The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Just bought my 4th Breitling but, my first automatic. As we speak my 3 month old Cockpit is on its way back to Breitling to be demagnetized!.. My problem, all the potential offenders of the magnetization profiled by the dealer don't really fit. I need to know all the known (no matter how off-the-wall) culprits that would magnetize my beloved Breitling.

Well first off there is absolutely no reason why the watch had to be sent away. Any watchmaker could demagnetize your watch in 5 seconds with a $20 tool.

The usual culprits for magnetizing a watch in domestic situations other than obvious magnets are speakers. That could be the clock radio, a cell phone (there was a lot of debate here a while ago as to whether that was a practical issue, but they have magnets in them), etc as well as obvious stereo systems.

Some medical equipment uses strong magnets if you have been in a hospital with it, and there have been suggestions that self scan checkouts can also cause problems.

I am aware of the possibility of medical equipment and assumed that was the issue as I work in a hospital. However I was told that in order for the MRI or Xray to magnetize a watch one would need to be very close to the machines. So I dismissed that possibility as I work in an adminstrative position not clinically. I do go through doors mulitiple times during my day that require you to swipe your ID badge to enter or exit. I even considered that. My watch winder sits (or did sit) on my dresser next to a weather alert radio. Right now that's my front runner for the problem even though the Breitling dealer said he didn't think that was it. I really need to figure out what is going on so it won't be a reoccurring problem.

What are symptoms of magnetization?

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End of Discussion.

Magnetization will cause the watch to speed up, sometimes gaining up to minutes per day.

And other times gaining hours per day

Magnetic fields do drop rapidly with distance from the source, and I imagine that there is shielding in the hospital. That said, I believe that MRIs have tremendously strong magnetic fields so while I am no expert on magnetic radiation I would imagine that would increase their 'range'.

I believe I will speak with the Director of Radiology next week to discuss the range of the magnetic field from the MRI equipment. Might be useful information for others as well. If this is the culprit, I'm relieved that it is resolved but disappointed that I will not be able to wear my watch to work. The jewelry store where I purchased this watch also sells other brands. They have been very gracious and offered to let me return this watch and "put me in" another brand. I explained to them, in my world there is no other brand! (shallow minded I know, we all have our issues)

Any mechanical watch is going to be subject to being magnetized to a certain extent unless the hairsping is truly imune to the impact of magnetism - and there are very few of those around - some high end Ulysse Nardins are probably the best known. A number of brands have alloys that are less susceptible than others (all hairsprings are better than 50 years ago but brands like Rolex have 'better' resistance than others) and then there are watches that take the approach of protecting the hairspring with a soft iron core to try and prevent the magnetism reaching the hairspring.

In your case, if it is something at work I wonder if there is a problem with some of the screening on the equipment?

I worked (and taught) in the medical field for many years. An MRI room is heavily shielded & is only magnetized when on. "Regular" x-ray rooms are not magnetic fields. There are many watch wearers coming & going in diagnostic rooms with impunity so I would highly doubt your problem happened in the hospital. I would place my bet on your weather radio & move it elsewhere as a first solution.

My Oris kept getting magnetized and finally I believe I have traced it to my inexpensive watch winder with a steel core in the motor. In fact, if you hold a compass near it the needle moves towards the winder. It has no effect on my Breitlings though, which have a much thicker steel case. The oris has a clear display back which I am thinking makes it vulnerable to being magnetized more easiliy. I have since purchased an Orbita watch winder (more expensive) and the Oris is fine using it.

It could be your personality.

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SHARKMAN

Lawyer lawyer everywhere.....

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Breanach78

A Few Breitlings.

Magnetic personality. Come on.

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SHARKMAN

Get it?

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SHARKMAN