The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have a new B01. It keeps very good time as a watch +5 seconds per day. However, when the Chronograph is activated, it keeps very poor time - (-50 seconds per day). Should the use of the Chronograph cause the watch to perform this poorly? Also, what is the power reserve of this watch when the Chronograph is running? Thanks, Brian

Chronograph will likely reduce the power reserve by 6 - 8 hours, but that behaviour is not normal.

The chronograph should not impact the timekeeping, it sounds as though something is 'dragging' in the running train - get it to the AD to be sorted under warranty.

Roff if you have a second could you please explain this. To me, I would think, that simply by introducing additional wheels/cogs etc. in the form of the chrono function, it would have to at least slow the timekeeping down a bit just by adding additional friction. Is there some way that a watch compensates for the additional drag of the extraneous gears (if you will) that allows it to keep normal time without fluctuation? Is there some compensation mechanism?

Thanks,

Elwyn

If the watch is running correctly the mainspring is applying force through the running train that is being controlled by the excapement. The balance wheel is ultimately subjected to this force through the running train via the pallet fork, but the hairspring applies force to the balance wheel to counteract the force of the running train and accuracy is maintained by the hairspring maintaining the frequency of the balance wheel.

What the chronograph essentially provides is a way of displaying the total movement of the fourth wheel (minute wheel) for a certain amount of time - effectively engaging the central seconds hand with the fourth wheel - it's not a whole new set of gears.

So if I understand that correctly, even though the fourth wheel (chronometer) is engaged, and would cause an increase in resistance to the movement and potentially slow the watch, the hairspring compensates for that potential retardation in the frequency of the balance wheel, and by doing so keeps the watch accurate.
Correct?

More or less - the fourth wheel is already part of the running train anyway, the chrono simply engages the totaliser for that wheel.

But doesn't engaging the totaliser add some resistance or is this compensated for by the action of the hairspring?

so why if you test a watch into the chronocomperator with the chronograph function enabled the watch significantly slow?

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Breitling Antares B10047
Breitling Chronomat B13050
Breitling Chronomat A13050.1 - pilot bracelet
Breitling Chronomat Blackbird A13050.1 - serie spéciale
Breitling Avenger Seawolf E17370
Breitling Chronomat EVO A13356 - pilot bracelet

Yes, and yes.





I would need to see the specifics of that - in a properly adjusted watch the chronograph should have no noticeable impact - think about it, the watch would be rather useless as a chrono if it messed up the accuracy.

i correct myself maybe i didn't understand well, the watchmaker tests the watch with chrono disabled and then with the chrono enabled... so i thought maybe is to test the watch moving slow or not... confused.

_________________
Breitling Antares B10047
Breitling Chronomat B13050
Breitling Chronomat A13050.1 - pilot bracelet
Breitling Chronomat Blackbird A13050.1 - serie spéciale
Breitling Avenger Seawolf E17370
Breitling Chronomat EVO A13356 - pilot bracelet

I imagine that they are testing to ensure that the chrono does not adversely affect the rate.

i correct myself maybe i didn't understand well, the watchmaker tests the watch with chrono disabled and then with the chrono enabled... so i thought maybe is to test the watch moving slow or not... confused.[/quote]


I imagine that they are testing to ensure that the chrono does not adversely affect the rate.[/quote]
now i understood, yes, you are surely right, thanks.

_________________
Breitling Antares B10047
Breitling Chronomat B13050
Breitling Chronomat A13050.1 - pilot bracelet
Breitling Chronomat Blackbird A13050.1 - serie spéciale
Breitling Avenger Seawolf E17370
Breitling Chronomat EVO A13356 - pilot bracelet

Without going into great detail about chronographs, there is normally sufficient power reserve in the mainspring to drive the chrono without affecting the accuracy of the movement. In most chrono sections the center sweep is almost freewheeling. The only time the chrono encounters any resistance is when the minutes totalizer and hours totalizer are advanced. At that time there is a jumper spring in contact with the totalizer wheel that must be overcome. I've never been curious enough to do it, but I suppose you might see a slight rate change on a timing machine when the totalizers advance.

However, the B01 uses a friction clutch to activate the chrono instead of a tilting pinion. That, in itself, introduces too many unknowns. I have yet to see an exploded view of the movement. Having never seen the internals, it is difficult for me to suggest what might be causing the problem.

Without a doubt, it need to go back to Breitling!

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger

I just purchased a B01 as well and yes I am have the same problem. The watch keeps excellent time +-1 second per day but when I activate the chronograph, it looses the following: 6 seconds after 20 hour, 19 seconds after 35 hour, 27 seconds after 40 hours and stops after 46 hours. These test where done while the watch was at rest on table after I manually wound the watch-up (42 tuns).

What is your recommendation on this one, insist it be returned back to Breitling for service, have the AD have one of his watch repair persons fix it(this is what they recommend), simply live with it.

I simply don't want just anyone to open the watch up and temper with it.

The local watchmaker is only going to be able to regulate it, and that won't help. Breitling don't let the local ADs play with the in house movements so it needs to go to Breitling.