Chronomat evolution accuracy

rfishbobs · **Posted:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:25 pm

Hi

I am the recent proud recipient of of Chronomat Evolution. I have to admit to knowing very little about the uses of the Chronomat and find the instructions minimal. After a couple of weeks of wear I noticed that the watch was losing around 20 seconds a day. I took it to a Breitling dealer who told me because I was running the Chronomat continuously it was draining the power. He turned it off (or so he said) and said it should be OK. However when I looked the second hand on the watch is static at the 12 o clock mark, but the small second counter is running. I'm guessing therefore that the Chronomat is still running? Sorry formy lack of knowledge, but would appreciate feedback from those in the know.

1 Surely the watches second hand doesn't form part of the Chronomat and doesn't drain power?

2 Should the small second hand be running

3 Are their any sources explaining how the Chronomat can be used and how, in more detail than Breitling provide?

Many thanks in advance

Bob

Wildblue · **Posted:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:58 pm

I'll let the experts here fill in detailed info. But the "big" second hand that you're talking about, that was continuously running, is the chronograph, or stopwatch. There's really no need to have it "always on". (although I was surprised to just read another member here that likes his constantly running too) The small second counter that you refer to is the actual seconds portion of the daily time, not the stopwatch time.

In any case, NO, the chronograph shouldn't significantly affect the accuracy of the watch time. Another member just did a comparison test of his daily accuracy with and without the chronograph running, and there was virtually no difference. Try yours and see if it changes the 20 second shift you're getting.

I don't see how it could be true that running the chronograph "uses up the power and makes it less accurate". If anything, all I would imagine I would do is reduce the 42 hour power reserve if you had taken it off your wrist.

As for ways to use the Chronomat, I personally found the Breitling manual more than sufficient, raising ideas that I hadn't thought of for the bezel. Other than the bezel, all you really have is the time, chronograph, and date.

rfishbobs · **Posted:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:52 pm

Thanks Chris

Appreciate the quick response. I'll certainly try your suggestion. I'm no expert on watches (as you'll have seen) but I thought the beauty of a watch like this was partly the movement of the second hand. Seems a bit odd to me not to have the second hand running?

Regards

bob

BoneDoc · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 2:09 am

rfishbobs wrote:

Thanks Chris

Appreciate the quick response. I'll certainly try your suggestion. I'm no expert on watches (as you'll have seen) but I thought the beauty of a watch like this was partly the movement of the second hand. Seems a bit odd to me not to have the second hand running?

Regards

bob

In fairness, in the 7750 movement (which is in your Chronomat, mine too and all recent Chronomats except the new B01) the seconds are run on the 9 o'clock subdial. The elapsed seconds is run from the center sweep hand. As to running the chronograph continuously, there should be no problem or impact whatsoever on accuracy. Power reserve is another matter perhaps, as already mentioned. THe watch may need a couple of months to "break in" to stay in the COSC certification of +6/-4 (maybe the reverse, I never remember) seconds a day. But after that, it would need to be regulated (at an AD who is more knowledgeable than the one you just described) to bring it back into specs. But aside from increased wear in the chronograph mechanics (perhaps inconsequential in a properly maintained watch) there should be no trouble in running the chrono full time if you like the look of it. Enjoy your beautiful watch. Post some pics for the masses to drool over, please! :lingsrock:

Roffensian · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:05 am

As has been said the chronograph won't affect accuracy (to any meaningful extent). If the watch doesn't settle to better accuracy it needs regulation.

rfishbobs · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:52 pm

Many thanks for all the useful feedback. Will be happy to post a photo as soon as i can work out how to reduce the size of the file

regards

Bob

br549 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:58 pm

rfishbobs wrote:

Many thanks for all the useful feedback. Will be happy to post a photo as soon as i can work out how to reduce the size of the file

regards

Bob

It might be easier to upload them to a Photobucket account. The instructions are here.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=453

Scarlet Evolution · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:48 pm

I'm assuming this is a brand new Chronomat. If so, it does usually take a little time (or at least mine did) for the movement to settle and become consistently accurate. I know with both my Chronomat & my CSO (same movement) that it took a month or two of constant (or near constant) running for the movement to settle into becoming consistently accurate (+4/-6 second per day). I'm not an expert, but I'm just telling my experiences with that watch and that movement. As mentioned before, running the chronographe should only run down the power reserve a little faster. As Roff mentioned, if it does not settle into that +4/-6 second per day range after some time, you may want to see your AD about service. That's what the warranty is for!

Hope this helps,

Dave

rfishbobs · **Posted:** Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:50 pm

Thanks again for the feedback. The watch was purchased new three months ago, so I'm guessing it should have settled by now. Will try it for one more week before taking it to a dealer.

This is a great site by the way. A very good friend of mine is a bit of a watch fanatic, although not keen on Breitling. He raves about Vulcan and Patek Philipe and frowned upon my Omega Seamaster because its quartz. Its good to have all this interesting Breitling information in order to fight back.

regards

Bob

Roffensian · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:06 am

rfishbobs wrote:

Thanks again for the feedback. The watch was purchased new three months ago, so I'm guessing it should have settled by now. Will try it for one more week before taking it to a dealer.

This is a great site by the way. A very good friend of mine is a bit of a watch fanatic, although not keen on Breitling. He raves about Vulcan and Patek Philipe and frowned upon my Omega Seamaster because its quartz. Its good to have all this interesting Breitling information in order to fight back.

regards

Bob

It should have settle after three months - take it to (a different) AD to get it timed and regulated - should be a 10 minute job.

And I hope your watch fanatic friend isn't really raving about Vulcan - if so you can tell him that it's actually Vulcain :lol:

rfishbobs · **Posted:** Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:54 am

My mistake, Vulcain, the Presidents watch

rfishbobs · **Posted:** Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:27 pm

Hope this works

BoneDoc · **Posted:** Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:49 pm

Damn! That is Gorgeous! and familliar.

rfishbobs · **Posted:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 5:49 am

A little update, got the watch back from the dealer where it had been regulated. Accuracy is now spot on. Only problem is because the dealer had to send the watch away for two weeks, I spent lots of time drooling over watches on this forum. Will probably have to invest in another one now. Hmmm expensive hobby.

Guys thanks for your support and guidance. Another bonus is the watch came back in a smart Breitling travel case

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