Breitling contacts?
I think you've been lucky! The warning signs will come when the battery replacement is required (flashing end-of-life indication) sooner than expected - e.g. the new battery only lasting for 12 months or less...
Unless the 'local jewellers' is an authorised Breitling dealer, it's risking rather a lot to let him loose on your watch, in my view. A colleague tried that, no pressure or power soak test was conducted, so when his watch failed after immersion in shallow water, it was endex.
Of course some 'local jewellers' might be capable of meeting the Breitling battery change requirements, but not all would be. A local jeweller here in British West Oxfordshire lost Breitling accreditation after customer complaints.
Careful what you pay for!
Unless the 'local jewellers' is an authorised Breitling dealer, it's risking rather a lot to let him loose on your watch, in my view. A colleague tried that, no pressure or power soak test was conducted, so when his watch failed after immersion in shallow water, it was endex.
Of course some 'local jewellers' might be capable of meeting the Breitling battery change requirements, but not all would be. A local jeweller here in British West Oxfordshire lost Breitling accreditation after customer complaints.
Careful what you pay for!
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Basically if the worse happens, Breitling will just say it's your fault and cough up, even when you've recently coughed up for a full and major service.
So if you do decide to take them on in court, my advice is get "watchmakered up", get an expert watch repair witness on your side to fight them. The burden of proof is on you to prove fault and it's tough.
Itsreallyme, was it a question of the watch just getting wet (e.g. in the sink) or what?
An ex-colleague was committing sport in the local swimming pool and was wearing his Aerospace at the time. A little later it stopped working.
Breitling said that what probably happened was that as he got out of the pool by hauling himself onto the edge rather than using the stepladder, the angle between his arm and wrist had been sufficient to press against the rotating bezel, moving it enough to cause water ingress. That sounded like BS to me - and I think he also had to pay for the repair himself.
An ex-colleague was committing sport in the local swimming pool and was wearing his Aerospace at the time. A little later it stopped working.
Breitling said that what probably happened was that as he got out of the pool by hauling himself onto the edge rather than using the stepladder, the angle between his arm and wrist had been sufficient to press against the rotating bezel, moving it enough to cause water ingress. That sounded like BS to me - and I think he also had to pay for the repair himself.
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I've had a Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute 24 hr (with mechanical escapement) for some years and apart from having an extra bracelet link fitted, it is excellent in all respects.
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I've had a Breitling Navitimer since circa 1960, SS bracelet fitted in 1964. I continue to use it on a regular basis and its accuracy seems to depend on me remembering to wind it up every day.
A Cosmonaut here as well, on a Mobylot bracelet. I did an Akrotiri trip from Luqa and was asked to pick up and pay for a pair of headlights for a Triumph 2.5pi for one of our groundcrew [M.E.Quick - his name is on the paperwork and box}(the headlights were about £25 ) and while I was away he had wrecked a Maltese wall and his car as well. He gave me his Breitling as a payment and though I offered to swap again later, he said no.
I still have it and just had a major service for £300 including just about everything visible.
The Mobylot bracelet (stainless fine mesh) still mystifies me, but two unconnected jewellers say Mobylot is a bracelet of choice. The original is still new in the box 45 years later.
I still have it and just had a major service for £300 including just about everything visible.
The Mobylot bracelet (stainless fine mesh) still mystifies me, but two unconnected jewellers say Mobylot is a bracelet of choice. The original is still new in the box 45 years later.
Got this new in the box in Iraq in 93. Battery changed with pressure checks as required.
It stopped working a few years ago.
Jeweler ended up sending to Breitling
They came back to him saying that parts were not available to fix it.
They were willing to let me buy a new Breitling at 15% off full retail....as long as they got to keep the watch.
Got the watch back. Strange ..very strange ..why would they want the watch I wonder.
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IS the Breitling still borked? There are plenty of places to get spares for it. Even if not available new, you could check out somewhere like Fellows, which does a monthly auction of dead-ish watches and recovered parts.
In fact, if you could give the exact model number, and four digits that may (or may not) be stamped between the lugs, it would probably be quite easy to get it fixed. I see it's already been opened without much care and attention, though.
In fact, if you could give the exact model number, and four digits that may (or may not) be stamped between the lugs, it would probably be quite easy to get it fixed. I see it's already been opened without much care and attention, though.
The watch you have is a Breitling Jupiter (Navitimer 3300) produced during the very unpopular era of the 80s when Breitling went quartz and (and almost bust!). Iraqi watches were pretty common so they don't in themselves seem to add a great deal of value to a piece, even popular models like the 806 Navitimer. Given the popularity and condition of your watch I don't think it would be worth that much, but if you can find a cheap Miyota Y652 movement (or equivalent; the same movement was made by different brands), then you might consider getting it up and running again.
Thanks for the info.
It was worn for everyday use for 12 years and has a sentimental value of the old UNIKOM daze.
UNIKOM was the postwar UN mission patroling the DMZ between Kuwait and Iraq. Fun times.
I still have the original box and paperwork.
It was worn for everyday use for 12 years and has a sentimental value of the old UNIKOM daze.
UNIKOM was the postwar UN mission patroling the DMZ between Kuwait and Iraq. Fun times.
I still have the original box and paperwork.
I have a certain birthday coming up next year and am thinking of treating myself to a decent watch around the £1500 mark. Any suggestions? (I don't want anything that says fighter pilot or Red Arrows or the like on it 
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I have a certain birthday coming up next year and am thinking of treating myself to a decent watch around the £1500 mark. Any suggestions?
Rugged, reliable, waterproof, no batteries to change, just wear and forget.
Don't go for diamond encrusted solid gold case and strap.
Go for stainless steel, or if you want a little style, the two tone steel and gold.
Plenty of variety
A 2nd hand Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust, from a reputable dealer.
Rugged, reliable, waterproof, no batteries to change, just wear and forget...
Plenty of variety
Rugged, reliable, waterproof, no batteries to change, just wear and forget...
Plenty of variety
Your best bet is definitely used though, as you can get some very nice watches that have been barely used for half the price of new. For your budget there are a lot of Tag Heuer available and even some Omega Seamasters. You will also find some Bell and Ross and maybe the occasional Tudor (the sister company of Rolex; similar quality, different name) that might take your fancy. The ones I've listed here have automatic or manual movements as they generally hold value more than quartz and you wont have to pay for battery changes. If you aren't going to wear it regularly and setting the time before you put it on would annoy you, you may prefer to go quartz, in which case you'll probably want to have a look at used Breitlings.
Everyone splashes out on watches for different reasons; personally I'm fascinated by the incredible craftsman and introduction new, challenging complications. Many will accuse you of being snobby for wearing a couple of grand on your wrist but will themselves drive around in expensive cars that lose more than the cost of a luxury watch in the first year or two of ownership. Whilst it shouldn't be your sole aim, buy well and you can make more on a high-end watch than you'd get with your money in the bank (if you own a Rolex, well done, chances are it went up 10% yesterday!).
Last edited by Aynayda Pizaqvick; 8th Nov 2016 at 09:24. Reason: Terrible phone-based spelling and grammar.
A 2nd hand Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust, from a reputable dealer.
Rugged, reliable, waterproof, no batteries to change, just wear and forget.
Don't go for diamond encrusted solid gold case and strap.
Go for stainless steel, or if you want a little style, the two tone steel and gold.
Rugged, reliable, waterproof, no batteries to change, just wear and forget.
Don't go for diamond encrusted solid gold case and strap.
Go for stainless steel, or if you want a little style, the two tone steel and gold.