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The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
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Author:  Nav01L [ Wed Oct 03, 2012 8:59 am ]
Post subject:  The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
Hey folks!

Not meaning to spark the good old inhouse/third party debate again, but When watching the superfactories video, I clearly saw the logo of Louis Lang SA, Porrentruy on the polishers' and welders' chest pockets.

I take it Breitling has the Chronomat's case made by them good folks then?

To be clear, this is not in any way, shape or form a bad thing. On the contrary, when it comes to case makers, Louis Lang is the place to go, with a tradition almost as long as Breitling's own and a quality second to none.

It is however an interesting insight into Breitling's production line. Just thought I'd share that :)
Author:  Alien [ Thu Oct 04, 2012 6:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
You have to split the production of movements and cases/bracelets just for keeping the movement production quality. Hardly any watchproducer is producing their cases themselfs (except prototypes). Even in the big organisations like Swatchgroup or Richemontgroup, the caseproductions are in seperate companies. This seems to have different advantages, also concerning the value of raw materials, different payment of workers and different security systems.

BG
Thomas
Author:  sharkman [ Thu Oct 04, 2012 11:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
Alien wrote:
You have to split the production of movements and cases/bracelets just for keeping the movement production quality. Hardly any watchproducer is producing their cases themselfs (except prototypes). Even in the big organisations like Swatchgroup or Richemontgroup, the caseproductions are in seperate companies. This seems to have different advantages, also concerning the value of raw materials, different payment of workers and different security systems.

BG
Thomas



Makes sense to me, but my AD has talked about one of his tours of Breitling where he watched the metal blanks shaped and links cut for Breitling bracelets. Is that done outside now? Just wondering.
Author:  Nav01L [ Thu Oct 04, 2012 1:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
sharkman wrote:
Alien wrote:
You have to split the production of movements and cases/bracelets just for keeping the movement production quality. Hardly any watchproducer is producing their cases themselfs (except prototypes). Even in the big organisations like Swatchgroup or Richemontgroup, the caseproductions are in seperate companies. This seems to have different advantages, also concerning the value of raw materials, different payment of workers and different security systems.

BG
Thomas



Makes sense to me, but my AD has talked about one of his tours of Breitling where he watched the metal blanks shaped and links cut for Breitling bracelets. Is that done outside now? Just wondering.

Maybe he saw the refinishing during service? My AD had a similar story, but it turned out she really only saw polishers at work... Could've been the maintenance side of things...
Author:  TakmaN [ Thu Oct 04, 2012 4:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
Other brands do this as well. I learned that Omega uses (or used to use) different suppliers for their cases, bezels, etc.

It was noted that some of the scalloped Seamaster Pro bezels were shaped differently and later found out that they come from different manufacturers.
Author:  Alien [ Fri Oct 05, 2012 5:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
One a former visit to the factory, I have been led to the bracelet manufacturer as well. They showed us their production line. But the guides tried to lead us away from the working employees there, as most of them where producing Audemars Piquet bracelets at that moment. I have forgotten the name of the company, but it was either in LaChaux-de-Fonds or LeLocle and it was very interesting.

BG
Thomas
Author:  sharkman [ Fri Oct 05, 2012 6:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
Nav01L wrote:
sharkman wrote:
Alien wrote:
You have to split the production of movements and cases/bracelets just for keeping the movement production quality. Hardly any watchproducer is producing their cases themselfs (except prototypes). Even in the big organisations like Swatchgroup or Richemontgroup, the caseproductions are in seperate companies. This seems to have different advantages, also concerning the value of raw materials, different payment of workers and different security systems.

BG
Thomas



Makes sense to me, but my AD has talked about one of his tours of Breitling where he watched the metal blanks shaped and links cut for Breitling bracelets. Is that done outside now? Just wondering.

Maybe he saw the refinishing during service? My AD had a similar story, but it turned out she really only saw polishers at work... Could've been the maintenance side of things...


He described seeing the links cut or chopped by a large machine. But I didn't ask him which trip it was. He visits the factory every year. I guess he might have been referring to seeing it at another facility.
Author:  FEAR [ Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
ok, the cases, dials, and bracelet components are subbed out, they are local swiss companies, but they are subbed out.

the dials is the one that fascinated me the most, lets say they make 100 dials at the factory where they make them, half of them are going to get tossed after the first couple steps, then they get painted, another half gone, so now just 25 of the 100 are good,they finish those and sent them to breitling, who refuses and sends back about 15 of that 25, so really about just 10 percent of the dials ever make it on the watch.

the markers, logo and final pieces are installed by breitling though.

the case company makes cases for a few brands, some big ones too.

the bracelet maker just makes the links, but they are all assembled by hand in the grenchen building by breitling.
Author:  sco [ Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
I'll never buy another Breitling again after reading this info.... :lol:
Author:  sharkman [ Fri Oct 05, 2012 3:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The Chronomat's case coming from a subcontractor?
FEAR wrote:
ok, the cases, dials, and bracelet components are subbed out, they are local swiss companies, but they are subbed out.

the dials is the one that fascinated me the most, lets say they make 100 dials at the factory where they make them, half of them are going to get tossed after the first couple steps, then they get painted, another half gone, so now just 25 of the 100 are good,they finish those and sent them to breitling, who refuses and sends back about 15 of that 25, so really about just 10 percent of the dials ever make it on the watch.

the markers, logo and final pieces are installed by breitling though.

the case company makes cases for a few brands, some big ones too.

the bracelet maker just makes the links, but they are all assembled by hand in the grenchen building by breitling.



So that IS what my AD's owner was referencing because he also talked about the dials, which I posted about a year ago. I just assumed he was referring to the Breitling facility.

Like SCO I will NEVER buy a Breitling again now! ;)


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