The Breitling Watch Source Forums

A few years ago, my fiancee wanted to buy me something special to celebrate our recent engagement. I had been looking at some nice watches and after some further esearch and discussion we decided she would buy me a Breitling Super Ocean watch. This was in early 2005.

By the start of 2008 I noticed that my watch was started to run quite fast and I was having to adjust it every month or so. In the past few years I have travelled for business somewhat frequently and the adjustments for changing time zones may have hidden this problem for a while. But, the fact of the matter is that by early 2008 my watch was gaining about 5 minutes +/- every month (I studied it for a couple of months). I'm sure you will agree this is not to be expected from a Breitling, nor accepted.

I took the watch back to the Authorized Dealer and asked them to have the watch fully serviced. I explained the time keeping problems I was experiencing and made sure they noted that I wanted this issue resolved specifically. I had to travel overseas for a few months before I got the watch back in the middle of this year. I was excited to have it back as I wear this watch most days.

Well, it goes without saying that after a month, I was pretty disappointed to find my watch was running about 5 minutes fast. I made the adjustment, and kept a close eye on the watch over the next few months to see if this was a constant problem. It was. So, in early September, I called the Breitling after sales service people and explained my disappointment. They advised me to return the watch directly to them (they had done the initial service) and they would rectify the problem at no cost to me because I was withing the 12 month warranty period after a service.

So, I shipped my watch away again and got it back in early October. Only a month or so has passed so I am not totally sure if the timing is correct yet because I have had to adjust the time three times. The first was for the end of daylight savings a few weeks ago, then earlier this week I flew from Boston to the west coast on business and made the three hour time difference adjustment on the flight. Yesterday, on the flight home, I unscrewed the crown to adjust my watch back to east coast time. As I gently pulled on the crown for time adjustment, you can imagine my suprise as the whole crown and stem pulled completely out of my watch. It would be fair to say I was not particularly amused.

Needless to say, the watch will be going back to Breitling yet again later today for its third service in 6 months (and I'm still not 100% sure the original problem is resolved).

Has anyone else experienced this sort of quality assurance problem? This is a genuine Breitling, was bought at an authorised dealer and has been serviced only by Breitling at their facilities in Connecticut. While the Super Ocean is not at the top of their range, I would still expect this to be a higher than average quality watch.

I'm curious if anyone else has had any problems like these? When I get the watch back, should I leave it in its case and buy a new (different brand) quality watch to wear daily?

I certainly haven't heard of anyone having that kind of luck

I hope you get it all sorted out soon.

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Sorry about your troubles there. Usually Breitling regional centres (BUSA, BUK, etc) do a FANTASTIC job with their servicing. I'd say it's just a one off. I know that doesn't help you now, but the SO is a very rugged watch and should be more than up to the task of daily wearing.

I hope Breitling will be able to sort it out for you nicely and quickly.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Sorry to hear the problems. I got a suggestion for the time running fast or slow. Try resting your watch in different positions at night if you don't have a winder. Someone posted a regulation sheet ahwile back on the forum here and it shows when the watch gets +/- seconds in different positions. Example: my watch runs +2 to 3 seconds fast when resting face up, and -2 to 3 seconds slow when the crown faces up. So i change positions from night to night. Keep in mind that the watch he got regulated wasn't the same model as mine, but i did some test runs myself and came up with a good solution.

Give it a try and see what you come up with.

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Bentley Motors T- White dial

I have heard these types of suggestions before and I am a firm believer that no form of "vodoo" should be required in order to have a COSC certified Breitling keep time within the acceptable range. I will say that your wearing habits could help BUSA adjust your watch accordingly. I had a time keeping problem with my Seawolf(actually losing time) and it was only resolved after a complete service, basic service did not remedy. I also filled BUSA in as to my wearing habits(I wear my Breitling 24 hours a day), I am not sure if this actually helped them in the adjustment or if the complete service would have rectified the situation anyway.