The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have been a reader of the forum for a few years now. It’s been a great source of info. I have never had anything useful to contribute because I’m a novice. It did help me choose which watch to buy. Thanks guys!

However, today I have a question.

After much debate I bought my Breitling in April 2011. I chose one of the last Blackbirds with the big date. I love it.

It hasn’t been serviced, not sure when I am meant to get that done given it is only worn occasionally. I only I wear it every couple of weeks on and off. This means it often stops and I have to correct the time when I first put it on. It’s well looked after, doesn’t go in water and I have an office based job.

Anyway, the last few times I have worn it I noticed that it gains time. At first I thought it was me not setting it correctly – It gained 10 min in a day, and last night it gained 3 min in just under two hours.

I live in the uk, but I bought it from the Watch Boutique in the Mirage, LV. I filled in the warranty card and sent it off (although got nothing in reply). I still have the receipts/proof of purchase etc.

I’m going to monitor its performance over the next couple of days and see how it gets on. I could understand a watch loosing time, but gaining it – especially in such a small time?

Do you think I would have any luck under warranty with BUK? Do I contact them direct, or go through my local retailer even though I didn’t purchase it from them?

Thanks

Sounds too me like it's magnetised. Any decent watchmaker will be able to degauss it for you in a matter of mins for a very small charge, so that's definitely worth a try IMO, especially as its not an invasive process.

If that doesn't cure it then a trip to Breitling will be required. You can go direct to BUK or via an AD if you prefer. As long as the warranty card is fully completed and in date then it doesn't matter which country you purchased it in - the warranty will still be honoured.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

As the two year warranty is expired, I doubt they would do anything for free. Hopefully its just magnetized as driver said and anybody can take care of that.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

Oops, I didn't read the date! Yes if the warranty card was completed at the time of purchase then it will have expired, so you'll have no chance of a warranty job. But as I say I'd look at getting it degaussed to start off with.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

It's a small gain for being magnetised, but that's definitely the first thing to try - literally a 2 second job that involves nothing more than passing the entire watch through a demagnetiser. If that doesn't work then the error is too much to be addressed with a simple regulation and it will need service attention. Likely an issue rather than an indicator of a need for a regular service - may be a problem with a balance screw or with the hairspring.

Incidentally, the service window is 5 - 7 years regardless of how often it is worn because servicing is driven by the breakdown of the oils.

Right, thanks guys. I’ll pop into town and find a dealer to see if they can do that for me as an initial step.
Again yesterday it gained an hour in one evening.

Sounds like it's getting worse and definitely sounds like it is magnetised with that kind of gain.

Right, an update. - I contacted two independent watch makers to try and pursue getting my watch demagnetised as a ‘none invasive’ first step.
Neither would thought that would be the problem, and said it is not as easy as that with an automatic watch.
So I went to a well-known high street Breitling dealer to see if they would use their reputation try and fight my corner with Breitling given that it is only just out of warranty. They contacted Breitling who wouldn’t honour the warranty and said they would only attempt to rectify the problem with a full service. Currently £400 for the Blackbird. This was their staring price; until they had opened the watch they wouldn’t confirm a final price.

So, I took it to an independent family watch repair shop, who deal with Breitling (indecently also recommended by the high street jewellers). Like Breitling have recommended a full service but will guarantee they will have the watch running for £425.

I don’t have much choice. Owning and running these types of watches is an expensive business. They must come close to being uneconomical to repair very quickly.

After speaking to the guys in the watch shop their opinion is that Breitling seems to be coining it in with little or no customer service/loyalty.
When I get it back I’m almost in a position to not want to wear it in case the dam thing starts running fast again and Breitling take me to the cleaners again.

Offer accepted for a 2011 Big date blackbird just out of warranty, but a full service history.

Don't understand why a watchmaker won't run it through a demagnetiser. It may not work, but it sure as heck won't hurt

Exactly.

See:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Screwdriver-Ele ... B00CBCFDGG

For £5.89 it has to be worth a try.

I know. I can’t help but get the feeling I am being ripped off. So that’s two watch repairers plus being stone walled by Breitling.

They reply was along the lines of ‘who told you that rubbish, oh I wouldn’t believe anything you read on the intenet – that will be £400 please…’