The Breitling Watch Source Forums

(Please skip to the actual question in the second paragraph if you're in a hurry.) I have a couple of Breitling Chronomats, one I bought new in 2005 and another I bought used at about the same time (I'm somewhat of a watch collector). The older one, best I can tell, is an early 90s model, probably 1992. Reference is 81950. I hadn't used it quite some time; I picked it up a couple of weeks ago, and the second hand was no longer working, although the watch does run (the 60-second timer does move normally). I then noticed other details such as the crown stem feeling a bit loose when extended. The watch is aesthetically fine, so I've decided to go ahead and to have it serviced and repaired; but it's not worth a thousand dollars to me. I found an out-of-town jeweler (he has not seen the watch) who insists that these particular models came with gaskets made of gel, and, he continues, over the years the elements--especially moisture--dissolved the gel and that those gaskets are no longer available (I know that most any Breitling part may be hard to come by for non-Brietling authorized repair).

Question: Did Breitling really fit the early 90s Chronomats with "gel"-type crown gaskets?

Thanks!

I don't think that it's technically gel, but it definitely does deteriorate over time.

Breitling can (and will) replace the gaskets during servicing with the equivalent current product, but they don't make parts available to non authorised watchmakers.

Thank you, Roffensian.

I understand Breitling does not make parts available to nonauthorized folks. While I have seen some parts (e.g., crowns) in factory sealed packs, I have yet to see any gaskets--and understand I am not likely to find them myself.