The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi all,
I contacted Breitling and i was pleased they agreed to swap my dial from silver to black. They advised it would require a full service and about six weeks. Almost exactly six weeks and $998 later, I picked up the watch at the Breitling Boutique in Miami and I was very happy with the color change.
However, once returning home to Washington DC I looked closer at the dial and rotating bezel and I was surprised to see some of the numbers/tick marks no longer line up. Especially inthe 45, 50, and 55 area. I swear they all lined up on my original silver dial and bezel, and they certainly do on all the promotional images on Breitling's website.
Please take a look at the photo and let me know what you guys think. I am visiting Miami again this weekend and I am thinking about taking the watch in and asking for them to redo the dial. At this price point, I feel I should expect perfection.

Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk

This rotating bezel is to be used as a calculator. And now it is useless. Numbers should align prefectly, I wouldn't except anything less.

Yes, that's one area they have forgotten to check. Given that there are manufacturing variables, it's important to check the alignment first. As they have a stock of these things it's in their hands too check before committing to a particular replacement. Perhaps this was the best combination at the time.

That's a shame & something that could have been avoided or mitigated at least. The lesson here for all of us is, to be specific when sending the watch, that you will not accept this inaccuracy on the return.

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Jim

"You have Control".

I am having difficulties accepting this as manufacturing variables.
Nevertheless let's assume for the moment that it is not easy to find a dial with perfect alignment but surely they must have sets of well aligned dials and flanges in stock. That being the case why not offer a complete flange and dial set with perfect alignment in the first place?
I had my flange changed on my Monty and it only added $50 to the total damage.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

That's what I couldn't get.

I agree Wes. Should not be an issue. Doing a rough calculation, you would need a stock of at least 5 to 10 of each dial design & colour to cover off the variables of in production & recently halted versions. Too much for an AD but should not be an issue for Breitling themselves.

So unless you specifically ask for a check off when you send it in you will probably get whatever the service person is issued with. They may not be aware of this issue or they may think that as there are no specific instructions that this will not be an issue. There is always variability in production. The less error most likely means better quality & accuracy. You would expect that from a company that specifically sells into SRW, but things happen.

You have to insist that slide rule accuracy is an issue on a change over.

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Jim

"You have Control".

I believe you are 100% spot on. Most may not even realize that this could be an issue.

My Monti had to go to Switzerland for service including optional flange change and I have specifically agreed with the local boutique that I will accept the recommended flange change only if:
- the original flange is returned from Switzerland to the boutique with the watch
- we jointly examine the new flange and we jointly agreed that it will be accepted only if the match with the dial is at least as good as the old one
- then and only then the service will be accepted
- if not, the local service centre will put the original flange back

The watch came back six weeks later with the original flange and once inspected we have agreed that all is fine and the original flange can go back to Switzerland.
Interestingly enough when I first mentioned this idea, there was a bit of a confusion but once I explained clearly what my concern was, it was not an issue and I was assured that a clear instruction will be included with the shipment to the factory in Switzerland. Obviously they did that and it worked.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

Hi all, thanks for the input. I returned the watch at the Breitling Boutique today. They were helpful and accommodating. They said they would send the watch back to the service center and I'd get a call 5 to 10 business days from now with Breitling's opinion on the matter. I will be sure to keep everyone updated.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

I don't really get how a mistake like that can be made, because other than selecting the correct color, what else is there! And then once the switch is complete it's either missed, or determined to be close enough and not worth the effort to make right. For a grand you deserve better.

One of my Datoras used to have this problem. I sent it to BUSA, and they fixed it.

sent from my Note 3

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ffeelliixx,
Bentley Supersports Light Body | Bentley GT | Navitimer World | Navitimer 50th Anniversary | Montbrillant Datora

Update.
After 3 weeks, I called BUSA and they said the repairs were just finished. After 4 weeks, I picked up the watch from Breitling Miami, and it was fixed! No charge.
I appreciate Breitling doing the right thing. Although it would have been nice if BUSA Service called me with updates during the process.

Nice to see a positive outcome in the end.

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Montbrillant Datora
Chronomat
Superocean Steelfish
A number of strap / bracelet combo's

Was the cost $998 including the service? They quoted me $1,170 for just the dial swap.

Veki, yes, the $998 included the dial swap amd a full service. Originally they quoted me about $1100 over the phone but the official invoice I received was $998 including sales tax.
The full service, they said, is required because the watch must be fully disassembled so they can swap the dials. Its expensive, but its also nice because they polish the bracelet and it comes back looking brand new.
Also, I was wearing a different watch when I picked up my fixed Navitimer, so they gave me a nice Breitling labeled little black foam zippered watch case so I coukd wear the Navitimer out of the store and put my other watch in the box. I now use that bix whenever I travel.

Good luck with your swap, hopefully you can share some before and after pictures!