The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Since I am a relatively new Breitling owner, when you send your watch in for service, does the AD send it to BUSA or does it go to Breitling Switzerland? Also Baily,Banks and Biddle Jewlery chain is an AD for Breitling, however, the Baily,Banks and Biddle that is closest to me does not have any Breitling's in the store. They told me if I wanted a Breitling I could order it and it would be sent to that store. Same for bracelets, straps and buckles. Anyone ever ran into this situation before?

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Garfield411
CH-53D & UH-1N
Crew Chief
Old Navitimer
Chrono Avenger M1
Colt Automatic (Early)
Rolex Submariner
Rolex Explorer II

BUSA do the servicing.

I've never seen a situation of never having Breitlings in the store - are there no other places that you can view - you can always use BB&B for the purchase if you wish.

My local Bailey Banks and Biddle does not carry Breitling in the store. I do not know if they can order, I have never asked. Our Breitling AD is an independent jeweler that was here long before BBB so that may be why they don't carry the line.

The closest AD to me is in Jackson, Mississippi a 3.5 hour drive and they have told me over the phone they have a nice selection of Breitlings. There was an AD here in New Orleans, however after Hurricane Katrina he was cleaned out by looters and lost the AD status. Sounds like a road trip is needed.

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Garfield411
CH-53D & UH-1N
Crew Chief
Old Navitimer
Chrono Avenger M1
Colt Automatic (Early)
Rolex Submariner
Rolex Explorer II

Wow, I checked Breitling's website for AD's and you are right, not a single retailer in Louisiana. Its the Breitling desert! Looks like a road trip is in order. Watch your driving on the return trip home however. Difficult to drive and check out your new bling at the same time!

this is the same situation in Richmond. Tourneau has a store that isn't an AD but some of their stores in NY are AD's. and the other listed AD's in Richmond is another jeweler Fink's I think, they have two stores in Richmond, but only one is listed as an AD.

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Colt GMT with Blue dial

Hello,
I feel I should deposit my 2 cents of information here....

1) ARE YOU MAD OR INSANE to use an authorised dealer to service your watch?
2) ARE YOU SO GREEN as to not already have a relationship with a good independant service guy?

GOING TO THE DEALER MEANS 1 THINGS - Paying US$500- for a US$100- service......
I only time I use a authorised dealer is if I need parts!

It is like dating..... you need to have a relationship with a good chemist.... who can help you take precautions.........

PLEASE PLEASE do not use the authorised dealer.... it is only a 7750 movement....

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I need more watches....

I do know an excellent service center in my home town, but they will not touch Breitlings because they cannot get Breitling parts. Even if it is something simple that should not require a part, they do not want to be put in a situation where they could not repair the watch should they damage a component accidentally.

I would think that any good independent service person would tell you this...or is it possible for an independent watch service center to get Breitling parts in Australia?

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

You need to go to a service centre that is more than a BATTERY JOCKEY place..... ie a place where the watch guy is older than your car..... a place where the guy is competant..... a place where they DO NOT also do shoes.....

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I need more watches....

As per usual I'd suggest treating Archie's comments with suitable care, so I'll just add a touch of balance and control to the whole thing.

Yes, you could go to a competant watchmaker/repairer to have a service done. However, finding someone that you'd fancy entrusting your several thousand pounds/dollars worth of watch to may be more tricky. Just like garages, there are are good independents out there and there are bad independents out there. Additionally, an independent watchmaker will not be able to get hold of Breitling parts should something need replacing. Sure, a lot of Breitlings are based on the 7750 movement, so ETA parts for that are abundant, BUT what if it needs a part that Breitling modified or replaced in the original movement? What goes in there instead? A standard ETA part? A cheap chinese copy of the ETA part? Certainly NOT a Breitling modified/replaced part.

At the end of the day it's down to how much you are prepared to risk someone messing about with your watch for the sake of a couple of hundred dollars/pounds. Yes any competant independent worth their salt will be able to keep a standard ETA movement running well enough, but the vast majority also do not have all the specialised kit that Breitling have. Just take a look at the Breitling service videos out there - they are on this site if you do a search - I can absolutely GUARANTEE that an independent will not go to those lengths. Additionally not all independents that I've come across have pressure test equipment for WR testing purposes.

And lastly you need to remember that all work done at Breitling is backed up by a full 1 year official Breitling warranty.

So to summarise, you have the following choices -

1. Go to a very good independent and you MAY get a service vaguely similar to that provided by Breitling, for half the price. BUT if it needed parts they'd be standard ETA or (worse still) copy parts. It may not have been serviced in an overly clean environment and it may not be adequately pressure tested afterwards.

or....

2. Go to Breitling, pay twice as much (maybe more), but know that your watch will come back as good as the day it came out of the factory, and have a full 1 year Breitling warranty.

Hmmmmmm, I know which one I'd choose.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Amen

It's been a long day already........

How exactly can you have a service without needing parts - on a mechanical watch at least??

Single use hands anyone?

There are two jewelers in my area that do work on watches, one will not work on a Breitling because of the parts issue. The other used to work for a Rolex dealer and he has told me he has the ability to completely service the watch. I guess that depends on his definition of "completely service". He has worked on my two Rolex's before and I have had no issues with his work. I guess it depends, for a new Breitling, on whether or not you want to keep the warranty intact or you want it maintained in accordance with the manufacturers reccomendations/specifications or both. I guess it helps add to the re-sale value.

I know in helicopter aviation if you want the OEM Manufacturer to repair your helicopter, you pay more money than you would if you had an outside source work on your aircraft. Watches are not any different, though they are almost as expensive to repair.

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Garfield411
CH-53D & UH-1N
Crew Chief
Old Navitimer
Chrono Avenger M1
Colt Automatic (Early)
Rolex Submariner
Rolex Explorer II

Garfield,
The place in Jackson, has a bunch of uppity jerks working, either the Breitling counters, or the entire store. I ordered my watch and every bracelet I've ever wanted from my AD in Delaware because of that very reason. As far as the dealer in Nawlins, I was told, by the BB&B manager, in Canal Place, that Breitling pulled watches from Louisiana, completely, for a reason he was not at liberty to discuss. I was just in the store back in December, and he seemed rather happy to not have them anymore, because "...all they did was clutter our inventory..." I laughed and walked out...Now, I do have a guy that is Rolex certified and has told me that this summer, he will be taking the Breitling courses, that will allow him to service them, and offer the warranty, as if he will be an authorized service center. Accordingly, he told me he would be able to order any/all parts as needed for servicing. Only problem is that, he's only six years old, because someone told me to use a "...watch guy that's older than your car..." and I currently drive an '04 vehicle...he seems to do well...pm for details Having said all of that, my watch will be sent directly to BUSA for service...

OK guys, I've given my opinion on this, so I'm not going to beat my head against a brick wall in this discussion. But I've got to ask - have you actually watched this video? (You can change the language on the far right BTW)

http://www.breitling.com/service-chrono/

or this one for that matter.........

http://www.breitling.com/service-quartz/

If you can find an independent who will do all this then great - I take my hat off to you. All I can say is most independents I've ever been to (and I've been to some very good ones over the years) have no-where near this level of equipment.

My advice would be to just bite the bullet and get it done properly - when all is said and done, your watch will only need a service ever 5 years or so. But these watches are your property and you can treat them however you like : I can only say what I do.

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Driver8

Site Moderator