The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi,
I have recently acquired this Breitling Top Time 2000 watch, and have finally decided to start renovating its case and back. However, I cannot see any simple way of removing the stainless back - there is a lip all round the case which effectively hides the join! I understand some Top Times were front loaders, but I have had the crystal out to replace it and can see no way of removing from the front either. The engraving on the back says "Breitling, waterproof, Antimagnetic, Shock Protected, Stainless Steel Back, Swiss Made, 2000" and is pretty much aligned in the case (text horizontal with 12.00 up). The lip around the case will prevent access to the back with a case knife, unless I butcher the edge of the case like someone others have, based on pictures found online, and I do NOT want to have to do this to mine!



The stem is a split one, and came apart with a modified hand puller and not too much force. So if the case back is not removable, how do I get the movement out? When I took the crystal out, the whole movement wiggled slightly but I could not see a way of getting it out.
With the crystal removed there seems to be a silver metal ring inside the case, very thin but enough that the dial with tachy ring on will not pass through. Is it expected that the whole movement/dial assembly will just come out with the stem and pushers removed? I was hoping to leave the internals alone for now, just getting the case refinished, so I don't really want to have to remove the hands and dial etc, but if it has to be then I guess I will.


Thanks in advance.

I am no expert here so I am sure people with more experience will help. I also have the same watch the case back will not come off and is not supposed too. I took mine to a watch repairer and he removed the crystal then turned the crown and the movement popped out. Maybe you have to put the male end of the split stem back in and then rotate the female end of the stem still in the movement using the crown to fit through a gap to enable the movement to pop out. I am not sure that you should have forced the split stem apart to pull it out as you have, this may now have spread the gap of the female end.

I hope this makes sense apologies if I haven't explained myself too well

Try this link

http://www.timezone.com/2002/09/17/one- ... tool-2000/

case is designed as a toploader, but on the ref. 2000 and other GP models, the caseback CAN be removed; they aren't monocoque designs.
I'd leave both the removal of the movement and the caseback to a qualified watchmaker.

2 retaining screws are holding the caliber to the case . Access to the screws needs to unsnap the caseback . Then you put off the crystal and the caliber can be removed by the top side . If you do not have the appropriate tools, give the watch to a watchmaker .

Bungle, I see from this other Forum that you have solved your problem and that it was a very thin retaining ring sitting on the tachy ring that prevented you from popping the movement out. Once you removed this the movement popped out ok. I must check this out on mine sometime as when my watchmaker removed the crystal on mine it just popped out perhaps the thin movement retaining ring came with it also!.

Saabreit check this link out perhaps it may be a different method for a 188 than a 7730 either way it is very useful information for this Forum and perhaps this could be formally documented to help others in the future

http://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/46 ... se/?page=2

Guys, just to add the solution that Supermoto mentioned on this forum too:

The thin silver ring exposed when the crystal was removed does indeed hold the movement/dial/tachy ring assembly in the case. So careful levering of the ring (protecting the edge of the tachy dial) - starting opposite the stem and moving slowly round - got it out, and then the whole movement and dial assembly just pops out easily - probably didn't need to pull the stem apart beforehand, as it would most likely have just slid apart as the movement was eased out.



I was quite surprised that there are no alignment pins on the back of the tachy ring, so when it all goes back in I will have to ensure that everything lines up as it should.



And here is the inside of the case with the stainless steel back part still pressed in:



Thanks also to Richard Askham at http://thewatchspotblog.com/ who also came up with the same solution.

From the serial number, I think this is a 1966 watch.

Steve

OK, so the case has been off with http://www.watchcaseworks.co.uk to have its much needed restoration, and now that it is back it looks stunning. I have uploaded some pictures so you can see what I mean. Even areas where the dreaded metal adjustable bracelet had ground its way into the case metal inside the lugs has been repaired.

Now just to re-assemble everything and then get the movement looked over and serviced.

Getting there!

Steve