The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I bought a Breitling without engraved serial number on the case back (and missing paperwork) and I am concerned about future repair service (I am 99% sure that the watch is authentic though) - hence, I am thinking about sending the watch to Breitling for authenticity so that I am guaranteed to receive repair service in the future.

Now, if I send the watch for authentication to Breitling, what exactly do they provide me with?

I understand that I receive some sort of 'letter of authenticity' (for lack of better word).

But how can I proof that such letter/certificate was issued to one particular watch if they don't engrave a serial number on the case back for future reference?

Can anyone shed light on this process?

you shouldnt have to send it in, do you have a good local dealer? any watchmaker can remove the case back and verify the movement is all breitling in the right conditions. where do you live?

Thanks for the info.

I am in LA and I can bring it to Feldmar to check it out.

I am certain that the watch is authentic; But my main question was really: what do I get in return from such exercise?

I am ok spending the money for the authentication but I would really like to get some sort of proof so that I have that proof for future reference.

What would either the AD or Breitling provide me with and how can I link tjat proof to the watch without a serial number?

Assuming the watch is genuine of course, the serial number that was on the caseback originally will be the same as the movement number. Now, I assume is visible on the rear side of the movement with the caseback removed, but since I don't tend to remove the caseback on my Breitlings, perhaps someone can correct me if the movement number isn't visible without removing the movement from the case.

But assuming it is visible you could take photo of the movement number when your local watchmaker pops the back, and you could ask him to specify that number on any letter of authentication you get. You could even then have that number engraved on the caseback yourself. Sure it won't look like the laser-etched number that Breitling put on at source, but it'll just make it easier to tie back to the authentication letter.

(Might be worth you posting up a few pictures of it here so we can tell you if it's authentic anyway).

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Serial number is visible with the caseback removed, but.......

As we discussed in the other thread yesterday I'm not sure that this is going to help. Unless Breitling has changed policy they are pretty clear - no case serial number, no service.

Yes I wasn't so much thinking in terms of Breitling servicing it going forward ; more just in terms of being able to tie any authentication back to the watch in question.

And I was thinking of a local watchmaker opening it, not Breitling, because as you say, we know their stance on non-serial-numbered watches.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I've got to ask...

I've been hearing this for years...

"Just take your watch to the local dealer and they'll authenticate it for you"...

Ummm......

Who will? The saleperson? No offense, but the majority of salespeople who work at AD's couldn't tell you an ETA powered watch from Miyota Clone powered fake....Sure an obviously lousy fake would be discernable to anyone who handles the watches on a daily bases (I would hope, but even that is an assumption), but one of the more sinister, super fakes would pass the eyeball test very easily if you didn't know what to look for..

So now we enter the watchmaker at the AD. A lot of Breitling AD watchmakers haven't opened the back of a Breitling in their tenure at the AD. Most of the movement repairs go straight to BUSA. I don't even think the AD watch guy will bother to regulate an auto Breitling and they certainly won't touch a chronograph of any sort. Essentially if it's not a Rolex, they ain't working on the internals..

Ok, so let's say you DO happen to find an AD watchmaker who ACTUALLY can open a Breitling caseback and fix something...Will they take the time out of their workload to open up a caseback and play is it a real Breitling? For free? I don't know. AD's get $15.00 just to adjust a bracelet on a watch you didn't buy there, so I can't imagine the watchmaker will donate his time for the cause....It could cost you a fair amount of money for this service...if you can find one willing or able to do it...

Just post some VERY GOOD and clear pics on this forum and there are experts here who can tell you if it's real or not, but even if it is, Breitling won't touch it if the serials are gone. That's not just for warranty, but even if you begged them and offered to pay them triple...NO SERIALS...NO WORK....Think about it. All the warnings about Internet watches being of dubious origins on their website are there to DETER the consumer from buying gray market and side stepping the AD's. They very well won't accept those same "bastard" watches for repair. It's another way to deter gray market sales. If the watch can't be fixed by the manufacturer, then it's pretty much a dud...Just another reason for the consumer to go to the AD..

Forunately ETA based Breitlings are pretty easy to work on so basic servicing could go a regular watchmaker (not an AD based one), but you could get into trouble if you need parts replaced...You can't send it to Breitling and the watcmakers can't get parts, so you would be in a jam...

Some ADs, one I know locally, have Breitling Certified Watchmakers. And yes they can order parts from BUSA.

Not to high five the gray market - I would never buy there, but those who have do have some options available to them.

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SHARKMAN

Thank you for your opinion on this.

I do agree with you - especially on the quoted statement.

As it stands, I got a watch without serial number on the case back, which means that I am out of luck if anything goes wrong with the watch. This is a huge concern, considering that I paid quite a large amount of money and I intended to keep the watch for a good while.

I am returning the watch to the online retailer and hope that they will make it right as they clearly state in their terms that ALL watches are coming with serial numbers intact. In my books, that is a breach of such term and warrants money back.

We shall see.

I appreciate all input here and I will write this one off as a lesson learned.

Can such AD's also issue certificates of authenticity?

I still don't understand what good it does to have the AD (or BUSA) open up the watch (unless one is really absolutely unsure about the watch being fake), close it again and send the watch back saying "its authentic".

How can one proof and reconcile such issued authenticity with a serial number on the watch still missing (I understand that BUSA does not re-engrave serial numbers).

Again, it seems that without serial number on the back, you are simply out of luck.

Oh, that's cool. My AD has one of those. Breitling Certified Watchmaker. Fully certified and trained to box up my Breitling Seawolf TI (out of warranty) that had a stripped out crown and sent it straight to BUSA for them to fix it...so I could pay shipping to and from and wait 8 weeks for the repair..

I'm pretty convinced all these guys can do is polish or brush the case and bracelet and size the bracelet or put on straps..

If your AD watchmaker does more, then you're lucky....

Jesus dude, I'm sorry you have a shitty AD, but there are ADs with actual watchmakers. Some good enough to be certified by Breitling. Another AD I use (not a Breitling AD) has a former BUSA watchmaker among others.

For that matter, ask FEAR about Provident's guys or George Mayer about Govberg's.

You behave like everyone who has a different view than you is deluded or lying. The world is a bigger place than your personal experience.

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SHARKMAN

There is no such thing as a Breitling certificate of authenticity.

The only papeprwork available is what came with the watch and most of that (not the warranty) can be replaced through Breitling Switzerland. ADs can facilitate that for you but won't create any, and again, why bother when it's not going to achieve anything.

Yeah, I'm a Got see it to believe kind of guy..

Been to plenty of AD's over the years.

Rolex? Sure no problem..

Breitling, Omega, Panerai...etc...Service Center.

I asked a large AD to regulate my Omega Seamaster once. They took it from me, kept it for 2 weeks. Said it was running slow and had to go to the service center. The watchmaker said that he didn't do Omega regulations and only the Jersey service center could.

Read the stories on here...How many Breitling owners get there watches fixed at the AD? I honestly can't recall a story about somebodies dealer fixing anything. It always ends up at BUSA...

The point for the OP is that don't expect much when you go to the AD to have this "authenication" procedure done. I would be willing to bet they look at you like you're from another planet...

It doesn't really matter anyway. Without serials, that watch is bootleg and will be a headache down the road. I'd send it back if you can and be done with it...

That is the general consensus here.

The watch goes back to the retailer and I truly hope that I will get my all of my money back.

Once the return is completed, I definitely want another B1 as the watch itself is great.

Thanks again to all responses and the advise here - much appreciated!