The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Bought a Blackbird last week online and did not have the right size screw driver to resize the bracelet. So one week later I now have the Bergeon 1.6 and have removed all 4 screws from the bottom side of the watch to take out 1 link. So far so good! I just can't get the end "caps" to come off to remove a link. Neither one will come off...it's like they are super glued on to shafts of the link. I tried a link on the top side of the watch and same thing. Can not remove the end or "cap" of the link. Am I missing something here? The end should just slide off. Right?

Thanks for your help in advance.

Not sure what you mean by end caps.

There are only screws on one side of the link, you remove two to get the link off and the link on the other side pulls out with the pins attached to it, only the last link is a single pin. Pictures in this thread may help (scroll down for the picture of pilot bracelet) - viewtopic.php?f=12&t=32208

Yes sir just like you said but not happing here. Following the link you provided...Thank you... in the directions of the pilot bracelet, I cannot remove #6 from #7. It should slide off but to do so I need GI Joe with the Kung Fu Grip...... or try to pry it apart. Don't know what else to do.

Thanks for your help.

If you've removed the screws then #7 should just slide straight out. I can only assume it's possibly just seized up over time (I'm assuming it was a used Blackbird you bought?) in which case you could try something like WD40 (after ideally removing the bracelet) to free it up a little. Alternatively I guess there's a small chance that the previous owner may have used Loctite or similar, but I'm not sure why.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I bought it from Jomashop as a new watch. Best I can tell it is new and I'm happy with it but I've removed the screws from all the removable links and can't get any of the links to come off. I shouldn't have this much trouble trying to remove a link. I'm over it now and ready to call tomorrow for an Ra#.

Thanks guys for your help. I do appreciate it.

Take your watch to a local AD and just let them charge you $20 bucks to resize it for you. I once bought a Navitimer online, and did just that. Less hassle and you won't risk damaging/scratching up the links yourself.

Oh, and don't take it to just any watch retailer...take it to a place that sells Breitlings. That way, you know there's someone there who is experienced at sizing the Breitling bracelets. The first watch store I took my Navi to, they didn't sell Breitlings, and they even couldn't remove the links right, so I took it to a Breitling AD, and they sized it without problems.

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18k Rolex Datejust / Breitling Crosswind Special / Patek SS Nautilus / Bvlgari Diagono Chrono / Bvlgari Scuba / Omega Speedmaster Professional / 60s Omega Constellation

Thanks. I am ready to send it back but I think I will take it to an AD. I'm sure they will not be able to do anything as the links are bonded together somehow. With the right tools....in this case a screw driver....removing one link is a five minute job. Simple! But something is not right here.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

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18k Rolex Datejust / Breitling Crosswind Special / Patek SS Nautilus / Bvlgari Diagono Chrono / Bvlgari Scuba / Omega Speedmaster Professional / 60s Omega Constellation

Made a few phone calls and spoke to someone that knew exactly what I was having a problem with. He said Breitling will use Loctite on the screws, sometimes too much which gets on the link as well. The watch maker says they have a tool to separate the links when this happens.

Now it all makes since and at least I know someone has the proper tools to fix it.

Thanks for all you help!

Glad you got it sorted. Now post a pic once you have it on your wrist.

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18k Rolex Datejust / Breitling Crosswind Special / Patek SS Nautilus / Bvlgari Diagono Chrono / Bvlgari Scuba / Omega Speedmaster Professional / 60s Omega Constellation