The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I just sent my BO1 off to BUSA it was losing about one minute every two days. It is still under warranty and they told me that no problem recalibrating my piece. I also asked them to polish the head and bracelet which there is a charge for, no problem there I thought it was very reasonable and told them ok. They also told me that the crystal anti glare was scratched and that was not so reasonable. Can anyone tell me if I should have them take care of the anti glare scratches?????

They won't repair the AR, they'll replace the crystal entirely - it's up to you if you want that done.

Thanks for the answer, they did not specify if it was the front or display back. I have told them to go ahead and do it, should I ask if it is both.

I highly doubt if it is the back.

I just spoke with them and it is the front, thanks for your help

It's up to you what to do, but I have found the AR coating will get scratched. My Evo got a hairline scratch in the coating, despite my almost OCD-like carefulness when wearing it. It's a tough coating, but it's not as hard as the sapphire crystal underneath. So, before you pay for a whole new crystal, you might want to consider whether you honestly think you can prevent future scratches. How would you feel if you just end up scratching it again in the next couple of years?

Another option is simply to remove the AR coating by polishing it off. Some people feel that having the AR coating on the outside defeats the purpose of having the near-scratchproof sapphire crystal. In removing it, you lose the blue-purple reflection, but the scratches are gone, too.

Thanks for all the imput, I am also OCD about my Breitling. Told them to do the replacement and hopefully it will not scratch in the near future.

Hi Jackson, how did you manage to scratch your AR coating? I have given mine some hefty whacks in the past and mine survived (was I just lucky?). .

_________________
TAG Professional (Silver/Gold) 2000 - still going strong and kept as spare when Wolf is away.
Breitling B1 (Blue) 2003 - 2008.
Breitling Airwolf (Black Sunburst) 2008 - Date.

I really don't know. I just noticed it one day, while sitting under very direct, bright light, which was the only way I could see it. It was very fine, and barely noticeable, but it was there. Given how big and heavy that watch is, it wasn't like I'd never bumped it against anything before, despite my best efforts. Also, I have a couple coats with snapping cuffs on the sleeves, and the anchors for the metal snaps actually come through the cuffs and can contact whatever watch I'm wearing. I have no idea if that's what did it, but after I saw the scratch, I stopped wearing the coats with any watch with AR coating. Ultimately, I didn't subject the watch to any abnormal circumstances, but the scratch ended up there anyway. FWIW, my CSO didn't get any scratches on the coating, but then I only had the watch for about six months before I sold it. So, you may be right - it could just be a matter of luck whether you end up with a scratch or not.

That's interesting Jackson and thanks for the response . It must have been the cuffs - if you were leaning on your arm (for example), the cuffs could have been resting against the face and then you move - I'm sure it could score the AR coating (I'm thinking of how a glass cutter rubbed against glass makes that scratch before you break the glass). You see, I have really whacked my watch against things (door handles spring to mind) and done the dreaded 'OMG, look at watch face expecting the worst' only to find nothing wrong. Based on that, I think that the AR coating is pretty tough.

_________________
TAG Professional (Silver/Gold) 2000 - still going strong and kept as spare when Wolf is away.
Breitling B1 (Blue) 2003 - 2008.
Breitling Airwolf (Black Sunburst) 2008 - Date.

Tough, yes, although I suspect the crystal itself, absent a coating, would not have shown any damage. Therein lies the rub for me: what's the point of having a virtually scratch-proof crystal if you're going to coat it with a substance that can be scratched more easily, which then warrants replacement of an otherwise undamaged crystal? Oh well...just more stuff for me to whine and bitch about, I guess.

That said, I wonder how the OP managed to scratch his.

You? Whine and bitch? Never, Jackson . Of course, I am only joking .

It does raise the question though Jackson, why bother with the Sapphire if the AR can be scratched - the end result is roughly the same.

Micara, how did you scratch your AR?

_________________
TAG Professional (Silver/Gold) 2000 - still going strong and kept as spare when Wolf is away.
Breitling B1 (Blue) 2003 - 2008.
Breitling Airwolf (Black Sunburst) 2008 - Date.

Really have no idea, I sent it BUSA because it was losing a minute every few days. I bought it in Dec. 2010 so sent it to them as it is still under warranty and told them to do a polish of the case and bracelet. They said the AR coating was scratched.

Sigh , Micara it sounds like you have been really unlucky like Jacksonstone.

_________________
TAG Professional (Silver/Gold) 2000 - still going strong and kept as spare when Wolf is away.
Breitling B1 (Blue) 2003 - 2008.
Breitling Airwolf (Black Sunburst) 2008 - Date.