The Breitling Watch Source Forums

How feasible/practical/advisable is it to have your dial swapped out by a non-Breitling watch repair shop? I have limited knowledge in vintage pieces, but obviously Craig and others do fantastic work on them. Seems the norm for newer Breitlings is to send them back to Breitling for service, but I get the feeling they don't do much to a watch that is not the way they came from the factory...which I can totally understand. Also gather that if they do make a change it is costly and they don't return the "other" parts. No first hand experience but that is what I seem to remember reading.

What if you wanted work done on your watch and it was out of warranty? Any reason not to have a trusted watch-guy that is non breitling do the work? The AD I bought my first Breitling seems to have a fine jeweler on staff based on work they did I my wife's earrings (yes I know that is not a watch) but seems like opening up a watch and swapping the dial is not major surgery - but then again I wear watches don't really know much about the art behind repair and maintenance.

I love my blue SteelFish don't see myself ever getting rid of it. Still from time to time I find myself really wanting a white faced steelfish. I see there is a white SF face on ebay (not super expensive) and that got me to thinking is it at all reasonable to have two dials and have them swapped out from time to time, say once a year or less or is that just watch hypocrisy? Would the cost of the work quickly negate the benefit? Would it just make more sense to buy a white faced SF used and have two of the same watch? Given the rate I have been buying watches I'd find it pretty hard to justify another watch right now, especially the same one in a different color.

If you don't use Breitling service then the watch will be refused any future work by Breitling unless you agree to restore it to original condition at your expense. There is also the risk of fake parts of course, and for regular servicing an independent will only have access to generic ETA parts.

Well, I think that if a Ling is out of warrantee, then there is a perfect opportunity to have a non AD service or repair it, with some qualifications. I see no reason not to, provided the watch maker is experienced with Breitlings and can source authentic parts. I remember some years ago restoring my Father in Laws Omega, but not through Swiss Watch, but by a trusted Omega specialist. He was not associated with the service centre here in Melbourne but could obtain parts. His cost was half that of the usual and official method of repair/service. A bit of a joke really, as his work was excellent, and the watch is still running within spec and for all intents, is just as good as it always was.

As far as swapping out the dial, I think you should seriously think of buying a whole second watch, not just the bit you want to replace now and again. It would be expensive and taxing on the movement to have this undertaken every year or so and by the time you had made changes a few times, you may as well have bought a second watch and protect your original from wear/damage. Why not look round for a second hand version, as perhaps that might be a more cost effective and satisfactory way of achieving your requirements.

Makes it more flexible to have a second version if you want to change faces for special occasions too.

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Jim

"You have Control".

Non Breitling authorised watchmakers have no access to Breitling parts (through legitimate channels). Resale value is also destroyed by this approach.

remember hands can not be re-installed too often, so add this to your swap cost, shot resale value and potential servicing woes.
not a good idea, Rich.

Are you sure they could not get access to parts or is that a generalisation?

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".

Breitling does not sell parts to independents.