The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has experienced similar or has any advice.

My wife gave me a Breitling when we got married 11years ago - it obviously means alot to me. The watch has a small lcd display which recently has been malfunctioning - apart from that it has been a great watch.

The watch was accordingly sent in to the official Breitling service centre but BREITLING ARE REFUSING TO SERVICE IT.

After a brief initial inspection I was given back a copy of a letter from Breitling to the Breitling Agent saying:-

"The movement components for caliber 232 are no longer available. Therefore, we are unable to........ repair models equipped with these movements"

There is nothing wrong with my movement components!

despite highlighting this point to the agent that the movement was fine and it was the LCD display that was malfunctioning - he still refused to service it.

The agent then had the nerve to offer me a 20% discount on a new Breitling if I traded my wedding gift watch in on a new one. I can get a 20% discount off a Breitling as any regular Joe walking in off the street - and he expects me to buy another Breitling after that kind of service from the Official Agent???

Any thoughts, advice or comments appreciated.

Very disappointed with Breitling

I suspect that you have a Navitimer 2100 with the two pushers, These are impossible to get movements for and Breitling would have to replace the whole movement to fix the LCD issues you have. The watch you have is 20 or so years old and has served you well over that time, but quartz movements are not built to last forever and parts become hard to get, I know the watch is valuable to you and perhaps Breitling could have explained it a bit better but the fact is 20 years out of a quartz watch is very good.

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Hi and welcome aboard.

I can understand it's very frustrating, but unfortunately that is the problem inherant with quartz movements. The technology and components move on over time and it's just not cost effective for manufacturers to keep producing parts for 20 year old technology. Mechanical watches are very different in as much as the technology is hundreds of years old, but has remained pretty much unchanged in all that time - it's all still cogs, wheels and springs, not capacitors and circuit boards. Quartz continues to evolve as better technology becomes available, and that makes older technology redundant.

You say there's nothing wrong with your movements components - well, unfortunately I'd respectfully disagree as the LCD display is part of the movement's components, so it's very likely that is the part that Breitling are referring to as not being available any more. In this instance Breitling are not* trying to fleece you or be difficult at all - they just simply cannot fabricate electronic components for old models to order.

The AD was certainly being a bit cheeky to suggest that they'd give you a whole 20% off if you traded it in, because you are quite right that a 20% discount could probably be had anyway. However they're a business and they're looking to make money, and 9 times out of 10 a less knowledgeable customer might've gone for it. As it is they've obviously ruined your faith in them as an AD, and quite rightly so IMO.

Another option in terms of repair might be to look for a replacement movement on eBay or elsewhere on the net. They come up occasionally and then you'd just need an independent watchmaker to fit it for you. This may be a decent solution for you if you manage to find one.

In summary I'd say, definitely find a new AD, but try not to blame Breitling for no longer having the parts for a 20 year old quartz movement.


* Edit - Missed out the rather important word "not" when I first typed this post!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Should there have been a NOT in there D8

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Oops! You're quite right there Sony! I've amended my previous post now!

Yes, just to reiterate, Breitling are NOT trying to fleece you!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

OP welcome.

With a present like that get yourself a movement from the bay as suggested.

Best of luck (the search for these things is fun).

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

Hi Guys and thanks for the quick replies!

The watch was bought a 11 years ago (as that was when I got married). I only wore the watch for the last 5 years on a daily basis.

Its a Breitling Aeromarine Intruder watch, model 51035 iirc,
http://www.breitlingsource.com/watch_de ... e_133.html
the watch was only produced from 1998-1999 so physically its no more than 12years old.

I am still shocked that Breitling is refusing service on an 11 year old watch

Would you guys still have bought Breitlings if you heard that parts may not be available after only 10years and would therefore be refused service? (the letter from Breitling was from May 2009)

I certainly wouldnt.

Sorry - I know I am ranting

I suppose the point I am trying to make is that I do blame Breitling for refusing service and not having the parts for an 11 year old watch.

I will find a corner shop to fix it (the agent never even tried to open the watch) and then stick it in the safe as a memento.

Any personal recommendations for ANY reputable watch brand where the manufacturer has gone above and beyond to help their customers fix their watch would be appreciated!

I completely find your complaint and frustration warranted. As much as I like my Breitling, I think Breitling's service centers are terrible and their customer service is nill.

I don't care how old a manufacturer's watch is - they market and pride themselves on reliable timepieces with a rich history. And if they are manufacturing watches with LCD displays (which they know won't last as long as the rest of the watch), then they should be manufacturing them in a way which is relatively easy to service the LCD.

I also find Breitling's usual dismissal of customers with little or no explanation infuriating. I sent my BlackBird back for servicing (under warranty) due to a mainspring problem and when they sent it back, it came back with a $460 price tag because they replaced the chimney and the crystal. Without going into all the details, it took me almost 6 weeks to find out why they would replace those things for a mainspring problem and I didn't wind up paying anything.

The authorized repair center here in the U.S. is terrible - I don't know what it's like in Europe, but the one here in CT stinks.

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PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller

thats a Japanese movement a Miyota Y652 in fact I have a spare movement for one of those but really want to keep it as I now have two of the same watches and one will need a replacement one day. You can pick them up off ebay but as they are used there is no guarantee how long it will last. A quick tip though Chronosport UDTs have the same movement and they will repair them so give them a call.

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I'm of a mixed mind on Breitling not having the parts for your watch. However, I think the "compensation" they offered was just insulting. Bad customer service. Send 'em a letter telling them this.

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I can't blame Breitling for not servicing the movement - they are reliant on 3rd party movements (Miyota), and if Miyota doesn't make the movement any more then there is nothing they can do - this isn't like a mechanical watch where parts can be fabricated.

Also, while I understand the frustration, Breitling are not refusing to service the movement, they are unable to service the movement - big difference.

The 20% off is odd, historically, Breitling (not the AD, which may be the issue) offers 50% off a current piece, but you do have to surrender the old watch, and obviously with a wedding present that's tough. As others have said, you may be able to find a donor watch that can provide a movement, they do come up on eBay fairly regularly, but they are all going to be of a similar vintage, and will inevitably suffer the same fate at some point.

Today, Breitling works with the suppliers of the base quartz movements to ensure that they remain serviceable for 20 years after the movement is discontinued, but unfortunately that wasn't the case when these pieces were produced.

I hope I don't run into this same problem 10 years from now. I just purchased the seawolf chrono blacksteel with b73 superquartz movement. I was a bit skeptical about spending the $ for a quartz movement but I was assured that the quality is superb and that breitling would be able to service the movement for 20+ years. What do u guys think?

As I said in the post before yours, Breitling has committed to supporting modern SQ pieces for 20 years after they are discontinued. That said, it's a quartz watch - at some point it will die and be non serviceable - just not for 20+ years.

I mean the watch went out of production 11 years ago (not JUST being an 11 year old watch). It is disappointing and frustrating for you certainly, but what should Breitling do? Send a nasty letter to Miyota demanding they make a spare movement. You need to understand that the everything from the battery to the LCD display IS the movement and came from a different manufaturer. So you concluded Breitling lied and that set the tone. Well they didn't lie.

If you want to be angry at someone - get angry at the AD for trying to rip you off on a new watch at 20% off. The AD should have told you to contact Bretiling (or assumed the task themselves) to allow you to get a new watch at a significant discount - it's been discussed on this site before with other older quartz based movements. And Breitling offers it. Contact Breitling's (if in the US - contact BUSA) customer service department. I've found them to be helpful, prompt, and quite up front.

So I have to disagree with some other posts saying BUSA performs poorly or dishonorably. That is not my experience.

I know for a fact that you could randomly pull 2 of my fromer clients ask them - what did you think of Sharkman? One would say, "Awesome, explained everything, kept me informed, worked hard, and I was happy with the result. The other would say, "He f&*#ing sucked!!!! I had no idea what was going on because he never contacted me or tried to explain a thing. I don't think he even worked on my file. And the result was crappy." Then look at both client's files and you would see the exact same work done, same amount of client contact, and equivilent results.

FWIW (and it's not worth much)

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SHARKMAN

When it comes to the movement issue, I don't think Breitling "lied," but they're responsible. It doesn't matter if someone else makes the movement, and getting a new one would be tricky or impossible. It's still Breitling's fault. They're ultimately responsible for their watches.

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