The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Having just bought a chronomat via eBay , it looks good but I'm unsure when it was last serviced so I am considering sending it to Breitling tunbridge wells for either servicing or overhaul. Does anyone have a view on the value for money aspect of this ? How much should I expect to pay for such a service. ? What are you views about alternative providers out there and the value they offer .

Breitling used to publish its service costs on their website but looks to be down now - I think that a full service is around GBP350 but UK members can confirm.

There are no alternatives other than Breitling authorised service to retain the watch as a Breitling. Unauthorised service won't include genuine Breitling parts and your expensive, Breitling modified, COSC certified movement will start to degrade to a generic ETA piece. It will also be subject to refusal of service or expensive restoration to original state by Breitling in the future. Unauthorised service centres will also have to reuse the hands that are designed to be single use.

Any regional authorised service centres are going to charge pretty much the same as BUK so I would go for the main guys!

BUK costs can be found here:

http://www.breitling.com/multimedia/pdf/sav/sav-894.pdf

I think most everyone here would discourage you from sending it anywhere else.

Definitely value for money IMO. I've not sent one in for a while, so can't give you any current costs, but just give BUK a call (their number should be on their website) and ask the question. They're very amenable to answering pricing questions, and it's obviously the very best way to get an idea of the current pricing.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

All the current costs are in my link above.

Oh agreed, but personally I still like to give them a call just to be sure they've not changed as Breitling aren't especially well known for keeping their site up to date (although may be they are when it comes to pricing). Also by speaking directly you can get an idea of timescales, they can explain exactly what's included, plus they can give advice on how to safely ship the watch to them, etc.

I just like to speak to someone in person before shipping off my watches for servicing, but that's just me.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Even better still, if you are within driving distance go there in person.
I remember in Taipei when I serviced my watches, the technician would open up the watch there and then, pretty much in front of me, spend 10 min examining it, we would then have a good chat about the mandatory and optional items and I'd have my total cost estimate pretty much on the spot.
The 10 min chit chat with he watch maker however was invaluable.
Oh and of course there was the pretty receptionist but that's another story

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"It is just a matter of time!"

Aye, if I was that close to Tunbridge Wells I'd drive mine in as I always fret when it's in the post. Mind you, the case on here not so long ago was of someone whose watch went missing from BUK rather than to, yikes.

For piece of mind, all my watches have been serviced by an authorized dealer of that brand.

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Breitling Chronomat 44 Evolution C13356 Rose Gold/SS
Breitling Chronomat 44 B01 LE Black Pearl Rose Gold/SS
Breitling Chronomat 44 B01 White Pearl Rose Gold/SS
Rolex Daytona TT White Face