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Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
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Author:  Frontfloater [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 9:35 am ]
Post subject:  Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
I thought members might be interested to read the response below which I recently received from the customer care manager at Breitling UK. It may ring warning-bells for those who want to preserve originality on their vintage watches.

I recently bought a 1970 Chrono-matic 2111 with the black dial and black date wheel, but prefer the silver dial and red date wheel. I bought a NOS dial on Ebay, but will need the black hours hand changing to a white one. So I asked Breitling UK for a quote for supplying & fitting a white hand and red date wheel, checking correct operation of each, and returning the original parts with the watch. I explained that the watch is fully functional, so no other cosmetic or mechanical work is needed or wanted. I also stressed that it's a 45 year old watch so there is no question of any effect on a warranty.

Breitling UK confirmed that they can get the parts from their Swiss HQ, but the rest of their reply is troubling in places :

"As I am sure you can appreciate, we are unable to judge how a watch is functioning without first examining it. When a vintage watch is sent to us, we are unaware of the watch's prior history, so have to make an in-depth inspection of the piece before deciding what works are needed. Most pieces have spent a long time without service and suffer from wear and fatigue especially when they are over 40 years old. You would also be surprised that we see an awful lot of mistakes from previous interventions, all of which need to be rectified to ensure the correct running of the watch. For this reason, unless the watch is having a full service with us we do not carry out any part works.

Before providing an estimate for any piece, the watch must first be examined by us. If we were to change the parts that you have requested and you then find there are problems with the watch, it would be very difficult to say who is responsible for the faults. By checking and servicing the watch we are able to remove any doubt which is why all of our vintage watches come with a comprehensive 1 year warranty. It is Breitling company policy not to supply any vintage parts to our retailers, stockists or private customers due to the increasing scarcity of these components.

Generally most watches will have the case refinished and pushers, crown and crystal replaced as standard along with any applicable case-back gaskets. Wherever possible we like to keep the dials and hands as original as possible unless they are beyond repair or unless the customer has specifically asked us to change them. All of the information is clearly laid out in the estimates given following a close inspection of the watch. We do not carry out any other works to the watch without the prior consent of the customer.

As you are asking us to change the date disc and hand, this will be altering the watch sufficiently from its first manufacture and goes against our policy of keeping the piece as its original specification. In addition to this, if the watch were to fail following such an intervention, as we would have been the last party to have carried out a repair, it is likely that any warranty provided by your local watchmaker would be invalidated by any subsequent repair. In instances such as these, we would also be unable to offer any form of warranty as we would not have worked on the movement.

I hope that my e-mail helps to explain our position and why we are unable to meet your request on this occasion, however, if you would like your watch to be sympathetically serviced and restored we will be happy to receive your watch here at the Service Centre."

I find completely baffling their apparent belief that switching like-for-like vintage parts (hours hand and date wheel) is unacceptably altering the watch from its original spec and contrary to their policy, and yet a case re-polish and new crown, pushers and crystal on a 1970 watch are somehow acceptable within their claimed wish to preserve original specifications.

The policy of not providing any vintage parts even to their own authorised retailers & stockists, and the mandatory service which must accompany any parts changes, lead me to conclude that this policy is more aimed at maximising Breitling UK's servicing profits than at their stated aim of preserving originality on vintage items.

It contrasts greatly with my recent experience of Hublot UK, who were happy to quote for parts + labour to replace a damaged chronograph pusher. Their only condition was to add "no warranty on the movement" to the invoice, which gets around most of Breitling's objections.

BOB
Author:  Roffensian [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
Modern Breitling has nothing in common with the company pre 1978 other than the name. It is never a good idea to let modern Breitling anywhere near a vintage piece.
Author:  WatchFred [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 10:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
what absurd blah.

shocking, actually, when you know how they tend to butcher vintage pieces with blatantly incorrect parts, letting customers wait for almost two years and often charging way above current market value for the watches they "restore"

:guns:
Author:  wills0_9 [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 10:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
WatchFred wrote:
what absurd blah.

shocking, actually, when you know how they tend to butcher vintage pieces with blatantly incorrect parts, letting customers wait for almost two years and often charging way above current market value for the watches they "restore"

:guns:


Would members consider Horological Services (Heists) in the same camp as Breitling repair centre or are they independent enough to be trusted to carry out work as requested by the customer?
Albeit at a premium!

Interested to hear experiences.



Will
Author:  Dracha [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 11:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
wills0_9 wrote:

Would members consider Horological Services (Heists)


as a last resort as they have available parts that no one else has , and they will likely insist on full service as well
but I doubt they will do the swap the OP proposed as they will not 'change originality' either

The work the OP wants done , just find a good independent watchmaker that you trust and have him swap the parts , you just need to find the parts first
Author:  wills0_9 [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
Dracha wrote:
wills0_9 wrote:

Would members consider Horological Services (Heists)


but I doubt they will do the swap the OP proposed as they will not 'change originality' either


They do seem happy to replace dials and carry out relume work though!


Will
Author:  Dracha [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 11:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
wills0_9 wrote:
Dracha wrote:
wills0_9 wrote:

Would members consider Horological Services (Heists)


but I doubt they will do the swap the OP proposed as they will not 'change originality' either


They do seem happy to replace dials and carry out relume work though!


Will


even if the dials are not 'like for like' ? ie swap a black with silver dial ?
Author:  wills0_9 [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 11:29 am ]
Post subject:  Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
Dracha wrote:
wills0_9 wrote:
Dracha wrote:

even if the dials are not 'like for like' ? ie swap a black with silver dial ?


Point taken.
And yes, they would insist on a full service.


Will
Author:  Dracha [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 11:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
wills0_9 wrote:
Point taken.
And yes, they would insist on a full service.


Will


Will , I dont know either , I was just asking . It would however surprise me if they would
Author:  vintage [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
I don't see anything new, surprising, or out of line with BUK's response. Pretty much what BUSA would say. Altering anything from the way the watch was initially sold is not what they do. BUSA even refused to change dial color on a modern watch once for me. The only alterations are when nos parts are not available and still within the scope of the work requested. The BUSA service points are independent contractors, even thought they are Breitling approved service sites, but have the latitude to move around little irregularities when servicing a watch but not under the scope of any Breitling approved, or warrantied, work. Horological Services has done some excellent work for me in the past when 'slight modifications' are called for and I also supplied a different color nos dial to another of Breitling's service centers a couple of years and they swapped it out (now they were unavailable according to Breitling so that might be why).
Author:  P51 [ Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
Well I guess you won't be sending it in then. I has similar issues with Omega recently. Would not reinstall a crown on a seamaster without a full service first. LOL.

If you can get the other parts you need elsewhere, then send it to someone who practices the art with a dose of common sense and skill, you could achieve the outcome you want at a considerably lower cost.
Author:  Frontfloater [ Sun Apr 19, 2015 4:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
"find a good independent watchmaker that you trust and have him swap the parts , you just need to find the parts first"

The 2nd part of that sentence is the problem. My local watchmaker is excellent (he is even fixing a Longines Ultra Quartz for me) but finding the parts is very difficult, especially given Breitling's policy of not supplying them even to their authorised dealers. The dial was the easy bit, and as a get-around I could have the hours hand re-enamelled to change the colour. But finding a calibre 11 date-wheel will take MUCH longer, unless anyone out there knows a source ...?
Author:  WatchFred [ Sun Apr 19, 2015 5:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
the red date wheel was used on later 2211 (and others chrono-matic) using the high beat cal. 12.
no need whatsoever to combine it with the silverwhite dial.
Author:  Frontfloater [ Mon Apr 20, 2015 2:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling UK policy on servicing vintage watches
"no need whatsoever to combine it with the silverwhite dial"

I agree no "need" : as I originally said, it's just my personal preference for its appearance. I will keep the black date wheel so that any later owner can switch back if preferred.
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