The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I made my decision. I am gonna customize my Crosswind so i could wear it at all events.

As you all know, my watch look like this (http://breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6663) and i wanna customize it. Some days i wanna wear it with a leather bracelet, when on other days i wanna wear it with a two tone bracelet, but with another bezel etc.

What do i need for my project:

- Metal riders
- Metal screws for the bezel and riders
- Another bezel, most likely a diamond one, BUT i don't know yet
- 2 tone Pilot bracelet
- Black croc bracelet
- Metal crown and pushbuttons

Ok, for now i am having a few questions about the crown and pushbuttons (please tell me the right name for it). First, if i service my watch, can i ask Breitling to change the crown and buttons into metal ones? If they do, do i receive my old crown and pushbuttons back?
Another question is: Do Breitling service a custom watch or do i have to replace everyting back on?
Does anyone know the typenumber of the 2 tone bracelet?

Why this project? Customizing my watch is for me another level to wear my watch. When i am in a suit, most likely a croc bracelet will look better then a polished bracelet. Also the watch gets another dimension when everything is metal and the dial is black with gold.
The problem is that i don't know if i must hold my gold crown and pushbuttons or to change them into metal ones. Because this must be done by Breitling itself, i am in doubt what to do.

I will update this topic when i received some parts for it, allthough its gonna be hard to get them. I hope some of you will inform me when you find some parts i need

Any ideas for this project? Love to hear them from you!!

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Breitling Crosswind Black Dial (Custom project status: On Hold)

I think you will find that not only will Breitling refuse to make the changes to the crown and pushers, if you find someone else to do it and then send the watch to Breitling they will restore it to original condition.

If you go ahead with changes like that you will likely have to accept that the watch can never go back to Breitling for work.

If thats the case, the whole idea of customizing it will be gone for me. I must have the option for service. Is this only the case for the crown and buttons or also for the bezel and bracelet?

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Breitling Crosswind Black Dial (Custom project status: On Hold)

Bracelet is irrelevant, and based on a post yesterday, it seems as though an aftermarket bezel is OK, but you would need to confirm.

On hold untill answer from Breitling.

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Breitling Crosswind Black Dial (Custom project status: On Hold)

I can answer most of this from a BUK perspective, as last year I enquired about customising a Bentley with parts from a gold model - my idea being to make a TT Bentley Motors.......... which personally I think would be great!

As I said in another thread yest, Breitling had no real objection to a non-standard bezel (however you need to remember that in this instance I was planning to use all original Breitling parts, just from a gold model). Amazingly, the also didn't seem to have too much of an issue with my idea of using gold push-pieces and crown, and a dial and hands from a gold model either! HOWEVER, what they said was, that while they'd probably still service a heavily modified piece like this (provided nothing had been done to the movement), they WOULDN'T guarantee any of the work.

As I say, this was BUK's stance a good few months ago, so even that may have changed, so I suggest checking in your own region.

As a related point, you may find a lot of watchmakers reluctant to undertake that kind of work. I found a couple of places online that do watch modification work, and not one would do this for me. Not sure why. Oh and lastly you'll probably have huge trouble getting the parts as you can't just ask your AD to order them.

Ultimately I decided against making a TT Motors as the model number wouldn't be correct for a TT piece, and my love of the OEM look won through, but if you decide to go ahead with your Crosswind mods be prepared for a rocky road!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

My AD also ordered new screws, a piece of my bracelet and the spring for my bezel. I do hope they can order the riders otherwise i am stuck.

Maybe i should just only order the bracelet and bezel. And to be honest, when i want to get the watch serviced i could place the old pieces back together, they won't know it i guess.

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Breitling Crosswind Black Dial (Custom project status: On Hold)

TT Pilot for your Crosswind is 350D