The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi
I have had an Intruder (Quartz) for 10 years and recently bought a Navitimer (Black, silver dials at 3, 6 9,, black strap etc. ) I slightly miss the ease of a full face sweep second hand and wondered if people have knowledge as to whether just leaving the stopwatch running constantly can cause any problems (premature wear and tear, etc). Any thoughts? (Couldn't find this topic in the rest of the forum so hope I'm not digging up an old chestnut!)

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Martinjbull

Well it's a mechanical watch, so yes the more that things are in motion the more wear will occur, but similarly, if it's not used then the oils will break down and cause even more wear when you do use it. The amount of wear that we are talking about is so minimal that I wouldn't worry about it. The watch may need servicing slightly earlier, buit a day, a week, a month earlier - I don't know, and it's really not a big issue. Run it and enjoy it!

The only other point to note is that the chronograph running will reduce the power reserve slightly, but if it's a daily wearer then that too is a non issue.

Thanks thats great-all you say makes perfect sense, I did not want to do something unwise. What I may well do is to mix and match-ie use the sweep second hand via the stopwatch when I'm in need of it, and at night switch it off-its often a 24 hour wearer and is my my main watch (I'm an artist which can be a messy job-I either switch to my indestrucible Intruder (Breitling's version of a sherman tank!) or wear a sleeve I've cut out over the Navi-I think Navi's less 'tough' design is part of the beauty of the watch. My Intruder has taken so much abuse (unintended) over the years, and I've had to get used to its quirks-like using the LED stopwatch makes the battery run down in about three-six months!

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Martinjbull

another thing to consider is your power reserve is diminished and the accuracy of the time is affected by leaving the chrono running

Yes, but as Roffensian says, that won't be an issue if the watch is a daily wearer. Daily wear will keep it fully wound.

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