The Breitling Watch Source Forums

So I was asking for help identifying fake vs real on this new unworn piece, here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=53286

I took possession of this watch today. I have attached its first picture.

The time keeping seconds hand and the chronograph seconds hand show a very clean sweep as far as I have observed. It'll be under observation (read admiration )for the rest of the day.

I am keen to follow the correct next steps. I am confused if I should first send it for service. The bracelet shows W3608; so manufactured sometime in Sep '08. Can I just "assume" that to be the manufacture date of the watch and send it for service as it has been 5+ years since? The watch is brand new, never worn, sitting as old stock with the dealer. Shrink wraps etc. all intact. The seller recalls it being taken out only once for photographing as per chrono24's requirements.

Heck, I would love to wear this watch for a while before sending it for service. Plus I just spent all my savings towards the watch fund. But brain says do the right thing.

Advice please?

If it is NOS then it definitely needs servicing. 5+ years of not being run will have resulted in the oils migrating from where they are needed and they will also have been breaking down. If it is true NOS - ie never sold then it should have a 2 year warranty so you can wait for a while and have it serviced under warranty. If there is no factory warranty (which implies that you didn't buy from an AD and the watch was technically not NOS) then I would get it serviced now.

Just beautiful. I'd wear it for a couple months, then send it in "assuming" there is a basis to do so - running out of COSC specs after a couple months. If it is in warranty and running fine, Breitling won't do warranty work regardless of the age of the watch, or so I understand it.

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SHARKMAN

Firstly, congrats on a beautiful watch purchase! Simply stunning.
The bracelet date code does not necessarily imply the watches manufacturing date.
A closer approximation is the date code stamped on the case between the 6 o'clock lugs but you will need to take the bracelet off to see that.
Age wise, at 6 years or so the watch may not be super critically in need of service.
The fact that it has not been worn since new worries me a bit more.
As Roff will no doubt confirm, if the oils have any lubricating properties left in them, they have most likely migrated away from where they should be due to lack of movements regular, uhmm, movement.
As such, yes I would seriously consider getting it serviced. After all the watch is like new on the outside, so get it serviced and it will also be like new on the inside with a 12 months Breitling international warranty.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

So I'm back after spending an hour at the AD. Long story short, I decided to wear it for a couple of months; that's when I expect my Seamaster back from Omega service. I'll send the Ling to service then.

The new Ling did give me a bit of a shock. After synchronizing the time with the laptop, I suddenly found the crown is not going all the way in! See attached picture (Ling-Crown.JPG). AD said it needed a harder push + screwing down: signs of long term stocking. Crown is fine now; screws down all the way to the bottom like in original picture. He however assured me that he thinks that the gasket is fine and he could 'feel' that when he operated the crown. So his advice is to wear this continuously for 2 months, then definitely send it for service.

Another person at the AD sized the bracelet for me. Since I was (am) still over the moon admiring the beauty, I didn't notice till I got home, but it appears he has removed both links from one end (6 o'clock). This end has just 4 links. The other end has 6. Hence I am wary that the pin at highlighted link (Ling-links.JPG) will be under pressure and wear out soon. That correct? Will fix it next time I visit.

So that's that for now! Thanks for your inputs and supporting presence guys!

Also attached a wrist shot; for no particular reason at all

If two links require removal, then it should be from the 6 side so the clasp will be balanced. See
http://www.breitlingsource.com/articles_bias.shtml

If an odd number, 3 for example, typically 2 from the 6 and one from the 12, but depending on your wrist size and shape, all 3 might be removed from the 6. The key is that the long underside of the clasp is centered on the underside of your wrist, not necessarily the visible portion of he clasp.

How many removable links remain on each side? if there are 4, then 3 should be on the 12 side and 1 on the 6. If 5, then 3 on the 12 and 2 on 6 - usually.

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SHARKMAN

And you are way overthinking it with stress on the pins - just relax and enjoy the watch

Obviously, I am being paranoid and the designers at Breitling know better how the links are supposed to be worked.

Please see attached picture. The long side of the under clasp is pushed toward one direction (hope it is easy to make out which direction). I am not too bothered about it and doesn't affect my comfort. Am only worried if I am causing any avoidable damage to pins or links.

Also, there are 4 removable links exactly left as you have said above.

Is that on you left wrist? If so it appears the bracelet is backwards. The 12 side of the bracelet should be attached to the part of the clasp with the 4 micro adjustments and the 6 side to the part with the small flip lock safety.


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SHARKMAN

It is my left wrist. Currently, 1 removable link is on the 6 o'clock. 4 on the 12 o'clock. So I think here is what happened: the clasp has been attached backwards. Agree? It should be a quick fix.

The clasp is backwards.

Just remove at both end links and reverse the entire bracelet.


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SHARKMAN