The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Fairly recently got my Avenger Seawolf back after having the clasp replaced. A few days ago I wound up the watch and felt a grinding / gritty feel when I did so. Almost as if there was a bit of resistence.

It's keeping time well within COSC (+ 2 seconds over 24 hours period) and everything else seems fine.

Never noticed the grinding / gritty feeling before, although not to say I just didn't notice it. Watch is about 8 months old.

Do you reckon it's anything to worry about?

There have been reports from a number of members of the rotor spinning when manually winding the watch which results in more noise and more resistance, it may be that. Sometimes that will go away in a day or so and never come back, sometimes it won't. I wouldn't panic now, but if the problem continues then definitely get it checked out.

The B17 movement in the Seawolf is based on the ETA 2824, and that does have a noticable noise and feel when winding it, compared to the butter-smooth 289* based units. That said, it really depends on the level of that noise and feel to determine if there's a problem or not. If you're in any way uncertain, I'd suggest just dropping by and Breitling AD and asking them, as without hearing it ourselves we're not going to be able to give a definitive answer on whether there's a problem or not.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Guys, thanks for the quick response.

I''ve got a ProII strap on order so will get the AD to have a look at my watch at that time.

I agree that the 289* movements are so smooth you wonder if anything is happening when you wind it.

Being a watchmaker, I'm a little more suspicious. Things usually don't change without a reason. Noises don't mysteriously appear.

Was it like that before you had the clasp replaced? Grinding and gritty are not words I expect to hear about someone winding their watch. It sounds to me like there might be something amiss in the keyless works.

You might ask the AD if they removed the movement from the case when it was on their bench. If so, I would refrain from winding it anymore until I got it back to them.

Good luck with it!

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger

Thanks for the reply Onewatchnut.

The AD sent the watch back to Breitling (not sure if that means Switzerland or Breitling UK). Wouldn't have thought they'd removed the movements from the case as it was only the clasp that needed fixed / replaced. Breitling simply replaced the clasp as the bracelet itself came back with the same number of links etc.

I certainly never noticed the noise / resistance before it was sent away.

I take it if there is something that's gone wrong with the movement it will still be covered under the 2 year warranty?

Yes. Breitling would have to prove user created problems to void the warranty and this isn't that kind of issue.