The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi, I bought a pre-owned Chronomat Evolution from a reputable online seller a few days ago. It is a beautiful watch and feel almost new and unworn.

I do however notice that on the first day, it ran about 8-9 sec faster which is outside the COSC -4/+6 spec.

I called the seller, they advised to manually wind the watch 40 times and monitor the issue for a few days longer and let it settle down a bit. If the problem still persists, they can take it back to regulate it or they have this 7 days return policy which I can send back & get refund.

So I winded the watch manually and noticed that the second days it was worse and it ran 10-11 sec faster.

On the third day, I left the chronograph running and noticed that it is 5 faster in 24hrs and the chronograph had seemed to help.

Do you guys have had any similar experiences with the B13 or similar in the past? Any advice?

Many thanks in advance,

Welcome to BreitlingSource.

The accuracy of a watch is dependent on very many factors - power reserve, temperature, position, activity, etc, etc, etc. If you are looking for consistency of rate from one 24 hour period to the next you are going to be disappointed - it just doesn't work like that. It's far more realistic to look at it weekly to see what the average daily variance has been, that will at least even out some of those daily variations.

You also mention that the watch appears to be virtually unworn. That may in fact be true, in which case there could have been some migration of the oils and it is going to take a period of wearing for the watch to settle again - and that's weeks, not hours or days. Finally, you mention that the watch is two years old, but that presumably means that it was sold two years ago, it could be far older than that (http://www.breitlingsource.com/articles_dating.shtml) so may be an early indication of the need for a service.

Whatever the cause, it isn't far out of COSC and it definitely needs to be given a few weeks to settle, I certainly don't see any reason for it to go back for a refund because of that small a variance. If it is still outside of COSC in a few weeks, and is consistent, then get it regulated at any AD with a watchmaker - it will cost a few bucks at most and take just a couple of minutes - especially with such a tiny variance from spec.

Thanks for your reply on this, Roffensian.

Yes, the watch was bought new by the previous own just over two years ago but by looking by the bracelet, it looks like that the bracelet was manufactured in the year 2005 as it has "S0205" marked on it.

If this watch was manufactured in 2005 but only first being used in the year 2012, & as mentioned, it is little sign of wearing. Does it still need service soon.

You are absolutely right about the refund. Is it not far out at all and in fact if I left the chronograph on, it is within the COSC spec. I will keep eye on this for a few more days.

Service intervals are determined by time, not use. The main driver of servicing need is the breakdown of the oils over time, reducing the ability of the watch to offer lubrication. That is a consistent rate regardless of whether the watch is running or not.

If the watch was manufactured in 2005 - and you really need to check the watch date code rather than assume that the bracelet date code is the same, then the watch is way overdue for a service (assuming that it wasn't done by the AD prior to original sale) and the oils are offering absolutely no lubrication.

My TOC was +8 Sec/day after two years. I demagnetized it and it is now running +2/day.

Cheers
Brez

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Cheers
Brez

Aerospace
Airwolf CF-18 Limited Edition
TrancOcean Chronograph LE (mercury silver dial, brown croc, folding clasp)

As Roff has tried to explain in many posts in the past, COSC certification certifies that the movement is capable of and indeed was performing according to COSC specifications at the time of the certification process itself.
Breitling provides a 2 year (5 years for in-house movements) warranty and that includes COSC performance.
If the watch does not perform to those specifications during their warranty period, they will regulate it.
byronwarwick, from your post it would appear that the watch you bought is no longer under Breitling warranty. Correct me if I am wrong.
As such, you have three options open to you:
1. Go back to the seller under whatever warranty (if any) terms and conditions the watch was purchased under.
2. Send the watch to Breitling for a service. It should come back with COSC specifications performance and a 12 months warranty.
3. Keep it as it is if the existing performance is acceptable. Although it would drive me (personally) nuts not knowing when was the last time this watch has been serviced or when exactly it has left Breitling factory.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

+8/9 is nearly perfect. imo she will settle.