothing to stop you from filling it in yourself, but I wouldn't recommend that course of action.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

sounds like a Grey market watch

no warranty by breitling is the outcome from the hole

regards Jonas

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I don't think that's what he is saying - the "hole" would be the name of the AD perforation punched into the last lage of the warranty booklet. Also as Driver8 alluded to - it's nothing to lose sleep over. The AD from which it was purchased, even if you aren't the original purchaser, can verify the date of purchase. If in the US, BUSA has the registration card with the date of purchase in their system. It's not only to trigger some swag your way, it is primarily to record the sale of the watch re the particular AD and to use for warranty purposes.

All you have to do is call BUSA with the model and serial number and they can let you know it's in their system.

Both my local ADs don't even have stamps and never fill in the warranty book. When I questioned each on this, they said the same thing - "It doesn't matter- BUSA has everything they need in the system tied to the serial number."

So as a practical matter, you really do not need the warranty book at all IF you know the watch was registered with BUSA. It's better to have it, and maybe you can even feel all fuzzy if it's filled in and stamped, but it truly is not a big deal and not and indication the watch is of dubious origin. If gray market, the odds of you receiving a Breitling warranty book would be slim to none.

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SHARKMAN

I think I lot depends on where you are from, Gng1911. From Sharkman's experience, if you are in US you might be OK. If you are in the UK, you may have more problems as BUK don't register watch serial numbers. Not a clue what happens elsewhere.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

When I took my watch to an AD once for warranty work, I told the lady I had the book with me. She said something along the lines of "oh, you brought it with you? I guess we'll send it along with the watch then." Pretty much seemed like it didnt matter if it was there or not. In retrospect, I suppose its good practice since theyll stamp the booklet with the service record.

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-RJ

Yah i was referring to the fact that the AD NAME IS PERFORATED IN THE WARRANRY BOOK, NOT CUT OIT. SO IF A WATCH COMES WIH THE WARRANTY BOOK WIH THE AD name, can it be concluded that it is not grey market?

Oops sory about caps but im on a phone and dont want to retype that.

Most gray market dealers do not include an original warranty card. Some do though, so having the card is no guarantee of warranty coverage. Just call up Breitling and ask if its covered.

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-RJ

Thanks everyone for the help/advice

Sorry i clearly misunderstand your question in your post

jonas

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So, do you mean to say that a warranty card with an AD's name (provided it is an existing AD) perforated on it might be a fake?

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

No. Gray market dealers usually discard the warranty card (or perhaps its discarded by the AD who sells to them) and replace it with their own in-house warranty card. However, I have seen a few times where the gray market dealer provides the original warranty card. In these instances, the warranty is likely invalid as it was never purchased from an AD.

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-RJ

But if it was never purchased from an AD how do they get their hands on an original warranty card?

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

All Breitlings are sourced through ADs, that's how the grey market gets hold of them. The removal of the warranty is usually to try and protect the AD from being identified as a supplier to the grey market. Often times if the warranty is supplied then it's technically a resale watch as the sale will have been registered (though likely not to the grey market seller) and the warranty papers left open.

Thanks for the useful info Roff.

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.