The Breitling Watch Source Forums

My wife bought me a Breitling watch for $5000 from partridge the Jewellers in Auckland NZ. It was sold as a watch that would last a lifetime. But after 4 1/2 years the luminous part of the hands fell off and the strap fell apart. Partridge says this is normal wear and tear. Repair cost $1400. They do not seem to think that it should have lasted any longer and its my problem. Is this normal for a Brietling.? I would like to email someone in breitling but have no email addresses? what should I do?
many thanks for any thoughts Peter

can you provide some pictures?

Just the luminous part of the hands fell off?

The best quality straps can deteriorate under extreme conditions.

Sales people have a conflict of interest when dealing with customers.

They recommend servicing the watch ever 2-3 years and complete overhaul every 5. Part of that includes replacing the hands.

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NAVITIMER WORLD (SILVER)
PATEK PHILIPPE 5980 (BLACK)

The only time I've heard the 2-3 years is with the B01 movements to have the gaskets checked to get the full 5 year warranty.

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

No this is not at all normal. The only explanation I am aware of for luminova to deteriorate is water damage. If for some reason the lume on the hands was defectively applied, the fix is a simple set of new hands which is less than $200.

The service interval for a Breitling like most every other automatic watch is 7 years.

I have never, ever seen a lume problem on a Breitling except when there was some degree of water damage.

It is perfectly normal for a leather strap to deteriorate in a few years, regardless of brand, especially if worn daily in temperate climates.


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SHARKMAN

Hmmmm, I REALLY don't want to start an argument here, just an information sharing exercise....

According to Breitling's own User Manuals;
Your BREITLING chronometer is a sophisticated instrument which is constantly subjected to a wide variety of stresses and strains. Within a very small volume, a large number of components contribute to handling all the functions. Their mechanical action inevitably leads to a certain amount of wear and tear, which may be controlled by maintenance consisting of renewing the lubrication and replacing worn components. Like any precision measurement instrument, your watch must be regularly maintained in order to function at its highest level of potential: we recommend a regular service every two years, while the complete overhaul should be scheduled about every five years. Your authorized BREITLING dealer will be pleased to handle this for you.

When talking to the Breitling service agents here in Sudney, they essentially told me that if you use the watch in water on a regular basis, have it serviced every 2 years. If you don't go anywhere near water, every 4 - 5 years is the go. He went on to mention that in essence all they do at the 2 year mark is swap out the waterproofing gaskets, give the watch a basic 'once over' and pressure test it (a minor polish as well).

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Montbrillant Datora
Chronomat
Superocean Steelfish
A number of strap / bracelet combo's

Many different things going on here.....

Maintenance service every 2 years is a cash grab unless the watch is regularly used near water, especially salt water. The 5 year service these days is driven by the aging of the oils and that happens in a predictable manner, but because there are minute amounts in the first place and so tiny differences in the amount of oil can have a profound effect the watch will likely need servicing every 5 - 7 years - it will tell you when it needs it because it can no longer maintain a decent power reserve or COSC specs.

However, in the OP's case there are many more issues going on. 4 1/2 years could be considered to be in the service window so I assume that the cost includes a full service. If that's the case then damaged hands are irrelevant because they should be replaced during servicing, although the lume falling off is certainly not normal - even water damage is unlikely to cause that, and of course it wouldn't affect only the hands. 4 1/2 years on a strap is a little light to me, but possible I guess with daily wear.

However, for NZD$1,400 there would appear to be more going on - full service plus a strap (even if croc) shouldn't be that high - if my math is correct that's over US$1,100 so unless it's a semi-perpetual / perpetual (it's too old to be an in house) then the numbers seem off.

I am sorry to hear you are having a bit of trouble with your Breilting. Breitlings do last but they are after all, mechanical devices in the most part, and subject to wear. So, you will find the occasional visit to a repair or service agent will be necessary from time to time. Many factors, but they are not necessarily bulletproof to breakdown.

Even so, less that 10 years and something like the lume falling off sounds serious, but more the fact that it occurred at all. Could be faulty manufacture but the only peaceful resolution you will receive on that one is just to put up with paying for new hands unfortunately. Very hard to prove the cause and you cannot be sure there is not a consequence in its past that is responsible for this. Without close observation and some idea of the watches previous life, it’s a mute point, unfortunately.

I would not have thought your repair work was normal on a watch of its age either. If all you had done was a new strap and new hands, then $1,400.00 sounds a bit steep. You should have received a list of all the things they did and if not, then I would ask for a breakdown. I don’t assume where agents are concerned, regardless of what it is they are supposed to do by the book. I ask and get a list of the work to be carried out. Always. If you have the listed work they performed then let us know, as that would help us out.

Breilting straps are expensive, so it does depend on what strap you had as a replacement (assuming it’s a Breitling), but higher cost is no guarantee of longevity. The strap life depends on environment and use. 5 years or so is a reasonable time for leather, but is usually extended by a long margin with leather care and cleaning. It’s a natural material and is subject to attack from body oil, weather and home heating, etc.

I hope its now restored to its original condition and that you get better life out of it.

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Jim

"You have Control".