The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Can I get some advice please?

I have a Breitling Chrono Superocean, had it 5 years, was a gift to replace a Breitling I had stolen.

Anyway, it been dropped once or twice, and then the winder just upped and fell off, so I have taken it to an official dealer to have a quote for its repair.

I saw the exact same watch with face and everything in the window as it happens for £3,2000 and the quote I have back is

Your crown has received a knock/shock, denting it and the impact from this has damaged your crown tube (built into the middle case), dial and movement requiring a complete overhaul to put this in order. £300

Complete overhaul The complete overhaul includes: dismantling, cleaning and checking all components, replacement of worn parts, assembly, oiling, various adjustments. Refurbishing the case, replacement of all gaskets and water resistance test.

Exchange of hands £86
Exchange of dial - existing dial feet are impact damaged £279
Exchange of middle case - existing is impact damaged £188
Exchange of dented crown £22
Exchange of pushers - existing are dented £88

Shipping and handling £10
Subtotal £955.44
With VAT £1,146

This seems like a monster amount to me...? Is all that necessary, was working just fine till the winder fell off!

Furthermore because it also has a leather strap which I need to really replace, it is amazing how quick those things go to ruin, and I was thinking of having a steel strap this time instead which with that they quote me another £420

All in all then... some £1,566 to put it right... is that right do you guys think?

Does it make sense to repair or would I get a price for it as is, and then use that money, plus what I would have spent on the repair to upgrade or get a whole new watch.

Or is all this stuff just padding and I can tell them only to repair a part of it, or... can I got to a non breitling watch repair place and get it done for half the price and just get the strap from the dealer?

This a very interesting forum, hope you guys have an answer for me!

Thanks

I can't speak to how necessary all that work is. It does seem like Breitling service centers are expert at finding every possible thing to fix. Having said that, they're probably legitimate repairs. Regardless, I would not recommend sending it to a non-Breitling watchmaker. The kind of work Breitling described in the estimate cannot be performed by someone who can't get genuine parts. I think that move would be penny wise and pound foolish. Also, in its current state, you won't get a very good price on it. With all the work Breitling will do, the watch will come back virtually as good as new, for half the price of a new watch. Keep in mind, a lot of the cost of a new watch is simply because it's new. Just like a car, it depreciates significantly the second you put it on your wrist. Granted, if you get a new watch, it will have five years' less wear on it, but again, a lot of the wear of your current watch will be "wiped clean" with the overhaul. If you like the model and would otherwise want to keep it, I would personally opt for the repair. If you're not all that hot on it, and would consider a different model, then now might be the time to get out and try something different.

Sounds legitimate to me. The Aeromarine range is lower purchase cost because of simpler construction which in turn means more expecnsive repairs because things like the crown tube are integral to the middle case as opposed to separate parts as they would be in the other ranges.

Definitely would not suggest going to a non authorised watchmaker, you'll just get non OEM parts and end up with a partial Breitling.

Thanks, well I suppose that answers my question really, and I kind of thought as much...

Don't go to someone else, it isn't going to be worth it.

I hadn't thought about the car analogy, it was a gift and until I saw one with an identical face (first time I had seen it actually) in the shop window, well I genuinely had no idea how much it had cost, it was 10 people or so who all chipped in for it I think.

So, go the whole hog and repair it really, or sell it, like I would a second hand car maybe.

But don't fix it up and then expect to sell it hey!

I think i will just tell them to fix it, I just didn't want to find out later on that I was a chump and should have given it to someone else to repair.

And the overhaul and stuff is very skilfully presented really, there is nothing I can say don't do that bit.

Eeeh, what would we do without forums hey?

Marvellous and thanks again for your trouble and advice

Wow, just came across this post - I have just received a similar estimate in the post and nearly choked !

I have a womens Breitling Colt Oceane - 2004.

Recenlty the winder has been popping out (not actually falling off) so I sent it to Breitling directly for repair

I just received the estimate in the post today: The wording of your estimate is strikingly similar, except they are charging me way more for a middle case than the estimate you received for the middle case even though my watch only retails for around £1200. This seems so bizarre !!

Here's their letter:

Your crown has received a heavy knock/shock, denting it and the impact from this has damaged your crown tube (built into the middle case), dial and movement requiring a complete overhaul to put this in order.

Complete overhaul:
The complete overhaul includes: dismantling, cleaning and checking all components, replacement of worn parts, assembly, oiling, various adjustments. Change of battery. Refurbishing the case and metal bracelet, replacement of all gaskets and water resistance test. £183.33
Exchange of hands £43.09
Exchange of middle case - existing is impact damaged £450.63 !!!!
Exchange of dented crown £29.67
Shipping and handling £10
Subtotal £716.72
With VAT £860.06

I never dropped the watch so not sure how a 'drop' could actually damage the internal crown tube .. but nevertheless the descrepancy in what they are charging owners for different models seems crazy here. I actually spoke to a watch repair company (they repair Breitlings themselves) and they said their experience is that Breitling racks up the costs for parts to the point where it almost equals the cost of your original watch, so that you'' go out and buy a new one ! Not sure if this is the case

But £450 versus £188 for the middle case on a smaller less expensive model

What on earth are Breitling up to ??????

Charging more for cases that have been long discontinued and therefore aren't sitting around in stock - simple supply and demand.

Thanks for your reply. Just spoke to a company in the US - they are Bretiling authorised repairers, over 20 yrs experience. They looked up the cost of my middle case in the US - its $190 direct from Bretiling ( they logged into Breitlings site for parts directly that they have access to). This in contrast to Breitling UK who want to charge $870 for the same part. So Im sending it over to them for the repair - this will save me a fortune !

Simple supply and demand, meet basic comparison shopping.

Hello, i have had a Navitimer World for one year now and after only wearing it a couple of times i noticed it was stopping after 24hr so i decided to take it to Goldsmiths as it is under warranty.
I received a reply today from them and what they have said has me stunned.
Watch needs a full service to get it back to full working order ( this is not covered by warranty as is caused by accidental damage) £300
Middle case heavily dented £400
Hand weight worn £127
I have never banged, droped or scuffed this watch and when the store sent it away it was visually checked and photographed from all angles, the reciept they gave me mentions nothing about damaged/dented case.
I feel that Breitling have found an imperfection and now refuse to do the work under warranty.
So they sell me the watch, give me a warranty card but do not mention that i should never wear the watch because any little scratch will void the warranty.
I think this is digusting, when i get it back it will be getting sold and i will never return to Breitling.

If you have a receipt and pictures which do not mention the dented case then your AD should get involved and contact Breitling!

I have just checked the receipt they gave me and it does say scratches on case and bezel, but nothing about dentation.

What do the photos show?

I have yet to visit Goldsmiths tomorrow with the letter and request to see the pictures, it was them that took the pics before it was sent away.

I bought a secondhand Breitling for around £800, It wasn't running very well and Breitling quoted me £450 for a service and refurb. I was gutted as there was no way I could afford it. I got into contact with a local jeweler whose brother in law worked at Breitling a while ago. He repaired and refurbed it for me for £90... Watch is now as new


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