The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi all, just joined the Breitling genre by purchasing a pre-owned Navitimer World (a23322). A few worries. There has been quite some discussion on this forum about warranty cards. In my materials cannot find any, just an authenticity card (Attestation de Chronometre) with a watch serial number, and a perforated number on the upper left corner. What do they tell me? Is there a guide somewhere how to interprete this information?

Second worry, since haven´t had a Breitling before, just a Tag Heuer Carrera and a Sinn 903, is that the glass seems to be loose? If you tap on it, it gives you a small noise. So I´m wondering if the watch has been opened and afterwards not pressurized correctly? Or perhaps a new glass without proper sealing?

Thanks for any assistance

-T-

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Breitling Navitimer a24322
Tag Heuer Carrera CV2010-3
Sinn 903-12928

Welcome aboard.

The lack of a warranty card may suggest it came from a grey-market dealer as they often with-hold the warranty card to protect the supplying AD. Not unsual, but a bit of a pain if you a) need a warranty job doing, and b) are a "completist" in terms of boxes and papers.

On the COSC document you have, the watch serial number should match the serial number on your watch. You will be able to see this below the model number on the caseback in much smaller engraving. If it isn't there, then it may have been polished off either by accident or on purpose (again, but a grey market seller). The perforated number is number of the COSC doc and doesn't tie up to anything else on the watch.

In terms of the crystal making a "loose sound" when tapped, this is a common (and generally unfounded) concern with new Navitimer owners. There are a number of threads on here about it.

What do you know about the history of the watch - i.e. where did you buy it from, where did it come from originally, etc?

Without worrying you unnessessarily as I'm sure it's fine, but if you have any concerns over authenticity, post us up some good quality pictures and we'll give it the once over for you.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Hi, and thanks for snappy reply! In fact, looking better into the box did truly find even a warranty booklet, stating that the watch has been sold by a well-known local authorized retailer on Dec 28th, 2008. So in that respect everything should be ok

Sad to hear that there´s a quality issue with the glass. Have to go to the seller, or the original retailer and ask what can still be done.

Once again, thanks for the advices

-T-

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Breitling Navitimer a24322
Tag Heuer Carrera CV2010-3
Sinn 903-12928

Hi again - I didn't say there was a quality issue with the crystal - I just said that a few people have mentioned the same thing as you - i.e. that it sounds "hollow" when tapped - but that the concerns are generally unfounded. The crystal just sounds like that.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Hi

I´m not arguing with you, but the stories on this forum about the subject sound to me as a product liability-issue. Not knowing the technical solution well enough, and not being any sort of engineer, one can just assume that the advices to keep the watch as far as possible from water have something to do with the chrystal gasket, which is not tight enough and thus not water proof. And in such case this is a very straight-forward liability issue, although all warranty periods may have expired.

Have written to the original retailer asking their official view. Let´s see how they interprete the matter.


BR

-T-

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Breitling Navitimer a24322
Tag Heuer Carrera CV2010-3
Sinn 903-12928

The Navi isn't a water resistant watch at the best of times due to the friction fit bezel, and to be fair, nor is it designed to be. Some Navi's bezels are looser than others and hence turn more easily - QC or just through use? : take your pick - but IMO that is more important to it's WR than if the crystal sounds hollow. But either way, a Navi should never be submerged and care should even be taken when cleaning it. That's just the way the navi is - it's a 1950's design after all - so I wouldn't get too hung up on WR if I was you.

That said, I'll certainly be interested to hear what Breitling have to say about it, now that you've written to them, and if they manage to fix it to your satisfaction then all the better. Hope they sort it for you.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Product liability has to do with injuries due to defects in products.

My ulnar styloid hurts. Will you take my case?


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SHARKMAN

Can you say "retainer"?

Contingency. I feel like surgery is ahead.


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SHARKMAN

One of my standard jokes is that I'll see my lawyer for a medical opinion on my injury.

Had the timepiece evaluated and tested by the retailer. Pressure test confirmed that watch is fulfilling the promise of 3 ATM, so in that sense things are ok. They contacted the Importer service dept, who confirmed that in "isolated cases" there might sound the described noise. But it´s nothing serious and doesn´t need actions. Well, that´s exactly what we in our business tell every new car buyer who´s concerned about noises in his brand-new car .

So let´s live with it and see how things develop.

-T-

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Breitling Navitimer a24322
Tag Heuer Carrera CV2010-3
Sinn 903-12928

I actually like the 'hollow' sound when I tap the glass on my Navi. It's part of its charm, a bit like the 'Valjoux wobble' of the rotor when it's spinning. But like many Navi owners when I first bought it, I was a bit concerned. You just gotta love 'em!

Yep. I heard a lot of them have that sound, however, mine doesnt.