The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi,

Firstly I have to apologize for being lazy and stupid. About 9 months ago, I found this site by chance and enjoyed immense information and help from everyone on here. Thank you very much for that. I finally ended up buying a Super Avenger at the end of Aug '08.

Sorry, I should have posted the pictures of it immediately but I didn't and now I don't see a point doing it.

Anyways, I am facing some trouble with it. I don't quite know, if that's a mechanical problem or happens with all automatic watches.

I have a few watches and at times, for days I don't wear my SA. Well, it stops alright. So, I wind the watch about 30-40 times and then go to the date menu. Sometimes the date changes normally but sometimes it feels like it is going to change but it doesn't. There is a slight movement and then it stops.

And, then I have no other option than change the hours hand till I reach the desired date. So, say if the watched stopped on say 13th of a month and I decide to wear it on the 21st, if the date menu changes, great - if it doesn't, I have to wind the hours handle till I reach 21st.

I live in India and before I take it to the service centre to figure out if that is a problem with my watch, I just wanted to know if it happens to others too or I need to have it checked and fixed.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

K/-

It sounds like you have a damaged date wheel. 90+% of the time they are caused by using the quick set date function between an indicated time of 8pm and 3am. That results in you turning the date wheel while it's partially engaged with the running train and bending or breaking a tooth.

It needs to go to the AD to be fixed.

Hi K,

Don't panic yet - it might still be OK as you say it sometimes does it. Try quick-setting the date with the hands set between 5 and 7. If the date change works then the movement is still OK. I know cos I made the same mistake one day without thinking, and the same thing happened. I gave it a few clicks before I realised what I was doing wrong. But it still works fine - phew!

Ike

I'm sorry, but that's simply not true.

Bent or broken teeth don't magically fix themselves when you set the date. All that you have done is changed the relative position of the date change wheel with the running train wheel. If the wheel is damaged, then it's still damaged. The symptom may have gone away because during the sequence the damaged tooth is now being supported better by teeth that are still fine, but sooner or later it will come back.

This watch was bought in August and is therefore still under warranty - so get it fixed properly.

Of course they don't. Please don't be so patronising.



Please re-read my post carefully. I was suggesting something the OP could try based on my experience before assuming the watch is damaged. I was simply trying to help the OP ascertain if it is in fact, damaged. If I am plain wrong, then thank you for putting me right, and full respect to your superior knowledge. But there is no need to resort to sarcasm. I shan't bother in future, if this is what comes of simply trying to help a fellow Breitling owner.

Ike

Thanks a lot for your help, Ike and Roff.

Here is what I understood of what Roff said. Between 8 pm and 3 am, the date wheel engages itself to change to the next date and while it was engaged, I somehow managed to turn the date wheel using the quick date function of the bezel, which has resulted in either bending the teeth or breaking it.

So, what i'd like to know is:

1) How come this isn't mentioned anywhere in the book, that one must not try using the quick date function between 8 pm and 3 am?

2) So, should I always wind the hours hand to reach the desired date or is it okay to use the quick date function sometimes?

3) Is it safe to use the quick date function before 8 pm and after 3 am?

I've read that manual a dozen times and it never says anything about not using the quick date function. So, yeah I will take it to the AD and tell him the date function doesn't seem to work all the time and have it fixed.

Thanks again,

K.

Another peculiar thing that happens with my watch:

The quick date function does not seem to work the first time when the watch has completely stopped. But after I wind it to the desired date and wear it for a few days - and then try the quick date function, it works seamlessly like nothing was ever wrong with it.

So, it seems more like a first time problem after the watch hasn't been worn for a few days and I want to wear it rather than a problem that persists continuously.

I know I am asking a lot of questions but I haven't the foggiest about the machinations of my Breitling.

On the funny side, when I told my wife that I posted a query on the forum and received some information about what could be the problem, she simply said, wear your Breitling at all times. And, we call women complicated, heh.

1) It is mentioned, read more carefully.
2) If you need to adjust it between 8pm and 3am, move the hands forward at 5:30, use the quick date set til yesterday's date than by moving hands only forward adjust it on present day weather is AM or PM.
3) Yes.

As bnewbie says, every Breitling manual for a watch with quick set date (like the SA) has it in the manual.

There's no reason why the quick set date wouldn't work when stopped, but it may simply be symptomatic of the watch being damaged. Get it to the AD, and make no mention of the fact that you may have used the quick set date between 8pm and 3am (they'll likely be fine, but no need to give them any excuses to deny warranty work).