The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have a Windrider Chrono Cockpit and while changing the bracelet the other day I noticed the date of manufacture was the 46th week of 2007 making my watch now 4 and half years old (in physical years). That got me thinking (rare but true). The watch was purchased new, but on the Grey market in June of 2010 - almost three years from the date of manufacture. When considering when to have a full service should I take these three years when it was not running in consideration?

I have aproximately six mechanical watches, which I rotate three at a time every 3 weeks or so (the ones not being used get a rest in the "vault"). So as far as regular maintenance goes and with the better quality of oils used in today's modern watches, I wonder if you would consider the 50% downtime in factoring in when to get a full service.

So if I do not count the years before my purchase the watch is only aprox 20 months old. If it runs 50% of the time then it is only 10 months - not even a year old (ie in service years).

Currently the chrono cockpit continues to run great consistently gaining 2 seconds per day in any position.

Just wondering what others have done in these situations. Thanks

In a modern watch the service intervals are driven by the oil, and the biggest problem with oil is that it breaks down with age until it reaches the point where it can no longer do it's job. That aging occurs regardless of use so service interval clock starts from manufacture date.

How often Breitlings need service? Is that true for all lines/models (mine is B4B GMT)

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B4B GMT Midnight Carbon LE
IWC Vintage Ingenieur RG

Breitling recommend every 3 years or so, but in the real world that's overkill. Every 5 or so years is a more realistic interval.

And yes it hold for all or Breitling's mechanical watches..... and most mechanical watches in general, although some by other manufacturers have a much longer claimed service interval due to low friction movements.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

While I'm not recommending neglect I think every 7 or so years is fine if the watch is keeping proper time

My blackbird went 5 years almost to the day. Started to lose time at that point.

Thanks for the responses. Right now I run only half of my meagre collection of watches at the same time with the thought that it would delay the time for when I would have to send my watches in for a full service. It would appear that it is not founded in fact and that really I should nnot be too concerned one way or the other.

That's nuts if you ask me. From my experience, watchmakers don't suggest an overhaul unless the watch is malfunctioning or keeping egregiously poor time. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. An overhaul every 10 years is a more realistic (minimum) time frame.

I just purchased my first Breitling, a SuperOcean 44, if I have to get it overhauled before January 2022, I'd be sorely disappointed.

I don't have Moebius Synt-aLube ageing tables to hand here, but after 10 years the oil will be almost completely broken down and therefore incapable of doing it's job. The movement will be experiencing wear on virtually all moving parts and that could be a very pricey service. Oils break down over time and there is nothing that can be done.

Point taken.

My issue is with the full overhaul, suggested for every 3 years, for $800 a pop. I'm sure your local watchmaker can keep your watch lubed and keeping good time for a fraction of that cost every 3 years. Then maybe a full factory overhaul every 10-12 years isn't a deal breaker.

I'm more experienced with Omegas then Breitlings. The longest I've owned an Omega is 7 years (a Seamaster GMT), it was keeping well within COSC specs with all functions working perfectly when I sold it - never occurred to me to get it overhauled. A colleague has a 60s vintage Omega pie pan that's been overhauled once in the 20 years he's owned it - and by a local watchmaker for a reasonable price.

I guess my point is that I'm more inclined to wait for a watch to start showing issues before I commit to a full factory overhaul.

I wonder, does the price of a factory overhaul vary by the amount of wear on the movement? Let's consider 3 watches with the same Breitling 2824 , one 5 years old, one 10 and one 15. And lets assume that the daily rate of all three just started to fall outside of COSC specs. Would Breitling charge different amounts for the overhaul? Or do they charge a flat rate? (Don't factor case condition into equation.)

Except that your local watchmaker doesn't have access to Breitling parts, so your expensive modified movement gets serviced with a generic ETA balance complete, and the single use hands get reattached and don't fit properly. When you do then send it to Breitling they charge a bunch more to fix the issues that they claim were introduced by an unauthorised service or refuse to touch the watch at all.

If you don't want the full service that includes the case refinishing then tell Breitling that you just want the movement service, they'll agree if there aren't case issues that jeopardise the integrity of the watch.

Service intervals are subjective and peoples views range widely.

I have no dog in this fight and not advocating any specific service interval, but when I bought my SF my AD said 5 years or so is what I am supposed to tell you but if it is keeping good time and no other issues wait till something is wrong to send it in. I am sort of hoping when it reaches that 5-ish year mark it is off by a bit so there won't be any decision making on my part. Oils can't last forever, so I'd error on the side of caution and send it in sooner rather than later...where sooner/later is determined by your comfort level.

FWIW, I get my oil changed in my GMC Yukon ever 3,000 miles like clockwork and all the other maintenance at prescribed intervals. Probably overkill but it is a 2001 model bought in the fall of 2000, so coming up on 12 years and not a hint of problems beyond a few sets of tires, belts, etc. So much for crappy made U.S. cars. Just saying. Obviously not at all like a watch, but can't argue with the results.

On a related topic. I notice a full service on a self winding chronograph is $550.00 and one "with complications" is $750.00. Is the calendar considered a complication?

No, that wouldbe the cost for something like calibre 19.