The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Say one night a mugger pulls out a gun and wants to rob me, can I pull out the antenna?
Will I be rescued Will I get fined? Will my watch be repaired by Breitling?
After all, an Emergency is an Emergency;on land, sea or air, its still an Emergency, right?

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Rolex DeepSea, GMT Master II TT, Pres 18038, DJ TT 16013
Breitling Chronomat 39mm (bullet+UTC), Starliner SS/MOP (wife)

back with ROLEX

u got time to pull the antenna?if so good question.

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Emergency
Bentley GT
Chrono Colt
Avenger Skyland Blacksteel
Steinhart LE#9/15

Keep in mind the the infrastructure for detecting and localizing the signals is designed around aviation search and rescue, not rapid police response.

The first issue is response time. The distress signal will be picked up by planes flying overhead. The aircraft then have to report the signal to air traffic control, who then forward it to whomever the appropriate search-and-rescue people are, who will then attempt to localize it and determine the appropriate response. So first off, I think a robber would be loooooong gone before anyone actually showed up to help you.

The second issue is that rescuers are expecting an aviation related rescue and not a crime in progress. The Emergency does broadcast a unique signal so that search and rescue know that the signal is coming from an individual who is not necessarily near the wreckage of an aircraft. If you are in a populated area they may even realize that it could be an individual who is in a life-threatening situation not necessarily associated with aviation. However, they would not be expecting the need for armed force like police would from a 911 call from a cellphone.

If the robber immobilizes you and you cannot access a functioning cellphone, then you might consider using it because it is a true rescue situation. And it would help if the perp has already left the scene, because they might just notice that there is a 17 inch antenna sticking out of your wrist!

Also, be prepared to still pay the $15,000 fine even if your life was at risk, since technically the rule is that you can only activate your watch in an aviation emergency.

Mofongo

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

Soo.....

If I'm carrying more than $15,000 in cash and the muggers got several hours to kill chatting with me, then it's totally worth it, right?

The original post reminds of exactly why I don't want to own an Emergency. I love that watch, but I'd be concocting all sorts of scenarios in my head where I might *need* to pull the thing. Add in a few beers, and poof! -- I'm out $15K.

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Coral Dial SuperOcean
Black Dial Avenger Skyland
Arctica Dial Bentley G/T Racing

Coral Club Founding Father

I've often joked with my friends that an Emergency would be cool because you could make a move on a hot bird in the company of serious dudes and just 'rip the cord' if some sh!t goes down...

Seriously though, the point about the feature being designed for an aviation emergency is valid - it probably wouldn't help get the fuzz your way in a hurry.

As for the instruction clause - if your life is in danger, and in all the circumstances it is reasonable for you to engage the feature, most Old Boys (Judges in Common Law countries) would tell anyone who tried to fine you $15k to get rogered.

Is the Emergency solely for Aviation emergencies? Or could other situation qualify? If I mountain climbing, fell and broke my leg with no other way get help...would that be a valid use?

This has been discussed countless times.

The contract that you sign states 'aviation related emergencies'.

However, if your life is in danger then I would suggest that you pull the antenna and worry later. Breitling are not going to scream breach of contract if your Emergency saves your life after you fall off a mountain.

That said, as has been noted, it's not best suited for assault situations.

Incidentally, the fine is $50,000.

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Rolex DeepSea, GMT Master II TT, Pres 18038, DJ TT 16013
Breitling Chronomat 39mm (bullet+UTC), Starliner SS/MOP (wife)

back with ROLEX

Clarifies things a little doesn't it!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Two points, one question:

1. If the antenna is really 17", then you could perhaps use it as a weapon and poke your assailants eye out.
2. On the other hand, it occurs to me that before you would be able to actually get the antenna out, your assailant would have seen your Breitling, and it would now be in the assailant's pocket.

In the 13 years or so that the Emergency has been in production, has anyone ever actually been rescued after using one?

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Breitling Colt GMT
Breitling Navitimer World
IWC Portuguese Automatic
Breitling Transocean Chronograph LE

There have been rescues, not sure how many!

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Breitling Chrono Cockpit, Breitling Chronomat MOP/Diamond Bezel, Breitling Starliner MOP/Diamond Markers, Rolex Sea-Dweller "Z", Tag Heuer Aquaracer, Tag Heuer F1 Aqua, Tag Heuer 2000.

I believe the current claim is 3 lives saved. Total number of rescues is higher if I remember correctly, and really testing the memory I think there has been one false / accidental incident - but don't quote me.

Quick search on Wikipedia:-

In an incident that demonstrates how the Emergency can be used to save lives, Reuters reports that two British pilots, Squadron Leader Steve Brooks and Flight Lieutenant Hugh Quentin-Smith, crashed their helicopter in Antarctica and were rescued after activating their Breitling Emergency transmitter watches. The two pilots were in their lifeboat when a Chilean Otter aircraft found them after homing in on signals from their watches. [4]

I believe there have been others....

Best wishes,


Verner

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Best wishes,

Verner

My AD told me a number in the 40s for the number of people that have been saved by the Emergency (43? 47? can't remember exactly). I am a little skeptical that it is that high...there really are only so many aviation accidents in the world, and only a very very small number of pilots wear Emergencies. Maybe this is the total number, but only a few have actually been aviation-related??

Mofongo

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

Hahaha, same here. You can hear yourself telling your buddies about it and them calling it BS, egging you on to prove it. And after a few beers, your judgement might be clouded enough to do it. Haha.