The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I just purchased my first Breitling (Navitimer World) a few weeks ago and I have a quick question. When I adjust the time, the crown feels a little loose (I can turn it side to side) for about 1/8 of a turn before I feel any kind of resistance. I know nothing about watches and I am just wondering if this is normal. All of my other watches seem to do this, but they are all cheap watches that cost under $500.

Congrats on the new watch, and welcome.

Sounds fine to me, as long as it's not loose when it's screwed in. I'm no expert on the internals (I'm sure the experts will be along shortly) but I think there should probably be some "take-up" in an automatic winding mechanism, and all of my autos do it to a degree as far as I've noticed. Can't test it out at the moment because I'm wearing a handwound today.

Welcome aboard. There is always a certain amount of play in the gears so a little free movement is normal (although an 1/8th of a turn possibly seems a little much).

If I was you I'd wait for another couple of opinions on here before considering taking to an AD.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Well to Otto's point it won't be loose when screwed in because the World doesn't have a screw down crown

What you are feeling is the free play between the wheels in the keyless works - the set of gears and wheels that transfers the winding of the stem to the mainspring barrel and the winding of the stem to the running train when adjusting time. If there weren't any free play those wheels / cogs would bind and you wouldn't be able to move the stem - perfectly normal.

Congratulations on joining the Breitling club and welcome to BreitlingSource.

D'oh!! Second time I've made that mistake. Maybe I should get myself a Navi so I don't forget again.