The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi Guys. I'm sure most of you know my story but there has been some developments. Here goes.

I bought a brand new Choronospace from my AD on the 20th of August 2014. The Chronograph failed in the first week. So did the second one and the 3rd one. In every occasion I demanded a replacement watch. The process took 7 months to replace all 3. Breitling Switzerland had to manufacture each replacement watch. Breitling gave me Hats, Pens, straps and finally a leather Jacket for my troubles. After the 3rd replacement failed I decided that the Chronospace was clearly not for me. I spoke to my AD and upgraded to a Navi 01. I paid extra for the upgrade and was very happy.

After walking out of the AD, new Navi in hand, I set the Navi to an Atomic Clock App on my phone. 4 hours later I checked it against the Atomic Clock and its was about 2min slow already. (We did a 40 wind before I took it away from the AD). I went strait back to the AD and asks them to time it against a Quartz Breitling for 30min while I have coffee. On my return after 30 min the AD agreed it was 4 seconds slow already. In the 30min while
I was away my AD phone Breitling head office and the response given was "let the customer wear the watch a couple of day and it will speed up - be more accurate after run in)." I understand this but this will only correct maybe 1 sec per day. I agreed.

2 days later the Chronograph failed and another week later the watch failed completely.

I was so angry I posted on the Public Breitling Facebook page to get some action. Breitling Switzerland contacted Breitling South Africa and demanded to know what's going on. I received a call from the CEO of Breitling SA saying "I must be careful what I put on Facebook". They need the Navi back ASAP. They will not release a new watch to me until Switzerland does a careful investigation into the failed watches. All 4 or them.

I explained I don't do manual labour. Or abuse the watches in any way. I spend half day in the office and the other half in the car seeing customers. The watches sleep at night on a watch winder (set to the correct RPM).

At the moment I am waiting for Switzerland to give feedback on the 3 Chronospace watches and the new Navi 01.

What's makes me angry is I bought a high end watch on the 20th of August 2014 and have gone through 7 months of shit for the pleasure. My AD has been more than helpful but Breitling has the attitude that I "the customer" is at fault. Breitling SA's CEO's exact words was "I must be fiddling with that watches". Seriously !!! WTF man !!

My AD has offered to buy me a replacement Navi 01 just to keep me happy but Breitling SA refuses to release another watch to them. Almost getting spiteful, like a child, now.

Anyway. Not a happy customer at the moment. Breitling Switzerland should get back to me in the next view days.

I am not exactly sure what they are going to do or say to restore my faith.

My first Brand New Breitling experience has been terrible. The worst quality product I have ever bought coupled by the worst customer communication and support from an manufacture I've ever experienced.


Ling ling

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Really sorry to hear about your difficulties. Four watches failing in quick succession is a huge amount : the odds of that happening must be astronomical. It'll be very interesting to hear what Breitling has to say regarding the underlying reasons for the failures.

In some ways (and I'm NOT REMOTELY sticking up for Breitling here) I can somewhat understand their difficulty understanding how four brand new watches could all fail, BUT they are entirely wrong IMO to suggest that you must have been "fiddling with the watches" before they've even examined them! If the problem IS with the movements, they're going to look pretty silly... and not to mention rather arrogant.

Additionally the amount of time this has taken to date is terrible. I really hope this gets sorted out for you asap.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I feel for you, I truly do. They are doing what they feel is the correct procedure in this case. So many failures are bound to pose questions, and it's only their own duty of care to you and them that makes them seem sceptical. You can't blame them for that. I am not excusing them or the faulty products, but they don't know you personally and they do need to probe you and your circumstances to get a better understanding.

It also sounds like your AD should be given dealer if the year, as helping out like they have done, without hesitation is remarkable. That's true customer care and not lip service. We need that everywhere.

Both the AD and Breitling SA are prepared to go the long haul for you and that's worth a considerable lot. Stay with them and continue cooperating so this problem can be resolved. They sound genuine and most likely are as concerned as you in getting to the bottom of the problem.

I understand the frustration of getting onto a public forum and venting your anger, but wait till this is resolved one way or the other before you do. That's best. In the meantime, give them the benefit and let them propose the solution. I know, the solution should be a working watch straight out of the box, but now that you are in this situation let it run its course.

I hope it gets resolved suitably and very quickly.

Cheers.

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Jim

"You have Control".

Thanks Guys. Nice to hear your opinions. I'm emotionally involved and it's good to hear an independent view. You are correct about my AD. They have gone above and beyond. I'll wait to hear the outcome from the factory. Hopefully I'll end up with a working watch and not such a bad taste in my mouth.


Ling ling

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Depressing story! I can imagin how awful that experience has been so far.
May I ask one thing? Do you do some kind of sport while wearing your watch? For instance golf? Just wondering if there could be a link there...

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Breitling Navitimer 01 46mm, Chris Ward C11 MSL auto, Lüm-Tec Combat B16 auto

Hi. Nope. I take them off when working in the garage or in the garden. I even remove them while working on the laptop. The clasp scuff while on the laptop. Trust me. I am OCD when it comes to a 7000$ watches. It's sleeps on a winder at night. With the Chronospace watches I started the Chronograph perhaps 3 to 4 times per day. Just because I wanted to test them because the first watch's Chronograph failed. In handing the watches back to the AD they couldn't find a single scuff or scratch. Trust me. I am super careful with them.


Ling ling

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I trust you
I was just searching for a possible explanation. I was definately not accusing you if you wonder. I hope this mess is soon over for you!

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Breitling Navitimer 01 46mm, Chris Ward C11 MSL auto, Lüm-Tec Combat B16 auto

nahh.. youve bene fiddling too much with them

the B50 only has what ? 40 functions ? . So now you know, you're not supposed to use them as that is the same as 'fiddling'

and the lil remark from the Breitling SA CEO would have made me go ballistic . If they dont want to hear / see comments from their paying customers , (thats right, the ones that actually take the time , go out to the store , and buy NEW product so they have a job as well with a paycheck that comes with that job) they should not partake on the internet social media (ie FaceBook) . If you choose to participate in the 'participation age' they should be prepared to get open and honest 'feedback' as well and not make statements about 'negativity' 'fiddling' etc. They should go out of their way , as they tried but didnt work, to make the PAYING customer happy and content !!

just my 2 cents

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Haha. My feelings exactly.

The interesting thing is I have a B50 and I AM fiddling with it. The reason I am fiddling with it is, here in South Africa we have a consumer protection act that says you can demand a faulty item to be replaced or refunded provided it falls within 6months of purchase.

In saying Fiddling, maybe I use the functions on the watch once per day. Set an alarm basically. I hope that's not TOO MUCH !! (I can't believe I'm saying that!)

I've had the B50 now for 3 months and it keeps perfect time and works very well (go figure, with all the problems people are having).

In fact. The interesting thing is I probably bought the B50 as an replacement when it took so long to get the Chronospace watches sorted. Just to keep myself happy. Just shows how much I love the brand.






Ling ling

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Hmm, what about magnetic fields? Could they damage a mechanical watch so bad and maybe leave a quarz watch such as the B50 intact?
However, I hope the whole story will come to a good end! Good luck!

Thats ridiculous, I would demand some form of compensation at the end of this whole hoo-ha. Do it in writing as well.

I abuse my Breitlings way more than this and any basic mechanical watch should be able to take simple walking and sitting around.

There has to be some issue with the QC here.

There can't be any mechanical fields. The watches slept on a watch winder at night. Away from anything. There's an iMac about a meter away from it at night. In the day time the watch is on my arm and I move around. When sitting at my office desk the watch comes off my wrist and sits on the desk about 30cm away from the Laptop. So, I don't think magnets is the problem.


Ling ling

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I have purchased a total of 24 Breitling watches and currently own 10. Only one has ever been back for service for a defect. The Avenger II GMT went back a month after it was purchased. The quality control has been very good for me.

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Breitling Avenger II Seawolf
Breitling Aerospace EVO
Breitling Chronospace EVO Night Mission
Breitling Chronomat 44 Airborne
Breitling SuperOcean 42 Chronograph
Rolex SD43 126600
Rolex Submariner 116610LN
Rolex Explorer I 214270
Rolex Explorer II 216570

If I were you I would stay away from breitling, you and Breitling were not meant to be together

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5 Super Avengers
1 Super Avenger 2
1 Super Avenger limited edition
1 Super avenger night mission
1 Limited edition chronomat Boston Celtics
Navitimer GMT
Transocean Chronograph Unitime
2 Omega planet ocean chronographs
1 Tag heuer Monaco

what happened with the GMT II