The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi Guys,

Hoping someone can answer my question here .

My Starburst faced Airwolf also has the skeleton minute hand. I have read in a number of places that it is possible to get it changed. Has anybody in the UK had their minute hand replaced with the solid more readable version? If you have, could you please let me know at what stage you had it done (during battery change or service) and what was the cost? I would like to know as I am sure my battery approaches death/replacement soon (the watch is almost 4 years old) and it would be nice to know what to expect. Thanks in advance. .

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TAG Professional (Silver/Gold) 2000 - still going strong and kept as spare when Wolf is away.
Breitling B1 (Blue) 2003 - 2008.
Breitling Airwolf (Black Sunburst) 2008 - Date.

Hands are replaced suring servicing as a matter of course - they have to be removed in order to disassemble the movement and they are designed to be single use. If you ask at the time of the service you should be able to ensure that you get the newer ones (which may be standard replacements now anyway) and the cost will be no more than you would be charged for hands replacement anyway.

Thanks very much for such a quick and informative response Roff,

Sorry, but another question then .

My Wolf is almost 4 years old - should I be looking at getting it serviced when the battery dies or can I get away with just the battery change this time? Also, would Breitling change the hands during the battery change (not service)?

The reason that I ask is that when I had my B1, I sent it away at around the 2 1/2 year point as the battery died - BUK did a full service at around £285. I later discovered that I could have just had the battery change for around £65 and that there was no real need to have the service on such a 'young' watch. I want to make sure that I don't have the same happen again.

Thanks again

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TAG Professional (Silver/Gold) 2000 - still going strong and kept as spare when Wolf is away.
Breitling B1 (Blue) 2003 - 2008.
Breitling Airwolf (Black Sunburst) 2008 - Date.

Answers in red -

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Well......

I'm going to disagree with Driver8 a little bit here.

A quartz watch with a running train (i.e. hands) still has the need for lubrication and so then it becomes a question of how much longer do you run it with old oil. The oil breaks down at a predictable rate and while 4 years isn't a problem you have to consider how long the oil has actually been in there - i.e. how old was the watch when you bought it - it could have been sitting in the AD's window for a year or more.

You can check the manufacture date between the 6 o'clock lugs (http://www.breitlingsource.com/articles_dating.shtml) and if it were 5+ years ago then I would probably do a service at the battery change. Otherwise, just accept that you may need a service before the next battery change is due.

Gentlemen,

Thanks very much - most helpful and informative (not only for me but I hope others here too).

I've just taken a look under the lug and sure enough it shows 4806 - so in 2 weeks time it will be 5 years old. That being the case I will probably just get the batt change with hands for now and look into getting a service done within the next few years. Thanks again .

_________________
TAG Professional (Silver/Gold) 2000 - still going strong and kept as spare when Wolf is away.
Breitling B1 (Blue) 2003 - 2008.
Breitling Airwolf (Black Sunburst) 2008 - Date.