The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi All
Sent Colt 2 Chrono in for a warranty repair on 28th Dec 2014, as second hand on stopwatch wouldn't reset.
Breitling have said it has suffered impact damage and want £805 to repair, made up of:

£350 compete service and overhaul of movement
£95 replace hands
£305 replace middle case, existing is scratched, dented and has tube damage
£55 replace crown, existing is dented and has thread damage.

Asked Breitling to send watch back with a report and photos of middle case damage.

Report was sent back, but not watch, finally got watch back today and it doesn't even work anymore
and the the 2 photos enclosed in the report show a picture of the watch face and a picture of the crown close up.

Three months to get back picture I could have taken myself and to get a watch back now completely stopped, which went in, in full working order apart from 1 out of sync dial.

All from a watch that according the Breitling website is:

'The epitome of sturdiness, functionality and readability. These are qualities derived from its military roots'.

Watch takes an everyday knock, results in damage amounting to roughly 28% of its new cost, yet watch is 'the epitome of sturdiness'?!

Fair play Breitling, Top notch!
For service above and far beyond what I expected when spending near enough £3000, I salute you. Bravo!!

Welcome to BreitlingSource. You posted in the help section so assume you are looking for advice. Misuse damage is not covered by warranty, and that is obviously what Breitling are suggesting occurred, and in my experience "everyday knocks" do not do enough damage to require a replacement middle case. You haven't told us where you are, but it might be worth talking to the AD you bought the watch from and seeing whether they can assist you with the Breitling service centre.

Hi
Thanks for the reply.
I am in UK.
The watch has been sent via Goldsmiths, Trafford Centre, Manchester, as they are my nearest Breitling Service Agent.
They have tried to assist me as far as they can with Breitling, but Breitling just aren't interested.
The customer service I've been shown by Breitling has amazed me. It really has been pitiful.
I'm not just saying this as a disgruntled customer, I have had to ring and chase Breitling Service, after being promised they would contact me, several times.
I requested photos of the middle case damage and a report to be sent back with the watch.
They sent the report back to Goldsmiths, but not the watch.
Then finally they sent the watch back, so I was able to collect watch, report and photos and to my amazement the watch no longer works, the report does not elaborate any further on the initial email detailing cost breakdown and the pictures which i specifically requested of the middle case damage are nowhere to be seen.
I even discussed the possibility of trading the watch in with Goldsmiths, but cant do this anymore as it is no longer working!
All I can say is when you buy into a company of this standing, you expect a decent level of customer service.
I doubt if I had spent £10,000 on a more exclusive model, Breitling would have shown me such woeful service.
Anyway, with a hefty chunk now saved for my next watch, its safe to say the money won't be going into the Breitling coffers!
A very good friend, who also has Breitling and is also looking to upgrade, only last night on hearing the latest in this fiasco, said he would not be touching them again on the strength of this!
I feel embarrassed for the company.
Never again!

Sorry to hear that.
Never had such an experience with any of my several Breitlings.

_________________
"It is just a matter of time!"

BUK can be pretty dire. Speak from experience.

My Avenger II Mil had to go in because it was gaining 60 minutes a day. Evidently a 'hooked hairspring' - fixed under warranty. No explanation of how such a thing happened as I have only worn it a handful of times and never doing anything 'heavy' - I have a cheap Seiko I wear if I'm shooting (shotgun).

It came back from BUK, was worn once and put back in my winder. Came to wear it a few days after the Feb/March date change and expected to have to adjust the date - only to find it was stuck between days. So adjusted the date and thought it all felt a bit stiff, especially time setting. Date wheel kept flipping only half way, setting either by quick set or by advancing the time. So it's now back in at BUK for the second time in as many months. Not terribly helpful on the phone and implying I must have knocked it or set the date in the danger zone. The advertising blurb for the SAII Military also claims it is one of the most robust timepieces available from Breitling - really? If just wearing it makes it break, I think not.

Am waiting for it to either come back repaired and if they have the nerve to try and bill me for a watch only 4 months into warranty and costing £5k+ it will be going straight back to the AD and I'll demand a refund or claiming against my Credit Card company.

Over the years I've had quite a few issues with BUK service and they seem very keen to 'gold plate' any work estimates (i.e. bump up the price with non-essential works that they make out to be essential). However by comparison, my SuperOcean had a full overhaul and came back like new (albeit 4 weeks later than stated). My SO is my daily wearer automatic, and my Aerospace Avantage is my tool watch I wear when flying - never experienced any failures with either of these other than batteries and the SO needed a service as it hadn't been done since new in 2003.

'Damage' seems to be an easy get out for Breitling (UK) and not something you should expect of a premium watch brand if returned under warranty unless it was clear it had been abused.

_________________
Have
2019 B55 Exospace on Titanium bracelet
2014 SuperAvenger II Military LE
Had
2013 Avenger Seawolf SS yellow Arabic dial
2010 Aerospace Avantage black dial & Co-pilot
2007 Aerospace Repetition Minutes
2003 Superocean
2001 Chronospace

Thank You Sir.
I can only speak from my own short experience with Breitling and must admit do feel let down.
When posting, I was expecting to be cannon fodder for the the more experienced watch collectors.
To hear of someone with such an impressive Breitling collection, being less than impressed with the Breitling service, has I must admit, opened my eyes and shown me its not just my entry level purchase, that has warrantied such abysmal customer service.
Fair enough, the warranty book says no knocks are covered, but surely to God, when you spend Thousands on a watch, it should be able to take an every day knock?
Especially when the company goes out of its way to say how 'sturdy' it is!
Laughable.

Goldsmiths speaking to Breitling tomorrow, to see why its no longer working.
Independant Repairer with accreditation ready to appraise damage and repair.
Looking like small claims court with Breitling, (not fit for purpose) and love affair officially over!