The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I'm wondering if anybody has had this problem before. I purchased my Chronomat only about 6 weeks ago brand new from an AD. This weekend I was on an unplanned trip away and didn't have my Chronomat with me, so this was the first time I'd left it for a long enough time for it's power reserve to run out. I got back this evening and found it had stopped, as expected. Yet it had managed to stop at around 3 minutes to midnight, the date font was in the process of changing. Following the guidance in the manual, I was careful not to adjust the date so I wound up the watch manually then started adjusting the minute hand. However, as it advanced past midnight the date did not change. I carried on adjusting the minute and hour hands to the right time then pushed the crown to the date change position. The date will not change. Also the minute and hour hands no longer move, they've completely stopped. Only the second hand sub-dial is moving!!! The best watch I've ever owned is broken already

I also noticed my manual is for a Chronomat Evolution. Haven't they been called simply "Chronomat" for a while now? That makes me wonder just how "new" this watch is. Anyway, off back to the AD tomorrow to see what's what but interested in your thoughts or any advice. Cheers.

Well the manufacture week and year is between the 6 o'clock lugs (you have to remove the strap / bracelet).

There is clearly a problem with the running train, but it's weird that the sub seconds hand is going around as that is driven by the mainspring through the wheels for the hour and minute hands. That's usually an indication of the hands fouling somewhere, but the date change problem implies something else.

Either way - I suspect that this watch is going to be taking a trip to Breitling.

Thanks for the info. I forgot today is a bank holiday so having to take it in tomorrow instead. The power reserve seems to have suffered as well due to the second hand sub-dial also stopping this morning, only 14 hours after winding the watch 40 times. I will be asking the AD to remove the strap so I can see just when this watch was made.

It's not unususal for a watch to stop as the date changes if the mainspring is close to being fully unwound. There is additional load on the motion works at that time.

IMHO, the proper way to resolve the problem is to wind the watch a few turns and let it run for a while to complete the date changing process. Then go ahead and set the time and date. Accidentally turning the crown in the wrong direction at this critical point can cause problems.

The seconds bit is directly driven off the fourth wheel arbor. If the watch runs, the seconds bit will move. The hour and minute hands are part of the motion works. They are disengaged from the time train when setting the watch. If they are not moving, something is wrong in the setting mechanism. The best course of action is to take it to the AD without any more attempts to set it or wind it.

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It's been sent away to be repaired. I took it to the AD and they didn't know what was wrong with it. I don't know why they don't read this forum because they'll find out all sorts of things that would probably help them when selling these watches. They weren't aware of the manufacturing date on the casing when I asked them to remove the strap. Turns out it was made in January last year. That means the watch was 18 months old when I bought it "new". Anyways, they expect it to take 4 weeks so been getting re-acquainted with my B-1 in the meantime.

Is it possible, when buying a new Breitling, to ask your AD to order one direct from the factory just so that it is genuinely "brand new"?

Generally only if you want a combination that the AD doesn't have.