The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have a strange noise coming from the bracelet every time I want to wear the watch. This " cracking " noise is gone after heard once, it's coming from the links. Then after wearing the watch for a few minutes, I can reproduce the sound again, but only once! And so on.... I don't think I had this kind of noise when I purchased the watch, but noticed it abouth two months ago. Breitling want me to send it in, I want an explenation first, why and what is making this sound..

Link

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UCFfTzHW5YY

Regards,

Ervin

Hi Ervin,

I had trouble opening the YouTube video. So I am saying this without hearing the noise your bracelet makes.

Well, thankfully its coming from the links and not the watch case. That’s the good news. The bad news is it’s almost impossible to determine what the issue might be without taking the bracelet apart. Unless you can identify exactly where in the links the noise is coming from, the AD will have to pull the whole thing apart. If you or they can identify the link, then it’s just a case of removing this item and replacing the offending parts.

There isn't much that can go wrong, as there are very few parts. It’s probably a link pin, as that would be the most sensible possibility. Equally, if there is misalignment in the links themselves, there could be rubbing or a point where the links are overlapping each other and as the links are moved, they click past each other. I think that would be noticeable visually though. Ware on the links, overlapping being obvious, etc.

If you can swap it out whilst its being fixed, then this might be a good thing. Only send the bracelet. Put your watch on something else whilst the bracelet is away. Make sure you can replicate the cracking noise whilst its off the watch. That will confirm it is the bracelet and not in the lug springbar connection to the bracelet, or anything else for that matter.
The bracelet is usually held together with very fine pins that are push fitted into the links. If one is broken it may be noticeable. Bracelet distorted or sagging slightly. If one is binding, then it could result in a cracking, creaking sound. Problem is, I think it would make that noise more often if broken or jammed, not just every now and then. They are dry pins (without lubricant). They can pick up dirt and body oil and it could be this that’s caked in the pin aperture and making it hard for the link to turn on the pin.

All supposition though as it could be many things or none. I think you might need to trust the AD on this and send it without a definitive explanation. If the price gets too excessive (and assuming they give you a quote before you send), it might be worth buying another bracelet on a cost basis.

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".

This link works - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCFfTzHW5YY

But didn't really help. With the sound turned right up I heard a couple of noises but no idea what it is.

Thanks for the advice!

I get the sound by bending the bracelet so one side of the links compress and the other expands...
If you listen the video, the noise starts at 00:03 and that's it, no more... 1 sec total.

If you can't tell what the noise is with the bracelet in your hand then I'm not sure that we are going to be able to tell from that video. Unless someone here has experienced it before and figured out what it is then I'm with Breitling's recommendation - send it to them.