The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi - I'm reaching out for some advise & help as I have a strange problem with my Breitling Colt.

I've had the watch for about 5 years. I wear it all the time. Recently I noticed that the glass appeared blurred / smearey. It looked aas if there was some vaseline or sun screen or some kind of oil on it. I managed to clean it, so that it was clear again, but a few minutes later , and its smeary again.

It seems that there's some kind of film on the glass that keeps smearing. I'm certain that its on the outside of the glass, and I don't think that its anything that's been put on the glass. I can only assume that its some kind of anti reflective film or protection that was on the glass originally that has started to wear off, or reacted with something (like chlorine in a pool ?)

Has anyone ever experienced the same thing ? Has anyone got any advise for how this could be fixed (recommended cleaning agents ?)

Any help or advise would be appreciated.

There is An anti-reflective coating on the outside of the crystal, but I've never heard of it smearing. Some people have had it scratch and it can be removed using something like Polywatch or Cape Cod cloths. If the watch is 5 years old it is about due for a service anyway so might be worth getting it checked by Breitling.

Welcome to BreitlingSource.

If they need to replace the crystal it's going to run you about $350 usd. My watch is there right now and that was what they quoted me.


Edit: they can not "fix" the anti reflective coating, the crystal must be replaced if they find an issue with it.

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Cost is very dependent on model - difference depends on thickness and amount of curve on the crystal. Also, it's Breitling's decision not to recoat the crystal with AR - it can be done but Breitling deems it not commercially viable as the cost isn't much less than replacing the crystal.

BUSA quoted me over $600 for a new crystal for my Navitimer World.

That's one of the largest ones in terms of diameter and sapphire is produced in cylinders that are then sliced to form the blanks that are then turned into crystals. Obviously the larger the crystal the larger the cylinder and I believe that costs increase more than linearly to produce the larger ones relative to smaller diameters.

Yep, I paid $630.90 for the crystal on my Navi World plus tax of course. I also did a full overhaul so the bill was about $1.5K. Crazy!

About $300 for the crystal change on my Chronomat a couple years back - 40mm.

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SHARKMAN

When my CSO was overhauled by BUK in 2012 the replacement crystal cost £220. Probably worth it for the improvement in the appearance of the watch. I tend to treat the watch with a greater degree of care now to avoid having to fork out for another!

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Breitling B-1 1999
Breitling Chrono Superocean 2004
Casio G Shock
Citizen Eco Drive AT4000-02E (for gardening)
Seiko 5 SNZG15J1
Hamilton X Wind LE

you can also polish the AR off which may make sense here.

I don't know though does Breitling insist on a new crystal if your outer AR is polished off?

No, it's an optional service item.