The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Good day folks,
Over the years I have heard from various people when it is necessary to have a Breitling serviced. I've heard 5 years, 10 years, and NEVER if the watch is running properly. Does Breitling have a standard ? Thank you in advance for your input. Bryan

Depends on usage, i think the service booklet i just got back says a full overhaul every 4 to 6 years.

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Breitling Blackbird (original)
Oris TT1 lume 44mm
TAG Professional 2000
Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird

Breitling recommends 5 years for automatics, though in reality if the watch is running within COSC tolerances then there is no reason why you can't stretch that to 7 years or so. 10 years is getting up there because the oils will start breaking down, and never could become an expensive option!

The only exception is for dive watches that do dive frequently, especially in salt water. Those should have seals inspected and potentially replaced every 12 months.

Thank you for the input. In addition, is it necessary to send the watch to Breitling or will a good local watchmaker perform the service as well and less expensively? thanks again. Bryan

Breitling will not sell parts to a local watchmaker. Could a watchmaker do it more cheaply - sure, but they will use generic ETA parts so your modified ETA Breitling will start to regress to a non modified ETA movement!

Additionally, Breitling may refuse to work on it if there is a future problem that your watchmaker can't fix, and if they do agree to work on it then they will charge more for undoing what the local watchmaker did.

I fully agree about having Breitling do the service work. Breitliing will, as a part of the overhauling, replace the hands. You will not be able to have that done by a local watchmaker. Hands of wristwatches get wrecked pretty easily when removing/replacing them. Also, if a local watchmaker were to accidentally scratch or mess up the dial, you are pretty much screwed. Additionally, if and when you decide to sell the watch, the official service papers are important showing when the service took place and that the watch is still 100% Breitling. Of course, this is true of all top brand watches.

Well I've never ruined hands removing or placing them (although I am relatively new at this watch fixing lark), though it is certainly easy to damage a dial if you aren't careful.

The issue with the modern Breitling hands is that they are designed to be single use. They are friction fit and won't fit so tightly after they have been removed and replaced.