The Breitling Watch Source Forums

BREITLING COLT Quartz

I'm questioning the accuracy of the "Second Hand" sweep movement on a brand new Breitling Colt (Quartz) purchased today 28th Dec 2014.
Having discussed this with the Breitling sales specialist prior to purchase she promptly carried out a "reset" which initially
appeared to put the second hand accurately on the mark. Having checked this out with the user manual their is no reset option for the second hand on this watch and it's still inaccurate!

The secondhand is nearly always just short of making any "second" mark except for the 12 position. Their are times when the hand is right on the mark during the first 30 seconds of sweep
but then it slips. Its more noticeable from the 30 - 59 second mark. Is this to do with the Quartz / Battery movement or is their a fault?

I was going to buy the automatic version with the continuous seep. I have contacted the specialists and will be returning on Sunday, they have promised to refund, exchange, or upgrade but I would like some advise if this is a known problem and the best way forward - ( brand new replacement Colt or upgrade to the auto version? )

Note. This is not affecting the operation/accuracy of the watch at all but for a price in excess of £2K sterling I think it should totally accurate.

Very many thanks - in anticipation! The Drumster (UK)

Welcome to BreitlingSource. What you are seeing is not a problem at all, it is symptomatic of the play that has to exist in the running train of any analog watch to prevent the gears in the running rain from binding. Lots of threads on it here, it happens on all analog watches and all hands, it's just more obvious on longer hands. The sales rep was blowing smoke.

Very many thanks for your reply and reassurance that the watch is behaving correctly although to me it still seems unusual.
Spent some time with the Breitling "specialist" in my local timepiece store yesterday
and got him to admit that this issue was one that was known to him. He then proceeded to tell
me that Breitling say that the watch is accurate and fit for purpose if it produces 60s for 1 minute (No s*** Sherlock )
Also he stated and that the markings on the dial were cosmetic only and should not be used as an accurate reference!!!
It then got pretty rough/uncomfortable for him as my wife and I showed him a watch that was totally accurate and valued at only £40
and said that his personal diagnosis of the COLT was total rubbish and he needs to speak to a Breitling SPECIALIST about it.
Needless to say my options are still open with the supplier but we should not have been surprised to find that other Colt Quatz and Automatics that where
on show the day we purchased where now not available to view or compare as they had either been sold or swapped out with another branch

Thanks very much. The Drumster.(UK)

I am only surmising here and a guess at best, but it sounds like an inaccurately printed dial. But for the theory to work however, it would have to be a consistent inaccuracy all the time with no waiver or deviation from this each sweep of the watch face. If you are sure that it sometimes is accurate and sometimes not (and on the same markers), then it could be something more drastic.

Take a closer look and see if you can see any constancy in the inaccuracy. Might need to repeat that a few times and at different times in the day. If you do think its consistent then maybe its just the dial printing after all and the marker registration that could be out of specification/tolerance.

Cosmetic or not, the accuracy of analogue timekeeping is a key feature of any handed watch and a hallmark of quality, IMO. £40 hey? That would have been tense.

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".

It has absolutely nothing to do with dial printing. Any 50 cent Chinese knock off can show accuracy and any seven figure multi-tourbillon can show inaccuracy, it all comes down to play in the running train. Depending on where the hand happens to be in that play it will either read accurate or inaccurate. This often referenced thread provides instructions for setting, but will only be a temporary measure - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10570

Thanks for your replies so far, they are much appreciated

Just to confirm that the apparent "fault" appears to be constant and consistent.

Over the last 24hrs I have checked the watch about a dozen times and its always the same, unlike the info I placed in my first post.
I have tried to ensure that the viewing angle to the watch face has always been the same to minimize any Refraction effect of the glass face.
The watch has been in constant room temperature and placed in its open presentation case.

I understand your comments on the running train and how there has to be some tolerance within the gear setup etc and also the comments from the other post re dial printing and tolerances etc
but I still find it very difficult to accept for a watch of this value. Maybe its because my previous watches have been from other manufacturers and had a continuous sweep secondhand so I've never noticed this type of "fault" before.

Any further details I find out I will post on the forum.

I have contacted BREITLING customer services in London today and I'm hoping for a quick reply and explanation - I don't doubt your reply and diagnosis ROFF but I need to hear it from the manufactures before I can totally accept this and make a decision as to keep or return exchange/refund

Thanks again. Drumster (UK)

Sounds like a swap out, repair or a refund is in order. If the consistency of angle between each second varies then it's the more 'drastic' of the problems I suggested above. Hard to tell without close inspection and in comparison to the installed dial.

Could be lash but I doubt it and if it is then that's not very good. Perhaps a 50 cent knock off is looking good. I agree, an expensive watch should not display these characteristics out of the box. If it is, as you say, then there's no dressing it up. It's just poor. Keep us informed of their explanation for the error. I'd be most interested. Hope the watch is suitably repaired and you can start enjoying the wear.

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".

I'm puzzled by all this and am with Roff. I had a Colt Quartz which did what's being described and I think any Breitling quartz you pick up will be the same: ie the 'tick' of the secondhand movement will be accurate - 30 ticks = 30 secs - but they will not consistently correspond exactly with the second markers. (It's one reason why some prefer the continuous sweep of a mechanical.)

Here's the update!
Contacted 4 different Breitling retailers throughout the UK and they all confirmed that the Colt quartz has this perculier
problem of the secondhand not totally synchronising with the marks indicated on the watch face. As you say Roff it's not a fault but is manufacturing/engineering issue.
I returned the watch to my dealers and requested a comparrison test with another Breitling quartz, funny old thing not one quartz model was available!!!!. However, on my suggestion the dealer/specialist agreed to exchange the watch for the automatic version and was also prepared to refund the full amount if I wanted, it was my choice. So I plumped for the Automatic and paid the extra £300.
Very pleased to say the watch is stunning and my wife has now calmed down and returned to drinking wine by the glass instead of the bottle

Thanks for all your help. Have a great 2015. Stay healthy and be lucky. The Drumster. (UK)

Case closed - unless you now otherwise!!!!!

Funnneee. Good Post and resolution