The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have to change the date on my Seawolf, I did a quick search on the site (I'm at work) but couldn't find anything. Can someone instruct me so I don't explode the gears!?

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If it's not a Breitling then don't touch me!!

The manual sets it out pretty clearly if you have that.

1) Unscrew the crown
2) Pull the crown out to position 2 (further out than winding but the seconds hand still running)
3) Turn the crown to change the date - probably anti-clockwise, but could be either, I don't recall on that movement, nothing will happen in hte other direction
4) Push the crown back in
5) Screw down the crown

DO NOT do any of the above between 8pm and 3am

The manual was at home. Everything worked out, thank you sir!!

secondary question: I unscrewed the crown, it got to a certain point of un-threading then sorta popped out a bit and spun freely, I pulled again and that's when I changed the date. I pushed it back in 1 click and it still spun freely, is this where the time changing zone is? I turned it both ways and it didn't seem to affect the hands at all. was I in the wrong spot? Also, I had to push in AND turn to get the crown to screw in, that's right... right? I tightened it as much as I could with my fingers, it was fairly tough to tighten, or at least tougher than I expected. Would there ever be an issue of cross threading or stripping?

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If it's not a Breitling then don't touch me!!

The first position (closest to the case) is for winding the watch - forwards winds, backwards does nothing. Time change is the 3rd position - furthest from the case.

You do have to hold the crown to the case as you screw it down, and if you force it then you can cross thread it, but you should be fine if you are careful.

thanks again sir. I didn't know the first time there was a 3rd position, my fingernails bent trying to pull it to the 3rd position so I didn't even think it would come out that far!

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If it's not a Breitling then don't touch me!!

1st = the position when unscrewed
2nd = date change - you can tell because the second hand is still running
3rd = time change - you can tell because the second hand is stopped

When were you knighted for services to horology?

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I think I lost that chance when I abandoned the old country for the Great White North, otherwise it would doubtless have happened by now (not)

Why shouldn't the date be changed between 8pm and 3am (not that I would normally change the date during those times)? Normally I will change the date in the morning time if needed, but I'm just curious.

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Hamilton Khaki Navy Sub 40mm - GMT
Breitling Super Avenger 48mm

Because there is a serious risk of damaging the date change mechanism as it will be partially engaged wit hthe running train. Same goes for moving time backwards. Dozens and dozens of threads on it and also #12 in this section of the FAQ - http://www.breitlingsource.com/articles_faq.shtml#1

Definitely do not change the date between these hours. On the one or two occasions I have accidentally done this, it was obvious that I was doing something I shouldn't. As I turned the crown, I noticed that there was some resistance that I wasn't expecting and to my horror, I realized what I was doing. Fortunately, there wasn't any damage.

In terms of setting the date, I have been following a technique for some time now that seems to work just fine, though there is probably a better way. What I do is to set the day/date to the day prior to the day/date I want to set. I then turn the hands until the day/date flips to what I want. Then, depending on whether it is AM or PM, continue to move the hands to the desired time (for PM, turn the hands until after 12:00 noon, then set the desired time). This way, I can be certain that I have the correct date, and at midnight, it will change to the correct day/date.