The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello,
after many weeks of research and hard choice got myself a Colt Automatic watch. But now I'm stumble upon basics. Can't seem to understand how to adjust time, and very afraid to damage the movement.
As far as I understood I need to:
1. unscrew the crown
2. pull crown twice (to 3rd position) where second hand will stop

but after I unscrew it and pull it out once it feels that I can't pull it second time.

Thanks in advance!

Yep, the crown has four positions -

1. Screwed in. Locked and water resistant.
2. Unscrewed. Use this position for manually winding the watch if it hasn't been worn for a while.
3. Pulled out to the first "click". This is the Quickset date position. (Do not use between 8pm and 3am!)
4. Pulled out to the second "click". The second hand will stop and you can adjust the time.

You will feel a definite click when you pull the crown out from the unscrewed position, but you shouldn't need too much force to do it. If you aren't used to mechanical watches, then perhaps you just aren't doing it hard enough, but obviously don't go too mad here as you don't want to damage the stem or pull off the crown!

If you are in any doubt at all, I strongly suggest either speaking to a friend who "knows" mechanical watches and can try it for you, or alternatively just drop by an AD and ask the sales staff to have a quick look. Any genuine issue with the winding stem will be immediately apparent to anyone familiar with mechanical watches.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks, followed your advice and went to AD. They taught me I need to pull strongly the second time.

Maybe you can also tell me how often I need to bring my Colt to watchmaker to maintain accuracy? Manual states I have to do it every 2 years.

because is Auto don't get hung up on it being to the second,

look

A mechanical watch should perform within the COSC requirements of -4 to +6 seconds per 24 hours. If it does not, you should have it regulated if it gets on your nerves, and serviced when it really get's on your nerves,


My Rolex 116613 and 11610 run at + 2 per 48 hours, although i can self regulate mine with the position i lay them in when there off the wrist.

To gain a few seconds, lay the watch flat face-up overnight.

2. To lose a few seconds, lay the watch vertically with the crown downwards overnight.

3. To lose a few more seconds, lay the watch vertically with the crown upwards


can this be done with the Colt.or any Breitling Auto


Merc

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Breitling SOH chrono on + ProII soon to be Pro III
B1 + UTC on Fighter A877
Navitimer World GMT on Navi + leather
SO 46mm on OR + Mesh
Avenger M1 Regatta on Pro 1

You know I'm not so big on (+or-seconds)
Even when I was an Army pilot...It never came down to seconds.
I have never had someone ask me the time...and then say"Is that 11:15 or :14 or :16.
Maybe I'm just lucky that way, I just say,"It's about 11:15"

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"In the end there can be but one"

I would never suggest resting a watch crown down.

As a general rule mechanical watches (not just automatics) will run faster in the horizontal position than in the vertical position because of gravity affecting the balance wheel, but there are also many other variables that can affect that.

Getting hung up on error rates on a daily basis will be an exercise in frustration because there are so many variables that can affect that - temperature, amount and type of wear, amount of power reserve, etc, etc, etc. Much better to look at average gain / loss over an extended period.

In terms of servicing the general advice is 5 - 7 years but the watch will tell you when it needs it with a reduced power reserve and / or an inability to maintain COSC specs. I wouldn't get it regulated inbetween those windows unless it really needs it, the fewer times it's opened, the better.

+1 don't let the watch time keeping become a issue enjoy it.

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Breitling SOH chrono on + ProII soon to be Pro III
B1 + UTC on Fighter A877
Navitimer World GMT on Navi + leather
SO 46mm on OR + Mesh
Avenger M1 Regatta on Pro 1

Just out of curiosity, how to properly keep track of current accuracy, are there any "proper" methods for this?

I would think keeping a log and making entries at the same time twice a day would suffice,over a period of 30 days.

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"In the end there can be but one"

Us time.gov or tycho.usno.navy.mil/simpletime.html and set to the second with the atomic clock. Check back in 3 or 4 days.

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SHARKMAN

I used GPS last time, guess it's no worse than those site.