The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Don't want to muddy the water, but I think the 730 is rated at 21,600 and the 72C is 18,000. You might want to check. I'm at work and my Bestfit book is at home in the shop. I think the 72C has a balance with screws and the 730 is screwless.

I'm a little confused about the excessive resistance in both functions. Is the stem difficult to pull out/push in? If so, there could be something binding on the stem, winding pinion, etc. From your description, it sounds like it has always been like this. If it has only been difficult to operate since it was last serviced, I would suspect something wasn't assembled or lubricated correctly.

Stiff time setting is usually a cannon pinion that is too tight, while stiff winding is in a totally different area of the movement. There are a number of intermediate gears in the winding train that transfer the power from the stem to the mainspring barrel. It's only a guess, but the problem could be somewhere in there. There should be very little resistance to winding. If it only gets tight after several turns of the stem, it is probably caused by the mainspring sticking in the barrel when it is fully wound. As you know, the spring is supposed to slip in the barrel. If the mainspring is not slipping as it should, the only solution is to service it.


It could be any number of things. Moving it around with too much vigor when it is completely run down is not recommended. The balance can hang on the pallet fork because the fork can wander around a bit if one of the stones is not in contact with the escape wheel when there is no power to the going train. If it were mine, I wouldn't worry about it unless it happened more than once.

Don't want to muddy the water, but I think the 730 is rated at 21,600 and the 72C is 18,000. You might want to check. I'm at work and my Bestfit book is at home in the shop. I think the 72C has a balance with screws and the 730 is screwless.

Jules Borel http://www.julesborel.com/ has the complete balance for the 730. The part number is 721/2043 with a price around $25. They list it at $23.30, but a lot of the prices are old and the new one posts when you check out. With an account, you can search just about all the movements ever manufactured. The watchmaker in Ohio should have an account with them, if he does any work at all. If not, he can set one up. I've dealt with them for years and they are usually good at getting parts to you quickly.

Thanks onewatchnut.

Yes, the stem is a little "sticky" - although it isn't as bad as it was a few months ago. I gently wound the movement the other day and set the time. There is still excessive resistance - but nowhere near as much as before & no slippage.

Obviously she will need a service at some stage. I'll hold off unless the stoppage occurs again. When the time does arise, would you be interested in doing the work?

It depends on how busy I am when you decide to service it and where you are located. I'm in the USA and am not set up to receive and ship outside the country. Most of my work is local from word of mouth or from others in the trade.

A word of warning. The micro-rotor in the Buren movements is the weakest part of the watch and almost impossible to obtain. If it were mine, I would wind it from the stem instead of rotating it to wind it with the rotor. The stem should have a "click" feel when you pull it out or push it in. If not, the clutch lever might not be engaged correctly.

Thanks - no worries. I will find a local Sydney guy eventually, and give him your info as guidance.

The click is quite positive. The bad news is that the slipping has returned when I try to set the time BUT, the winding now seems to be normal - just the usual resistance, perhaps a bit more than my 7750 piece.

I will take your advice re winding, especially as it now seems OK.

I wonder if a bit of an old rubber seal has come loose and is lodged somewhere affecting the clutch...maybe this piece has further brocken down and moved, hence the change in symptoms?