Breitlings - where to get them serviced?

[Hueymeister]

Mine (emergency) needs servicing and a new watch battery. Where can I get it done?

HM

[Echo 5]

Sent mine back to Breitling about four years ago. Seem to remember the complete overhaul cost about £50........took about three weeks.

[Incipient Sinner]

Most of the large shopping centres have a dealer, at which you can send it off to Breitling. I'd recommend a service whenever you do the battery as they replace any worn components and it comes back as good as new. They do the battery as part of the service anyway.

[FJ2ME]

Its usually about 50 quid for the battery alone. Dealer can quote you around 200 for a full service- quite ridiculous. I found the number for Breitling UK direct in the literature that came with the watch. They were extremely helpful and courteous, and some off-warranty work was even completed on good will as they were a little embarrassed about a malfunction...

Also, there is a guy who goes around as a military rep and he is very good at getting things done, and the bills are less than you pay at Goldsmiths in the High St. Can't remember his name and contact details tho, perhaps someone else knows him?

One tip tho- whichever method you use (and I wouldn't advocate the watchsmith in the market by the way) watch them like a hawk throughout your dealings. They tend to rather rely on their over-promoted reputation than actual quality workmanship. This has previously manifested itself in such situations as returning a watch to me having had a replacement battery, only for the battery low indication to be displaying as the (embarrassed) jeweller handed it back to me after already swiping my credit card!

Personally, I don't rate the product or the services any more, and I think they merely trade on perceived quality rather than actual. But having already bought the thing I advise you get it repaired/serviced properly as this is the only way you can moan at them when it all goes pear shaped!

[ORAC]

Main UK agents:
TWG DISTRIBUTION LTD
THREEWAYS HOUSE,
40-44 CLIPSTONE STREET
W1P 8JT LONDON
[email protected]
Tel: +44-207-6365200
Fax: +44-207-6375354

[Fortyodd]

Hueymeister
Without wishing to sound like an advert, I got my B1 serviced/repaired by TWG last year. A very fast turnaround - it was back to me in 4 days in a very nice travel case and all under warranty. :D
Ring or e-mail them first.

[wub]

I send my Aerospace back to breitling via the local jeweller holding the Breitling dealership. A battery change and pressure test is about £40 and can take up to a month. First time it came back in a nice travel case. Second time in a poly bag and the back was screwed on squint.

[4fitter]

Father left me his Breitling (about 10 years old). It stopped working so I sent it to Breitling. It came back as unrepairable as they did not stock the movements any more.

Apart from sentiment, I was upset that Breitling wouldn't stock parts for watches older than 10 years old. Eventually I was advised to go see an old Lithuanian watchmaker on the corner of Oxford St/Tottenham Court Road. He located a new movement, repaired the watch and its been fine since.

[Background Noise]

Go to a Breitling sponsored airshow (or one where they have a big presence) and get it done free. Well it worked in Austria!

[Anton Meyer]

..repaired? Don't bother!

Just join the Reds and you get them every other week..:ok:

[maxy101]

Orchard Road in Singapore if you get the chance....Official dealer charges 10 quid for a battery change/check and does it in an hour.

[Snapdragon]

I live in Saudi Arabia at the moment, have bought several Breitlings for various people, best one was a B Class in steel/gold with a SH*TLOAD of diamonds on it .....£2100 here at the time valued in the UK last visit.....£6100. I rest my case. They also service them here for a fraction of UK prices at a registered Breitling dealer. Anyone interested PM me!!
P.S. Mrs SD V.V.V. HAPPY
P.P.S. Mr SD also even happier!!!!!!

[Red Line Entry]

Breitling's web site gives an dealership in Karlsruhe as the only official workshop in Germany - not too far away in a Huey is it?

[andyhelo]

my B1 was sent off by the Goldsmiths last year, and took 2 months to be servied and cleaned! stunning job on it though, and it came back in a nice soft case! It wasnt the first time my watch has been sent off to breitling, but the service cost £220. Wasnt so impressed by the length of time waiting!

[gliderboy]

My emergency took 3 months to get serviced in Hong Kong. They send it to Singapore and take their time! I don't think I'll buy another one because of their lack of customer service AFTER you purchase.

Anyone know anything about 121.5 and these watches after 2007? Rumour is they won't be able to be tracked by satellite once activated??

[BEagle]

".....Official dealer charges 10 quid for a battery change/check and does it in an hour."

I checked a similar comment about a dealer in Bahrain with Breitling UK and was told that a '1 hour battery change and check' would not be in line with Breitling's rquirements and would invalidate any warranty. Very few dealers are authorised to service Breitlings; the process takes several days as the watch has to undergo some form of power vs time check. Only when it has passed this and the case seal replaced and checked will the watch be sent out in its protective case. It is a far more complex process than just taking off the back, changing the battery and then replacing the back!

I've had the battery of my Aerospace changed three times in the 10 years I've owned it; on each occasion it took about a week and any other minor work needed was completed at the same time free of charge.

Never be tempted to have a £1500+ watch battery replaced by some back street 'while you wait' dealer!

[wub]

BEagle: I think the extra check the Aerospace goes through is a pressure test, to check the new seal. You are lucky to have yours back in a week, both times mine has been nearly a month.

[212man]

Just buy a GMT Master II ; it doesn't need batteries!;)

[Nige321]

My Aerospace need a new battery recently - TWG quoted "up to 10 weeks...!"

After a bit of research, I took it to Peplows in Worcester high street - He's a Rolex trained watch repairer and agent so he has a reasonable idea wot he's doing...:}

New battery, seal and pressure test was £18.00 - Wifey dropped it off in the morning, picked it up late afternoon.

Don't bother if the watch is actually broken - Breitling won't sell him or any other watch maker the parts...:rolleyes:

Nige

[Tigs2]

HM

Spend 3 grand on a watch and worry about where to save 10 quid on a servicing. Please read ESDL's thread on 'where to service my rolex'. This thread has made me chuckle especially with replies most shopping centers have a registered dealer. LOL:D :D

[WSO1]

I took my Emergency into a Jewellers in Newark 2 twos ago to get the battery changed. I was told that it needed it's 2 year servicing as well. It cost £294 to get done and was back within a week (looking shiny and new). I got talking with the shop owner about watches as Wife Control wants a new one. He asked why I had an Emergency- when I told him is was RAF- he then offered me £50 off the service charge. Nice to get money off something for being in the RAF- reminds me of my time in the States- shame it's not like that all the time over here. I'm off to Afghanistan with it next week (I don't want to test if it works!!!).

[BananaBoy]

Glider Boy wrote:

"Anyone know anything about 121.5 and these watches after 2007? Rumour is they won't be able to be tracked by satellite once activated??"

When the 121.5 SARSAT is switched off sometime in the future, it will make no difference to owners of the Breitling Emergency.

This is because the watch emergency transmitter beacon is not powerful enough to trigger SARSAT or to be tracked by it - You will need an aircraft locator beacon or a proper PLB for that. The Breitling Emergency is for homing by rescue agencies during the final phase of a search operation and these aircraft, both fixed and rotary wing will continue to be able to home on 121.5 for MANY years to come and bring the Breitling owner safely home!


Hope that helps...:ok:

[maxy101]

I think that the reason that the Breitling dealer in Singapore is so fast and inexpensive is that they are the main dealer in the Far East. Unlike the UK where I understand they ship it all back to Switzerland.

[ZH875]

Why bother getting it repaired, Aircrew keep telling others just how much they earn, how much flying pay they get, they would appear to be rolling in money.

Chuck it away and buy a new one.

[helen-damnation]

In Dubai:
Breitling shop in the Wafi Centre.
Last time it was free, this time it's Dhs600 (about £90/$160):{
Non battery variety ;)

[BigGrecian]

WSO1 the dealer in Newark (Michael Andrews is it?) is the one who has all the RAF edition watches made by Breitling etc with the different aircraft/brevets on them. He also offers other discounts for military personnel if you enquire.:cool:

[Lester]

For the custom Breitlings the number you need is:+44 1636679638 and ask for Andrew Jones (Newark). He just did me a nice tax free one. Couldnt afford the bggr when I worked for the Queen.

[CrabInCab]

I have tried both high street "Breitling Agents" and TWG and I have to say I've had nothing but trouble from the various (and well known) agents but always excellent service from TWG, it may cost more but based on personal experience well worth it.

[Boogeyboard]

Breitling - China Town Kuala Lumpur - 50 Ringgit, very cheap lah! Plus one free Rolex.

[Op Tastic]

Try 'The Watch Gallery' (129 Fulham Road, London)...and speak to Bettina!!

Great service and £50 for a battery repair and 'polish'.

http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1206/8461.php

[Dan Winterland]

BEagle, Yaqabi stores in Bahrein is an authorised Breitling regional dealer and repair agent. Theyt can replace the battery without invalidating the warranty. Wheras in the UK, they have to send the watch off to Switzerland with a quoted time of 4 to 6 weeks (Goldsmiths, Oxford) at three times the price. However, I'm not suprised that Breitling UK told you that having it done in Bahrein invalidated the warranty if they wanted the business.

I've had my Aerospace battery changed three times by authorised Breitling service agents in Bahrein (2 days), Dubai (3 days) and Hong Kong (3 hours). Each time it came back with a new gasket, a crown lubrication and having been pressure tested - and the most expensive servicing was about 22 quid (Dubai). And they have not had a problem unlike a mutual friend of ours who had his done in Switzerland and it filled with water the first time he went swimming. He was without it for 4 months.

[212man]

I like the sound of having my 'crown lubricated' in Hong Kong.....:ok:

[BEagle]

Well, Dan, I used to take mine to the servicing place in London and it came back in about a week.

It was the 'while you wait' so-called Breitling servicing that I was being warned about. The 2-3 days including power soak and pressure test sounds OK though.

Was the unlucky mate who had the non-waterproof watch a chap with more than one Breitling, perhaps....;)