The Breitling Watch Source Forums

new to the site, excuse me for being not so savvy with it

just got a blackbird a13050 from ebay...

it changes dates on me around 3 o'clock to the next day.

immediately after the changing if i try to change the date back to the correct day it will just go up and down a slight bit, not even being able to change one day. i have to wait a few hours after the incorrect day change to be able to change it at all.

the only thing I'm not sure if I've tried is adjusting the time until the date changes near the correct time.



should i return it as it seems to be not in perfect working order?

The date mechanism is definitely damaged (most probably by using the quickset date between the "danger hours" of 9pm and 3am). The fact that it changes at 3 o'clock is a sign of an internal issue, plus the fact that you have (apparently) been using the quickset-date right after the date changes (i.e. when the watch still believes it's midnight and thus still within the "danger period") has probably compounded the problem. It definitely requires a trip to Breitling for attention.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

And if the seller knows what you did they will likely claim that it's your problem not his because you used the quick set date in the 'danger zone'.

The good news is that it's a fairly safe fix as part of a service, and the time that the service takes will give you time to learn all about what you can and can't do regarding the quick set date.

Welcome to BreitlingSource.

i guess i shall work on returning it. it changed on me at 3 o clock initially and i could change it back because i didn't catch it right away and changed it back around 6, and then even 7 am and the problem persists.

when i try to change the data back to the correct one soon after it happens, i can only move it a little up and down.. i have to wait or fast forward time a bit to be able to change the date.

Please stop trying. If its not broken yet it soon will be if you keep doing that!

@the OP - I wasn't kidding when I said about avoiding using the quickest date during the "danger zone" of 9pm to 3am. That said, it really means avoiding using the quickset date for 3 hours before and 3 hours after the date changes. Usually the date changes at midnight, hence the 9pm to 3am period, but if your date is currently changing at 3 you shouldn't use the quickset date between 12 and 6 ideally. If you use the quickest date immediately after the date changes (irrespective of the actual time the date changes), you would have a very VERY good chance of damaging it..........if, as Roff said, you haven't already.

If the date changed at 3 when you first got it (i.e. without you doing anything to it), then it is safe to say it was damaged when you bought it so I would try to return it. However if you messed around with the quickset date during the danger zone, and THEN found the date changed at 3, then chances are that you caused the problem. In this case, yes you could try to return it (although morally that wouldn't be the nicest thing to do), or you could send it to Breitling to get it fixed yourself....at a cost of course.

In the meantime (as Roff also suggested) I'd suggest you read up on when and why not to use the Quickset date, but the basic reason is because the tiny cogs responsible for changing the date start to engage far earlier than the actual date visibly changes. They also take a while to fully disengage after the date visibly changes, so if you use the quickest date during the hours immediately before or after the date changes you can bend or strip the teeth on these very tiny cogs. This WILL mean that the mechanism is damaged, and it WILL require attention from Breitling.

But irrespective of all of this, there is nothing you can do yourself to fix the fact that the date changes at 3, so that will need Breitlings attention to fix anyway.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

The 3am vs. midnight change could simply be a mis-positioned hand after service, a very quick fix.

True... but still fixed by Breitling, unless the OP wants to try an independent watchmaker of course.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

Absolutely a Breitling fix. Just concerned that the OP could be turning a quick, cheap fix into an expensive service by his actions.

Definitely

so how does one change the date to the correct date and have it change at midnight if it isn't changing at midnight?
or does that mean it is broken already?

The hands are definitely misaligned - a Breitling fix, but that might be the only issue. If you keep using the quick set date in the window of 3 hours before the change and 2 hours after then there will be other issues (if there aren't already).

Either way, Breitling need to address it.

currently trying to contact breitling for an estimation on repairs. seems to be impossible until NEXT monday

My experience with Breitling USA is that they will require you to send them the watch at which time they will generate an estimate for repairs, some items will be opitional others will be required, they will then seek your approval to perform the repairs. I do no believe that they will give you an estimate over the phone. FYI, warranty repairs are done first so you can expect to be without your watch for 12-16 weeks!

the only problem that i have with it is the date not changing at midnight. it has been actually changing around 4 am consistently.

my wonder is, next month when there are only 30 days when should i change it to have it closer to midnight