The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I'm pretty much at my wits end. For those of you who haven't been following this saga, the sweeping 1/4 second chronograph hand on my watch will "skip" for several seconds when it reaches a certain point on the dial and then resume normal operation until it reaches the same point on the next revolution. It's been doing this since a couple months after it was purchased (July 2009). After sending my watch back three times, all BUSA seems to be able to do is change the spot on the dial where the skipping occurs. After receiving the watch back last week after a month hiatus at BUSA, the issue is now between the 37 and 41 minute markers.

At this point, I'm convinced it needs to go back to Switzerland. Ideally, I'd like to get in touch with someone there and tell them how inept the folks at BUSA are. I can't fault BUSA's customer service, but they clearly have not been able to resolve this issue. I'm not sure what to do at this point; I'm open to opinions. Can I demand that the entire movement be replaced? Can I ask for my money back? This is getting f***ing ridiculous . . .

I'm going to call BUSA tomorrow and see what they tell me.

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

I have a feeling the department of homeland security or FBI may be paying you a visit before your watch is repaired.

I would demand it be sent back Breitling for repairs and including a not-so-kind letter with your watch....I'd also follow that with a phone call to Breitling HQ to share your unfortunate experience.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

That would be funny if it wasn't true! I seen a story a couple weeks ago about a kid saying on face book that "Obama better watch out now" after the killing of Bin Laden. The CIA went to his school and took him out of class to conduct an investigation. Something along those lines anyway, and really makes it seem common sense doesn't matter when there's a policy of zero tolerance.


As for the watch situation it sounds like a Nightmare. I'd probably start making phone calls... LOTS of them.

As my snide remark was getting more attention than my actual watch issue, I've edited my post. For the Feds that frequent the forum, I will not be including any illegal substances with the return of my watch back to Breitling. It will, however, include a very nasty letter stating how displeased I am.

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

Responding to both matters -

1. when you say it skips do you mean it just jumps from 37-41 in one move? Does it hold at 37 for 4 seconds and then jump ahead 4 seconds? At this point Breitling should replace the entire movement and I would send it straight to the HQ and not Hanger 7.

2. As to the other point, "zero tolerance" is simply code for, "Already got you civil rights dude. Winning."

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SHARKMAN

who is your dealer? i would have replaced it from my inventory after 2 and had the battle with busa myself, thats insane! have you even tried your dealer? has busa been in contact with you at all?

The AD I bought it from is garbage. It's Alvin Goldfarb in Seattle. I had them send it back for me the first time. They didn't even ask me why I was sending it back. They simply said that they send watches back to BUSA and let BUSA figure out what's wrong with it. Naturally, that didn't fly with me, so I hand wrote letter in the store explaining the issue.

The second and third time around, I just sent it back myself and avoided Goldfarb altogether. I seriously can't stand this AD. However, you bring up a good point that I may be able to make them replace the watch and they can handle this headache. I'll talk to them tomorrow as well.

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

The contact details for Breitling SA are on the contact page - http://www.breitlingsource.com/contact.shtml, probably worth a call to them at this point.

Thank you for this info, Roff. Switzerland will certainly be hearing from me.

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

What an absolutely ridiculous situation, Bozman52. It's things like this that can really shake your confidence in a brand. I've said it before, but I never understand how companies can be so half-arsed as to let this kind of thing continue. It's so shortsighted, as the bad press they are getting on here (and no doubt with everyone else you are quite rightly telling about this situation) will be worth considerably more in loss revenue than it would've been for them to just simply replace the movement, or even the entire watch.

It's been said already, but a strongly worded letter to both BUSA and more importantly to Breitling SA is the order of the day here. INSIST that the watch is sent to Switzerland, and suggest that they might even like to replace it completely. It might also be worth informing both BUSA and Breitling SA of the ineffectual AD as well (if they have indeed been useless in sorting this out). I guarantee that if you go high enough in the company, you will eventually find someone with enough intelligence to realise that the cost of one replacement movement is INFINITELY outweighed by the bad press and reputational damage that their inaction is generating.

Hope it all sorts out for you.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks for the moral support, Driver. I've always thought that if I can reach someone high enough in the company that all this would get sorted out. Apparently I've put too much faith in BUSA getting the job done. My issue alone has given them enough bad press for a lifetime, as I'm perpetually vocal about it on here. I will give BUSA credit for their superb customer service, as I haven't had the same personal issues others have had with them. Clearly they can't physically fix my watch, though.

Regarding replacing the movement, I'm slightly worried about having this done. I know the movement shares the same serial number as the caseback. This normally wouldn't be an issue, but my fiance had my caseback engraved before she gave it to me. If Breitling replaces the movement, I'm assuming they replace the caseback as well, meaning it would need to be engraved again. I know this may sound overly sentimental, but the watch wouldn't be the same if I had to get a new caseback re-engaved.

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

I think that you'll find that the watch and movement will just have different serial #s which won't be a problem for Breitling because they will have a record of the change.

I sure hope this is the case, because I definitely think it's time for my jacked up movement to go!

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Chronomat 01- Sierra Silver/Steel
Navitimer 01- Limited Edition #1337/2000

sorry to hear this buddy. i really hope the issue gets resolved for you asap! completely unacceptable on both the AD and Breitling.

Really sorry to hear how the "new" situation is developing bozman52, that really sucks man.

I would even be tempted to call Breitling Switzerland before sending any mails or letters. Don't know if that would make the situation evolve more quickly or not though.



I would feel the exact same way but, ultimately, you MUST have a B01 in working order!

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