Breitling contacts?
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Bought my limited edition aerospace in about 97. Just took it to a high St jewellers to get a new battery and to sort out the hands that stick. The estimate just came back at £385!! Watch cost £800. I'm getting it sent back to me. Any advice where to send it?
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: South Africa
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(if you own a Rolex, well done, chances are it went up 10% yesterday!).
WRT watch value v car values, when my car is worth less than my watch, its time to change the car
Fox2long, Who did the repair quote? If it was not Breitling I would send it to them for a quote. (Ernest Jones can do this for you).
I have had my Aerospace serviced by Breitling for over twelve years. A battery replacement includes the watch being tested for accuracy, a print out is attached with the returned watch, They also replaced the crown which was worn, and two new seals fitted. All old parts returned to me which had been replaced. Well worth £85 every 4 or 5 years IMO.
I have had my Aerospace serviced by Breitling for over twelve years. A battery replacement includes the watch being tested for accuracy, a print out is attached with the returned watch, They also replaced the crown which was worn, and two new seals fitted. All old parts returned to me which had been replaced. Well worth £85 every 4 or 5 years IMO.
Why? What did I miss?
Fox2long - Northern England as in Yorkshire, perchance 
I didn't get my Breitling serviced until too late - so it then cost about £600 for a full repair and new battery. Replacement bracelet clasp? £375. Even a single 'gold' and titanium bracelet link pin can cost £50 on eBay as Breitling don't make them any more, it seems.
So £385 for a battery, service and sorting out the clapping hands actually seems quite reasonable (in Breitling terms) to me.
I didn't get my Breitling serviced until too late - so it then cost about £600 for a full repair and new battery. Replacement bracelet clasp? £375. Even a single 'gold' and titanium bracelet link pin can cost £50 on eBay as Breitling don't make them any more, it seems.
So £385 for a battery, service and sorting out the clapping hands actually seems quite reasonable (in Breitling terms) to me.
Join Date: Sep 2008
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The dire state of the pound vs other major currencies has resulted in a price increase of Rolex at Authorised Dealers;
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
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Tell them to get some pliers and straighten that second hand.
I was offered one of these Iraqi Navitimer 3300's by a Canadian friend living in Kuwait in the mid-1990's. I wanted to see the watch since my friend admits he knows little about timepieces. Unfortunately, he sold the watch to someone else before I could inspect it. I assume the watch my friend had was of similar provenance through UNIKOM 'comshaw' channels. Kuwait is a dry country and UNIKOM folks were expected to provide adult beverages at the expat parties.
I own several Breitlings and for years I would take them to C. Melchers on Orchard Road in Singapore. They would sometimes fix watches out of warranty for free and you could talk with the technicians over the counter. Also, if you needed a battery change you could walk into most major watch shops in SIN (e.g. Sincere, Hour Glass, Cortina) and there would be a watchmaker on site who could do the job for maybe S$20.
Times changed with the recession back in 2007 and the last time I went to Melchers they said no work was done on site and a battery change would take five business days. And the watchmaker is long gone at the watch shops in most places in Singapore.
I've got an Aerospace with a cracked LCD panel, I wince at the thought of sending it to Wilton, Connecticut for Breitling USA service after some of the stories I've read here and elsewhere.
I was offered one of these Iraqi Navitimer 3300's by a Canadian friend living in Kuwait in the mid-1990's. I wanted to see the watch since my friend admits he knows little about timepieces. Unfortunately, he sold the watch to someone else before I could inspect it. I assume the watch my friend had was of similar provenance through UNIKOM 'comshaw' channels. Kuwait is a dry country and UNIKOM folks were expected to provide adult beverages at the expat parties.
I own several Breitlings and for years I would take them to C. Melchers on Orchard Road in Singapore. They would sometimes fix watches out of warranty for free and you could talk with the technicians over the counter. Also, if you needed a battery change you could walk into most major watch shops in SIN (e.g. Sincere, Hour Glass, Cortina) and there would be a watchmaker on site who could do the job for maybe S$20.
Times changed with the recession back in 2007 and the last time I went to Melchers they said no work was done on site and a battery change would take five business days. And the watchmaker is long gone at the watch shops in most places in Singapore.
I've got an Aerospace with a cracked LCD panel, I wince at the thought of sending it to Wilton, Connecticut for Breitling USA service after some of the stories I've read here and elsewhere.
Try Andrew Michaels in Newark for Breitling repairs. I haven't used him but he was very good when buying my first Breitling and informed me that he had Breitling trained repairer that did work for them as well as what the factory themselves do.
To be honest, Breitling servicing aren't exactly renowned for their repairs. I think they are probably pretty good on new stuff, but if you have something a little bit older that you want to retain the originality of they can be a bit haphazard with the new parts they shoe-horn in it. You want to see some of the horrendously unsympathetic work they have done to some beautiful old Navitimer 806s!
To be honest, Breitling servicing aren't exactly renowned for their repairs. I think they are probably pretty good on new stuff, but if you have something a little bit older that you want to retain the originality of they can be a bit haphazard with the new parts they shoe-horn in it. You want to see some of the horrendously unsympathetic work they have done to some beautiful old Navitimer 806s!
Last edited by Aynayda Pizaqvick; 9th Nov 2016 at 09:17.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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A couple of years ago the political correctness police had a field day with Captain Greg 'Stiffy' McWherter. He was brought in as Skipper of the Blue Angels for a second time to restore morale after the former CO was relieved for safety reasons.
Among the damning allegations in an investigatory report about Boss McWherter's leadership was that Breitlings were purchased at a discount:
Navy pilots looking at women in bikinis with binoculars. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you! 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...499_story.html
I believe Breitling has made many Blue Angel logo watches over the years, several are on this page:
Breitling BLUE ANGELS Limited Edition
From what a former team member tells me a couple of decades ago Breitling supplied watches to the Blues at an even more nominal cost and the deal was verbally approved by CNATRA (not the singer, the Chief of Naval Air Training).
Among the damning allegations in an investigatory report about Boss McWherter's leadership was that Breitlings were purchased at a discount:
Hazing used to be common, and new arrivals were forced to wear “foam penis” hats. Pilots kept binoculars in their jets to ogle bikini-wearing women in air show crowds. Crew members for a time were allowed to buy custom-made Breitling watches at a cut-rate price of $500 — a fraction of their retail cost. The report didn’t specify who supplied the watches.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...499_story.html
I believe Breitling has made many Blue Angel logo watches over the years, several are on this page:
Breitling BLUE ANGELS Limited Edition
From what a former team member tells me a couple of decades ago Breitling supplied watches to the Blues at an even more nominal cost and the deal was verbally approved by CNATRA (not the singer, the Chief of Naval Air Training).
Thank you for the replies re choice of watch for £1500. Having done a fair bit of research for what I can get for that (am looking at new), I have realised that £1500 falls between top end nice watches and the lower end of luxury watches.
So....have done the sensible thing and revised my budget (up
). Favourite seems to be a Seamaster though yet to decide on blue or black.....
Tried one on my wrist at the weekend and it looked fantastic though was expecting it to be a bit bigger - am sure I would get used to that (the wider face more expensive chronos are very thick and include functions I'd never use).
My only slight concern is that my 30 quid duty free Sekonda is likely to be more accurate but hey, if it's good enough for Jimmy Bond, who am I to complain.
So....have done the sensible thing and revised my budget (up
). Favourite seems to be a Seamaster though yet to decide on blue or black.....Tried one on my wrist at the weekend and it looked fantastic though was expecting it to be a bit bigger - am sure I would get used to that (the wider face more expensive chronos are very thick and include functions I'd never use).
My only slight concern is that my 30 quid duty free Sekonda is likely to be more accurate but hey, if it's good enough for Jimmy Bond, who am I to complain.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wor Yerm
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My 15 year old Breitling developed a fault two years ago. So via a company called Goldsmith's (a northern England chain) I sent it to Brietling for a repair quote. I was expecting to hear a stupid number but was pleasantly surprised when the estimate was £325. When I got my watch back I could see that new hands had been fitted and an entirely new set of guts had been installed. I now have functions I never had when the watch was new. I know this service was expensive but this watch was bought with a legacy from my grandmother and I remember her whenever I look at it.
PM
PM
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I follow watch auctions for part of my work. If you need to buy new in a shop, fine. But if you're happy to buy at auction, you can save huge amounts depending on brand. Check out a company like Fellows, whose estimates tend to be spot on, and who shift a lot of stuff. Reckon on saving 40%-80% on one or two of the more "brandy" brands, and still get a watch made in 2015. For a laugh, check out the auction value of, say, Patek "your're not buying this for yourself, you're buying it for your offspring" Philippe. It's the Swiss watch industry's nightmare. Currently, Swiss watches devalue exactly like cars. Japanese high-end watches (which are cheaper than Swiss watches) depreciate somewhat less slowly. A Seiko celebrating 100 years of Seiko watches sold recently for around 1100 pounds, and in terms of attention to detail and engineering quality, is about as good as it gets (but it's not mechanical).
If you want to be sure your Swiss watch is 100% Swiss, you need to read up on the Poincon de Geneve certificate.
The nice thing about watches is there's really good stuff at every pricing point, once you get past the need to be seen wearing Omega or Rolex.
Piltdown Man's got the right idea: the best watch is the one which is a constant reminder of memories. Everything else is mostly Swatch Group managing brand "story".
If you want to be sure your Swiss watch is 100% Swiss, you need to read up on the Poincon de Geneve certificate.
The nice thing about watches is there's really good stuff at every pricing point, once you get past the need to be seen wearing Omega or Rolex.
Piltdown Man's got the right idea: the best watch is the one which is a constant reminder of memories. Everything else is mostly Swatch Group managing brand "story".
Thanks Bushfiva - I too will be using money set aside that has been gifted to me for a certain birthday.... Have no particular need to be seen wearing a certain brand, am just looking for a timepiece that will outlast me! (maybe).
Have been looking at Breitling v Omega v TAG and the Seamaster seems to stand out. But am in no rush to buy just yet.
Have been looking at Breitling v Omega v TAG and the Seamaster seems to stand out. But am in no rush to buy just yet.
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Been reading this thread for a while with interest. I don't wear jewellery of any sort so all i want from a watch is reliability and accuracy. It may sound like I am a cheapskate but about 10 years ago I bought a Casio Edifice in jewellers that was having a closing down sale for less than £50. Apart from battery changes it has been absolutely reliable and keeps time to plus or minus 10 seconds. I am rather hard of hearing and ever since my watch alarm went off when I was delivering an important presentation, I have steered clear of extra buttons. Truly I cannot understand the urge to spend thousands on a watch - I recon a good store of upmarket wine is better value. Each to his own though.
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Airbubba,
The $500 Breitling deal was a long tradition back in the 90s. My squadron CO had been a BA as a Capt. and evidently the Breitling watches was long established when flew blue.
While looking for new memebers the watches also indicated the inside track on a slot. Aviators were offered a $500 BA specific Breitling prior to selection or even as a recruitment tool.
S/F, FOG
The $500 Breitling deal was a long tradition back in the 90s. My squadron CO had been a BA as a Capt. and evidently the Breitling watches was long established when flew blue.
While looking for new memebers the watches also indicated the inside track on a slot. Aviators were offered a $500 BA specific Breitling prior to selection or even as a recruitment tool.
S/F, FOG
Breitling stuffed my 806 when it went back - it's looked after locally now. If your budget is circa £2k and you're current or ex-mil I'd give Bremont a call, you might be surprised. If you want a cheaper watch with a bit of history and character then I think this is a fair shout.....Dave Scott wore it when he wasn't wearing his issue Speedmaster (or franking stamps...)
Last edited by Evalu8ter; 10th Dec 2016 at 07:52.