The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I brought my Chronomat into The Breitling store in Manhattan for service. I bought the watch new about seven years ago. It has never had any mechanical issues and I keep it on a Wolf watch winder when not being worn. I just figured it was time for a service. Breitling just sent me the email detailing the estimate and it is $660 dollars for a complete overhaul and $600 for replacement of a broken gold crown. With tax it comes out to about $1400 bucks. I expected the overhaul price but I was surprised by the "broken crown" as it has never not functioned properly and showed no signs of being broken. I literally used it a few days earlier to set the date and it worked perfectly. So I guess I would love to know what you guys think and if I should just go ahead with Breitling or take the watch back and go to one of the other private authorized service guys.

Well if the crown needs replacing then all authorised service centres are going to charge the same. First step would be to ask for more information about the issue with the crown, but Breitling are not in the habit of charging for unnecessary work.

Welcome to BreitlingSource.

I was not insinuating Breitling was in the habit of phony service charges, rather I was wondering if indeed the crown needed replacing that $660 was a proper charge in the opinion of knowledgeable Breitling owners. This is my first dealing with Breitling service but owning a JLC Gran Reverso, and a few IWC's, I have seen over the years differing charges for service between Corporate and independant watch shops. Perhaps that has not been your experience. I have emailed the Breilting rep and asked if he could explain to me the state of disrepair the crown is in and am waiting for a response. Thanks for your help and info.

The name of the national service director in conn.is gerhardt
He is the senior vice president if you fail to get resolution ask for his boss also based in conn. If that fails contact Tomas Flores at atelier and associates formerly watches by Hans they are the best Breitling service in the us and the most reasonable they have been working on my watches for over twenty years
It's never about how much you know about Breitling products it's always about who you know
Attelier 713-965-9112 you need help dealing with Breitling then go to the top not listen to sheep that are content to be led to the slaughter

The major service includes the replacement of the crown stem barrel it is an expensive part over 150.00 as the crown stem is being replaced they are suggesting a new crown also as the threads on an 18k crown may be showing some wear advise them that they can use the existing crown stem and crown reseal the crown gasket and deduct the charge if it's not broken don't fix it

Jkwing, thanks very much for your time and info, I'm waiting to hear back from Breitling as to the state of the crown and i'm glad i have a little more info. If it's not broke don't fix it is exactly what i was thinking!

You're quite welcome I've owned lots of Breitling products they don't always do what's best for the customer they frequently do what's best for breitling

Just got a response from Breitling:

"Thank you for your email. The crown is commonly changed during a complete overhaul but in regards to your watch the crown is dented and the crown gasket is worn down."

I wasnt aware the crown was commonly changed during overhaul. So im wondering if this sounds like a legit $600 charge in addition to the $660 they are alredy charging me for the overhaul.

More common with gold as it's softer, but "common" is a stretch. Gaskets can be changed without changing the crown and should be replaced as part of a full service anyway. A 'dented' crown shouldn't impact function (depending on where the dent is) and should make it an optional service item in my opinion.

Thanks, I'm going to ask about simply doing the overhaul as I originally intended. I got an estimate by phone from another authorized Breitling service center and they quoted me $600 for the overhaul and $125-150 for the replacement of the Gold Chronomat crown if it was needed. Thats a $500 price difference and A price I feel better about paying. I mean, with the new strap, I'm looking at a little under $2000 for Breilting service on a 7 year old watch with no mechanical issues. That's more than Double JLC charged me for a Grande Reverso day/date/moon full service. Thanks again for your assistance, really appreciate it.

You aren't going to get a gold crown (which isn't really solid gold anyway) from Breitling for $125, I would be very wary of that quote.

Since you're in the states I'd suggest you get your watch back from Breitling SA the typical overhaul on an automatic watch is 560.00 if you needed a crystal the cost is 235.00 if a face about 300.00 an over haul can be performed in either Miami or Houston my watchmaker does my service work on a cash basis
My last complete overhaul was done on an Antares my cost was 300.00 again if you don't need a new crown why replace it and if you can get by with a mini service why commit to a major the Eta movements used by Breitling are virtually bullet proof unless you develop a leak and get moisture on the movement
You're paying for a new shaft a new winding spring new barrel and crown on a movement that costs 1050.00 total retail get your watch back or contact Gerhart in conn.