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**HELP!!** First Breitling - Potential Issues or Paranoia!?
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Author:  noodleluff [ Tue Jun 22, 2010 6:20 pm ]
Post subject:  **HELP!!** First Breitling - Potential Issues or Paranoia!?
Hi All

First post on my first Breitling (Colt GMT Auto)

Although I really appreciate good quality pieces, I am inexperienced about what to expect from such a watch. Apologies in advance for any gaffs that may follow!

With my Colt GMT Auto, I have noticed the 24 hour hand, which tracks the second time zone, does not always coincide completely with the main hour and minute hand. For example, if the main hands show 8 O'Clock, the 24 hour hand will point slightly past 15:00 (I have it set to track EST). However, if the time is, for argument sake, say 4 O'Clock in the afternoon (BST), the 24 hour hand will then point bang on 11:00.

Also, I have only had the watch 1 month, but have noticed it is running about 3 - 4 seconds fast in a 24 hour period. My bracelet stamp is 2407. I am wondering if this may have anything to do with the issues I have mentioned. As Breitling state a watch needs to be serviced every X amount of years, I am bit concerned the watch is already 3 years old, and feel a bit ripped off, despite having bought in from an AD.

The errors mentioned may seem very small, but I when investing a substantial amount of money in a high quality watch, I expected it to be perfect. Am I just being paranoid and picky? What would you recommend my I do next?

Thanks in advance for any advice received
Author:  sharkman [ Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: **HELP!!** First Breitling - Potential Issues or Paranoi
There are some real experts here who will chime in soon, but mostly you may be overreacting (I am an expert at THAT).

You shouldn't worry that the watch was manufactured 3 years ago - that doesn't mean it needs serviced. If the watch was one a wrist for 3 years, then maybe so - but just sitting there doesn't cause wear and while the lubricants may congeal slightly they ought to loosen up. Sounds OK since it's keeping proper time.

Not sure why the GMT hand lags ahead at certain positions. I have often seen similar issues come down to viewing angle. Heck, I've observed that on my own watches. But if it is wrong, Breitling will fix it.

3-4 seconds/day fast is well within COSC specifictions, so it's keeping time within chronometre standards.

You're not being paranoid, picky, or anything else. You bought an expensive timepiece and you are acclimating to it. Ya know they say the watch needs to run a while to settle in - the same is true in my experience for the owner.

Cheer up! :cheer:
Author:  Roffensian [ Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: **HELP!!** First Breitling - Potential Issues or Paranoi
As sharkman says 3- 4 seconds per day is not an issue, it's within the -4 to +6 seconds per day tolerance of COSC specs. Your 4 seconds is 99.995% accuracy - pretty good for a mechanical watch!

Don't quite agree with sharkman on the oils - aged oils are aged oils, they don't 'improve' and the first service will be needed sooner than if the watch were manufactured 2 weeks before you bought it (in most cases servicing needs are driven by the breaking down of oil due to age rather than any other factor).

In terms of the GMT hand, it's difficult to comment without pictures showing the extent of the variation, but every analog movement has to have some play in the running train, otherwise the gears would lock and nothing would move. It sounds as though the variation is nothing more than that play, but if you can post some shots then we can offer some better opinions.
Author:  sharkman [ Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: **HELP!!** First Breitling - Potential Issues or Paranoi
Roff,

How unusual is it for a watch to sit for a couple years from production to sale?

If a mechanical watch is keeping good time with an adequate power reserve is it necessary to have the watch serviced regardless of age?

What is the normal service interval? My AD said 3 years. I think I've seen as long a seven suggested on other threads.
Author:  Roffensian [ Wed Jun 23, 2010 6:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: **HELP!!** First Breitling - Potential Issues or Paranoi
Not unusual at all to sit for a couple of years.

In terms of servicing - generally 5 - 7 years, but really when the watch can't keep within COSC specs and / or can't maintain a power reserve close to 42 hours.

3 years is stooopid, as I said the issue is usually from aging oils (at least with modern oil) and that's a predictable aging process.
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