I would suggest getting your watch back, without the work being carried out. Then source the part from somewhere else. Crazy money.
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You'll occasionally see an Aerospace on Ebay, listed as spares/repair due to movement failure. They always get bid up to £700+, no doubt due to uninformed bidders thinking an independent £100 quartz service will get it sorted and then they'll have a £1k+ watch when fixed.
Then a few weeks later the same watch appears again from a different seller...
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga...ntents/enacted
The watch isn’t fit for purpose if you can’t wear it.
Last edited by deepreddave; 23rd November 2020 at 20:17.
BREITLING UPDATE!!
I received a call this later this afternoon from a very nice lady at Breitling U.K who have confirmed that the replacement buckle/clasp will be replaced free of charge and there is no need for a service either!
She confirmed that the buckle should not have failed in just 4 years and indicated that Breitling Switzerland have agreed to cover the cost.
Thanks for all of your well measured comments and support. You’ve been a great help!
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From what I've seen of the main brand servicing/spares costs in the motherland (Switzerland), Breitling's charges seem quite high when compared to competing brands. That was the case even before CVC partners arrived on the scene.
I agree with those who have suggested getting the watch back and and trying another route. If you prefer to carry on dealing with Breitling UK, I'd certainly challenge it hard and argue the clasp was not of merchantable quality (although it's hard to prove you've barely worn it). Another option could be to contact Breitling in Switzerland and highlight the lunacy of the Breitling UK quote.
Result! Pleased for you
D
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This is rubbish.
What are we going to moan about now?
That’s great news.
Thanks for the update.
Excellent news! I was about to chip in with the highly insightful and useful comment of, “I ain’t buying no Breitling ever”, only for you to change my opinion, in one fell swoop.
Congratulations!
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I had a new watch stop, when I returned it to the dealers they got a quote from Breitling and they said it needed new glass. It still has the stickers on it from new.
No more Breitling for me.
After all the poisonous comments - how about making this response public maybe on FB pages and social media. I’ve always had good experiences with Breitling and BUK. Maybe change the title of your post? It’s a shame that Breitling didn’t state this at the beginning.
glad it worked out in the end.
m
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 23rd November 2020 at 22:28.
For what it's worth I wouldn't change the title of the thread but I would sell that watch the second I got it back and never touch Breitling again. Your story isn't an isolated one and regardless of the result I wouldn't touch one.
When you say "poisonous", do you intend to imply the comments were unwarranted?
Just because a company backs down after being called out for trying to rip someone off, doesn't make them angels. It's like a thief offering to pay for an item after they've been caught red handed on the way out the door...!
If there is nothing wrong with the clasp to begin with, what about the idea of sending the watch head without any strap?
Glad it worked out for you in the end. Thanks for the update, good to know.
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Glad it worked out.
For what it’s worth, I’ve avoided all Breitling watches that don’t have ETA inside and my Emergency is looked after by Mike Wood. ( Who changes the battery at a very reasonable cost ).
I’m afraid anything that requires Breitling parts can only be done by them now, and they ain’t cheap.
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More grist for the mill, some months ago I asked for advice about a recently purchased B1 from a Chrino24 seller which had a regular issue of digi display losing sync with the analogue. I eventually sent it back to Poland for the seller to check it out and sure enough after 5 weeks in their possession it repeated the problem and their reaction was “no problem it just needs a new module”..hmm thought I, lets see and today they contacted me to offer a refund in full because Breitling wants £1k to fit the new quartz module. I paid £1500 for the watch which was in lovely condition so sadly it will end up as my last foray with the B1, out of three, two have had major issues and the other one had a replacement movement at some point too, shame really.
Keith
I really struggle to understand how Breitling seem unable to make a reliable ana digi movement when Casio seem to have no problem in watches costing just a couple of hundred pounds. Maybe you just don’t hear about the Casio’s that malfunction as they just get binned and replaced, but I’ve got a couple I’ve had for 15 years and I wouldn’t be surprised if they last another 15. I bet if one of their sophisticated solar/atomic/Bluetooth modules failed they’d not cost a fraction of what Breitling charges. I think the clue is that most of the modern Casio ana digi watches all contain Japanese made movements even if they are cased in Thailand. Their QC seems very good imho
^ I suspect there’s a large difference between what Breitling anadigi modules cost (£) and what they charge (£££££££) to maintain the whole luxury ethos.
As for reliability; I must confess I’ve heard so many stories of Breitling modules failing that it is a concern. Maybe we hear more of it because of the brands positioning & cost, as you say?
I think that's exactly it. The service pricing is determined by the desire to sustain a certain perception rather than cost. Along with the insistence that an Aerospace which simply needs a new battery must have a full service because they haven't seen it for a few years, it'll cost them long term.