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Breitlings - where to get them serviced?

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Breitlings - where to get them serviced?

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Old 10th May 2005, 10:11
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Breitlings - where to get them serviced?

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

HM
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Old 10th May 2005, 10:27
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Sent mine back to Breitling about four years ago. Seem to remember the complete overhaul cost about £50........took about three weeks.
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Old 10th May 2005, 10:45
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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.
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Old 10th May 2005, 11:22
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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!
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Old 10th May 2005, 11:45
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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
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Old 10th May 2005, 12:14
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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.
Ring or e-mail them first.
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Old 10th May 2005, 13:03
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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.
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Old 10th May 2005, 13:11
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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.
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Old 10th May 2005, 13:17
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Go to a Breitling sponsored airshow (or one where they have a big presence) and get it done free. Well it worked in Austria!
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Old 10th May 2005, 14:00
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..repaired? Don't bother!

Just join the Reds and you get them every other week..
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Old 10th May 2005, 14:23
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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.
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Old 10th May 2005, 18:21
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Breitling Buffoonery!!

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!!!!!!
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Old 11th May 2005, 13:50
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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?
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Old 11th May 2005, 23:05
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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!
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Old 12th May 2005, 05:04
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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??
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Old 12th May 2005, 05:36
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".....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!
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Old 12th May 2005, 10:42
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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.
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Old 12th May 2005, 10:46
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Just buy a GMT Master II ; it doesn't need batteries!
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Old 12th May 2005, 12:28
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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...

Nige
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Old 12th May 2005, 12:49
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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
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