The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I've been told all manner of crazy stuff by ADs (ok, not this crazy ). There are many members here who know enough about the internal mechanisms to know what happens and why it happens.

Perhaps your AD could put to rest the whole Kennedy assasination and UFO things.

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SHARKMAN

Complete and total BS.

It bends or breaks teeth - period.

The reason that the B01 doesn't have the issue (among others) is that the date change is instant - the date change mechanism is never partly engaged with the running train it just snaps in to change and then snaps out again. That's an unusual approach due to the higher amount of torque required.

This horse is almost dead, but I need to clarify one bit of misinformation.

The rules about setting the date are not limited to automatics. The rotor based automatic winding mechanism has nothing to do with the date changing. It merely keeps that mainspring partially wound. So, this also applies to thase who have to wind their watch.

As to the changing of the date:

Any watch with a calendar has a mechanism for changing the date. It typically runs off the hour wheel and has a 2:1 reduction. On the inside of the date ring a pawl comes into contact with teeth on the ring and moves the date wheel forward once every 24 hours.

There are many variations on this theme. In some cases the pawl is on a small hinge pin and it will simply move out of the way if the date wheel is advanced by the manual date setting mechanism. In others, it is fixed and either the pawl or the date ring (sometimes both) are damaged by advancing the date when the pawl is in an interference position. Another variation is the date jumper where there is a small spring that engages two teeth on the date setter and a cam advances the wheel to the next position. The jumper spring makes the change appear instantaneous.

Typically, the only way to find out if it can be damaged (without instructions) is to set the date when the pawl is close to advancing the date wheel. If there are no problems, it can't be damaged that way. Otherwise send in the watch with money to repair the date works.

The prudent approach is to avoid setting the date between 8PM and 3AM. Also avoid moving the hands backwards when setting the time if you don't know you are in the safe area. As was previously posted, move the hands forward until the date changes. It is then safe to set the date using the date setting position of the crown.

I think this horse is dead now!

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger

The discussion was about Breitlings. Of course the same rule applies to manual winds, but not many manual winds made by Breitling these days.

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SHARKMAN

Roff, do you know if Rolex uses a similar mechanism? The date change is instant on my Sub also.

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

Rats! I posted it in the wrong forum. It should have been in the vintage forum where owners still have to wind their watch. Oh well, maybe they'll read this one too.

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger

If I roll one more 7 I'll be buying a Lange so no worries.

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SHARKMAN

Hi. My AD told me this too when I bought my TAG Heuer Calibre 16 which uses the ETA 7750 movement.

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Breitling Navitimer Montbrillant Speciale

That's the thing about tasty rumors - they spread and are retold among the Pertinent community.

But consider the source. Most ADs are relatively clueless. We have some AD members here who are extremely knowledgable, but they are the exception. I just responded to an email from my Breitling AD who had a customer with a SOHC and he just bought a watch winder. She can't find any info about TPD or direction. Really, she said she didn't know whether to tell him 600 or 1800. I emailed her back it was 800 clockwise and sent her the link to the Orbita database. Sheesh.

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SHARKMAN

That's why you get crates of vinegar.

Seriously though. Some AD's are just idiots. I had one ask me what kind of watch my Blackbird was while she was standing next to a case with three of them in it.

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"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

Why is everyone in urgent need of changing the date between 8pm and 3am?! Christ on a crutch! I really find it hard to understand why it's so hard to understand.

Forgive my "Alan M" style rant but yeesh... kudos to those with more patience for BS.

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

Ha ha, I thought the exact same thing. I was just observing how long this 8-3 thread will be this time.

Sent from my Galaxy SII using Tapatalk

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

Because a good conspiracy theory is better than boring old factual mechanical engineering.

OCCUPY GRENCHEN! Don't let the MAN put you in chains from 8-3!!

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SHARKMAN

Glad I opted for the Caliber B01...I never knew changing the date would involve so much attention!!

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Breitling Chronomat B01 - Sierra Silver/Steel

Would it be apparent straight away if a watch was bought second hand and the previous owner had maybe done this and slightly bent the tips of the gears?
The idea that a used watch could appear fine but then problems arise at a later date due to the previous owners negligence is a little worrying.