The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi folks,

I wanted to get your thoughts on this and your expert point of view.

I'm in the process of closing the sale of my Bentley GT Racing. The gentlemen buying my watch would like it to be authenticated, including the movement of the watch so he's 100% sure that he gets a fully authentic Breitling. As a watch collector myself I completely understand his concern and so I've been working with him to facilitate the authentication.

He's chosen a known AD to do this work for him. The AD says that they'll need to send the watch directly to Breitling to authenticate the watch. When I enquire if their in-house watchmaker cannot do this since they are a authorized Breitling dealer they answered that because the watch is part of the Bentley line their watchmaker may not have the appropriate tools to carry out the authentication.

This sounds quite strange to me, I never knew that they need special tools to authenticate a Breitling for Bentley. Obviously, the AD will charge the buyer an additional fee for packaging and handling so wonder if this is only a way to milk a bit of money out of my buyer, or am I being too suspicious and there's indeed special equipment to authenticate the Bentley line of watches which not all ADs may posses? I have to admit it smells like BS to me, but I could be wrong.

Thoughts?

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Collection
GMTIIc
Daytona
Nautilus 5711
Deep Sea D-Blue
Submariner Hulk
Tudor BB - FOR SALE
SOLD
Aerospace
Navitimer World
Bentley GT Racing
Cockpit
Navitimer 01 LE 788/2000

Yes I would agree that it is to extort cash for the sake of it.
The Bentley case backs are similar to the normal breitling case backs in having say, 15 edges but with varying diameters according to case size.
so in theory it would be the same size as a skyland avenger which is 44mm also. From memory the skyland needs a 38mm tool and the Navitimer and Blackbird use 36 mm, as examples. I have opened my own 2nd hand breitlings to check originality.

If the ad can open any other breitling then they can open the Bentley gt.

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Oyster Date '78, Blackbird chrono DLC '10, Blackbird chrono' 02, Navitimer Fighters '02, Aerospace Evo , Seamaster Chrono Diver 300' 02, Carrera cbm2110

Hi Phill, as you can see in my signature I'm an AD and I'm also a licensed Breitling repairer. Well, my watchmaker is... And what the guy says is actually true. Here in my shop, even though we are a licensed repairer, we cannot work on B4B. We always need to send them to Breitling Belgium.

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But we could open the case back if we wanted too though to check the movement.

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Will you be going to the AD with the buyer or will the watch be shipped to the buyer out of your control?

The reason I ask is I remember a thread on here somewhere where an original watch was shipped to a buyer, the buyer then took a fake watch to his local AD, the watch was identified as a fake, the fake was then sent back to the seller, then the buyer got a refund from PayPal.
If the watch is being shipped out of your control, perhaps you could ship the watch directly to the AD so the AD can verify and then send to Breitling?

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Breitling Navitimer: Black Dial
OMEGA Speedmaster Professional
Steinhart Nav.B-Chrono II
Elgin-Hamilton 37500 (Aircraft Clock)

Thanks for your quick reply guys.

It seems that they could definitely open the case back to inspect the movement, which for the purposes of authenticating should be just what is needed. I sent an email to my buyer to try to explain this so he's aware. Obviously I don't want to sound too pushy and if he still wants to go ahead with sending the watch to Breitling then I really don't have an issue with that. I just feel obliged to inform the buyer of this money grabbing manoeuvre in the ADs part, if that makes sense.

Answering mjfur question;
I will be taking the watch to the AD personally, so I can get a receipt and hold proof that I have left the watch with them for the purposes of authentication. In principle the watch will be returned to me, but the buyer says that as soon as there's confirmation from Breitling that the watch is authentic he will transfer me the money, so he can pick up the watch from the AD himself when the watch is back from Breitling.

Does this sounds reasonably safe for both of us? I think it does unless I'm missing something.

_________________
Collection
GMTIIc
Daytona
Nautilus 5711
Deep Sea D-Blue
Submariner Hulk
Tudor BB - FOR SALE
SOLD
Aerospace
Navitimer World
Bentley GT Racing
Cockpit
Navitimer 01 LE 788/2000

Sounds good Phil! But the buyer will need your receipt to pick the watch up at the AD. Otherwise the AD won't give him the watch. Well, I wouldn't. Good luck with the sale!

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A little update -

The buyer would like Breitling to do a full service on the watch. I suppose this makes kind of sense since the watch is already being sent out to Breitling. My only worry then would be that I take the watch in, the AD gives me the receipt and sends the watch to Breitling, Breitling does a full service on the watch and then the buyer pulls out leaving me with the service bill.

The AD know the buyer as well so they have been talking to both of us. I just wonder if they would hold my the watch until the bill has been fully covered? It has the potential to get messy if the buyer pulls out last minute.

_________________
Collection
GMTIIc
Daytona
Nautilus 5711
Deep Sea D-Blue
Submariner Hulk
Tudor BB - FOR SALE
SOLD
Aerospace
Navitimer World
Bentley GT Racing
Cockpit
Navitimer 01 LE 788/2000

Why not wait until Breitling sends the service quote, then have the buyer transfer the purchase money to you? At that point he'll be assured of authenticity, and he can pay for the service.

That seems a great idea to me, as Breitling will not service anything that is not 100% Breitling. Therefore, authenticity assured and service performed!!

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Chronomat, Steel/Gold, MOP Dial, 2-tone band (2008)
Super Avenger Black Baton Dial (2009)
Bentley B04 GMT Silver Dial (2013)
Avenger Blacksteel Baton Dial (2014)

No genuine buyer would object to that IMO.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Either that or take a non refundable deposit of the cost of the service.

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Breitling navitimer super constellation LE
Omega Ploprof 1200m
Bremont supermarine
Rolex milgauss GV
Olivant and Botsford 40mm Gold edition

Thanks for all the advice guys, I really appreciate it.

Yesterday I took the watch to the AD and they confirmed that Breitling would not do the full overhaul until I confirm to them that the buyer has paid the arranged price in full. This gives me piece of mind and I think it's the safest option for everyone.

I'll post the outcome, although it may take a few weeks for Breitling to get to verify the watch.

Thanks

_________________
Collection
GMTIIc
Daytona
Nautilus 5711
Deep Sea D-Blue
Submariner Hulk
Tudor BB - FOR SALE
SOLD
Aerospace
Navitimer World
Bentley GT Racing
Cockpit
Navitimer 01 LE 788/2000