The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi if a breitling b1 stops working even when u put a new battery in what could this be also is this an expensive fix obvo wouldn't take it to breitling to be fixed as I don't enjoy being shafted. Any help would be great cheers.

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HAVE
Rolex Gmt II
Breitling Superocean

HAD
Omega Seamaster
Rolex Date-Just
Breitling Superocean
Zenith Chronomaster

Well if it's not just a battery then it needs a service and that really means Breitling. With quartz movements the problem could be anything so can't really guess how much the cost will be. In my experience Breitling service costs are fair, and certainly cheaper than the loss in originality and the complete destruction of resale value that will occur with a non authorised service.

Number of questions here.

1) When WAS the watch last serviced by Breitling?
2) Did the "EOL" indicator come up on the display to tell you it was the battery that was the problem?
3) Have you fitted the correct battery.?
4) Did you put the watch into "BAT" mode to store the data in the capacitors prior to removing the old battery?

As a point of reassurance. "Obvo" now that you have removed the caseback and mucked about inside the watch, Breitling will likely charge you sweetly for sorting out the issues you appear to have caused. OR...you might be lucky and they'll just charge you for the service that the watch appears to have required anyway.

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Have
B-1 Black Dial+UTC
Emergency Black+UTC

HAD
B1Vulcan+UTC
B2 Black+UTC
C.A. M1-Team SEB in the Volvo Ocean Race+UTC
Emergency Ti -Yellow+UTC
Mission -Black
Old Navitimer -RAFAT

No I have just brought it at a cheap price. So I have no idea of the history I have been told it had a service and new battery by breitling but the last person I believe telling me about the item is the buyer. Is their normally complications with quartz breitlings or could it be a simple fix.

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HAVE
Rolex Gmt II
Breitling Superocean

HAD
Omega Seamaster
Rolex Date-Just
Breitling Superocean
Zenith Chronomaster

When was the alleged service carried out?

You have bought a high end watch for what would appear to be little money "at a cheap price" (whatever that may have been) with no history and only the claims of the seller to rely on which by what imply in your OP the watch wasn't functioning.

Perhaps invest some of the money you have "saved" buying the watch on getting it properly looked at by Breitling.

To ask if there are normally complications with quartz Breitling movements is the same as asking are there complications with any delicate mechanical device. It could be a simple fix but if I understand your first post and can correctly deduce that it was you that put the new battery in and nothing is still happening, then you may have caused some further damage. If it had been done by a Breitling service centre, you might now have a fully working B-1. Is there any sign of water ingress which has rotted the PCB?

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Have
B-1 Black Dial+UTC
Emergency Black+UTC

HAD
B1Vulcan+UTC
B2 Black+UTC
C.A. M1-Team SEB in the Volvo Ocean Race+UTC
Emergency Ti -Yellow+UTC
Mission -Black
Old Navitimer -RAFAT

Well since I have had it I have not opened it I don't have the tools or skill. I was going to take it to a watch maker not an AD but just wanted an indication or advice. If its a watch I want for my self to keep I make sure it's all legit and cut no corners but I like to buy and sell watches so I thought it way be a good idea.

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HAVE
Rolex Gmt II
Breitling Superocean

HAD
Omega Seamaster
Rolex Date-Just
Breitling Superocean
Zenith Chronomaster

So if I understand right, even having put a new battery in the watch it doesn't work could this be an expensive fix? This would tend to suggest to me that a new battery has been fitted and the watch still isn't functioning.






So if you were going to keep this watch you would get it properly serviced and "make sure it all legit"etc. However, as you like to buy and sell watches, your intention would appear to be to sell it on to the next person, and your quite happy to "cut corners" and dump it into the first non AD watchmaker that comes along? Tell me, does it have all the boxes and papers and warranty booklet with it?

You have also still not answered my first question in both my previous replies. When was the watch last serviced by Breitling? The answer to that might be of help to you.

I don't know about anyone else Nathan, but my alarm bells are starting to chime about this one......QUITE LOUDLY!!!

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Have
B-1 Black Dial+UTC
Emergency Black+UTC

HAD
B1Vulcan+UTC
B2 Black+UTC
C.A. M1-Team SEB in the Volvo Ocean Race+UTC
Emergency Ti -Yellow+UTC
Mission -Black
Old Navitimer -RAFAT

Regarding the battery being fitted and not working and also the service this is only what I was told when purchasing. Also no idea when the service by breitling was. The watch has no box or papers. Well it's simple if I buy a watch then get it serviced by breitling and repaired by breitling which will cost a fortune then I have no profit left or I get it serviced by a watchmaker that has experience in these watches for a cheaper price and still maintanes a hi level of service. Breitlings don't keep their value as well as say rolex or patek or AP so I have to get it done as cheap as possible to still turn a little profit plus watches are my hobbie so I think it would be cool buying a watch that need a bit of tlc then enjoying it for a bit then selling it on for a little profit.

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HAVE
Rolex Gmt II
Breitling Superocean

HAD
Omega Seamaster
Rolex Date-Just
Breitling Superocean
Zenith Chronomaster

I fail to understand how you can make a small profit by turning a Breitling into a partial Breitling, which is exactly what you would be doing if you don't use Breitling service. I don't care how amazing your watchmaker is or how familiar he is with Breitling modified quartz movements, he can't get access to Breitling parts so he will be using standard ETA parts.

Seems to me the only way to make money would be to not declare the fact that work had been performed by a non Breitling watchmaker and sell it as supposedly a working normal Breitling and allow the buyer to discover the truth when Breitling tell him the next time the watch goes for service. And you wouldn't do that I'm sure.

If you are buying to sell you should do some research before you buy. No box or papers are a classic mistake.

Take a couple of pictures of the watch and post them here.

Remember, a watch that does not work is a doorstop.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

+1 and some.

A display of some naivety I think. That, and a parsimonious attitude when it comes to dealing in high end watches and the care of same.

Yeah, me too, post some pics of this beauty. Particularly the case back so I know which serial number to avoid.

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Have
B-1 Black Dial+UTC
Emergency Black+UTC

HAD
B1Vulcan+UTC
B2 Black+UTC
C.A. M1-Team SEB in the Volvo Ocean Race+UTC
Emergency Ti -Yellow+UTC
Mission -Black
Old Navitimer -RAFAT

Or a paperweight.

Really can't recommend a Breitling service enough. My Chronomat was recently serviced and overhauled, total cost £440. Yes this is a lot of money, but considering Breitling basically took the watch to bits and cleaned everything, as well as remove the marks, scratches and dings, to make it look brand new again.

Not really sure why the feeling is that Breitling will 'shaft' you with repair quotes; this isn't some backstreet workshop, it is the proper factory that does this work so has the proper trained technicians so this is what you pay for; they are the only people who can carry out this work to the necessary standard. At the end of the day it is a hand made precision instrument as well as a piece of jewellery; maintenance has to be done by Breitling, this aspect is often overlooked. A watch that has not been looked after in this way will often be cheaper... the original posting here shows why this is the case.

I personally would be very wary of buying a watch without box or papers; to me, apart from anything else, shows the original owner couldn't care less about keeping all the documentation which says a lot. Looks like the cheap price you paid is not so attractive now. I think the best advice is to bite the bullet and get it serviced by Breitling; it may cost £big but at the moment you have just a worthless piece of metal of no value; at least if you get it properly repaired it will get back to something close to the normal value for this watch. Lack of documentation is a problem however.