The Breitling Watch Source Forums

My buddy asked me to sell his Montbrillant Datora for him. When he brought it by for me to check out we noticed that the chrono is broken. We sent it off to BUSA for repair but they are closed this week for their annual 4th of July Holiday week....so we won't know the repair costs until next week. I suggested that he do a full service and repair since the watch is 6 years old....PLUS by sending it to BUSA he will be able to sell the watch with a 1 year warranty on the repair work. He doesn't have the original paperwork so my thinking was that the service receipt from BUSA will show the seriel number which can be used as proof that the watch is authentic. Anytime I see a Breitling with no papers I am hesitant as a buyer so I think the Breitling Service Paperwork will ease a buyer's mind.

He wants to know if he should just tell BUSA to send him the watch back and attempt to sell the watch with full disclosure of the broken chrono, box but no papers.

I'm thinking the max he would get for a broken Datora would be $1500 max or he could get $2500 for a fully serviced and working Datora....which should probably cost in the $600-$700 neighboorhood to have fixed.

What do you all think? Are my numbers on point? If it was me, I would have it repaired and serviced, then sell it. I don't think a broken Breitling without papers would sell. Also, the watch is on a brand new aftermarket kevlar style strap which actually looks really good. I picked it up for him from Bradystraps.

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

Sell it broken. Paying for service is usually a losing cause.

I'd probably go the other way to dhalem on this - get it fixed and then sell it...... subject to the final cost estimate of course. I can only look at this from a personal perspective and I'd be highly unlikely to buy any prestige watch without papers and I couldn't imagine I'd ever consider ANY watch that was broken, unless it was for sale for absolute peanuts.

If the repair bill is around the $600 mark, I'd get it done and then, as you say, you'll be selling a working watch that's got a years warranty and been verified by Breitling.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I say get it serviced. That way he can prove authenticity and it's like new condition for the buyer. Any chance he'll want to sell just the box for the watch?

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Chrono Superocean (Black)
Rolex Datejust II rhodium/ Arabic dial

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Breitling SS Avenger Seawolf
Breitling Colt Military PVD

Yeah it's one thing to hold off on a service interval, but the chrono is broken and he doesn't have any paperwork. Good luck selling that. BUSA is going to want to do a full chrono service on it anyway. This seems one instance where 6 or even 7 hundred would pay off. As is and with no documentation, I think $1500 is a stretch.

I'll give him $500, but expect to see it on the boards in 6-8 weeks.

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SHARKMAN

I'd definitely get it serviced. Not too many folks are looking to buy a broken watch. Once it's repaired, the service paperwork is just as good as a warranty booklet and COSC certificate. But as you know, you only get a one year guaranntee. So unless he's in a hurry, get 'r done!

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An ever changing collection.....

That's my thinking as well. I think a repair and full service with a full year warranty makes the watch more attractive to a potential buyer....and having the service receipt is a positive as well.

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

General rule of thumb is that a service isn't worth it from a pure money standpoint, sellit and let the new owner service it. However, repairs are generally worth it because it not just reduces the value but scares off a lot of potential buyers. That might be mitigated to some extent when you actually have a repair estimate, but I would tend to get it serviced and repaired first in this case.

i think your estimate is low. but maybe

check a local breitling certified watchmaker, usually a bunch less that non warranty work from them, and they will usually give you the same year.

I'd work with a certified AD first to see what they would charge. I'm sure they can provide paperwork authenticating the watch for any potential buyers.

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

The watch is already with Breitling, just waiting for them to return from their hiatus....nice perk huh???

If the estimate too high then we'll have it returned. I have a Breitling certified AD nearby who I can bring it to.

Thanks for the info guys.

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

If your just going to sell it I would take it to a watch maker that can repair the chronograph. It will probably be 1/3 the price of what Breitling would charge. They can probably give you an appraisal at the same time. Actually your going to get a document from Breitling with the serial number on it even if you decline the service.

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This is a Rochefoucauld, the thinnest water-resistant watch in the world. Singularly unique, sculptured in design,hand-crafted in Switzerland.
In Philadelphia it's worth Fifty bucks.

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An ever changing collection.....

I would advise your friend to wait until he gets the repair estimate. I think it will be over $1000 to fix. Consider it will need a mandatory service, plus a new dial and hands. They might add a crystal on the estimate, but that can be delined...

The estimate will have the serial # and that will prove authenticity. It will also give you a pricing basis. Let's say a used one sells for $2500. The repair estimate from BUSA is $1000. The difference is $1500. So you might be able to sell it for $800 - $1000 with the service estimate that shows it's real and how much it would cost to make it "new" again. It's an incentive for the buyer to get a warrantied watch for $2k. They save $500 and your buddy doesn't have to lay out any cash on the service.

If he doesn't really like the watch and doesn't have or want to shell out the cash to fix it....I'd advice him to dump it with disclosure and service estimate...

I did the EXACT same thing with my TI Seawolf that had it's crown strip out. I got an estimate, and sold it with disclosure.