Water damaged Breitling

[a13x]

At a bit of a loss with this. I’ve a Breitling for Bentley watch that was handed to a friend to wear but has suffered water damage. The quote to repair from Breitling is probably 3 times the value of the watch and so uneconomical to do so (new movement, dial etc)

The watch doesn’t look to have a stained dial but I’ve not seen it with the caseback removed. However the bezel does not turn.

Without putting it back in the drawer forever, is there anyone that could repair? Or is the supply of parts restricted and so on a hiding to nothing?

[walkerwek1958]

If the dial and hands are OK there’s every chance the watch could be salvaged at reasonable cost. I’ve no idea what it’s worth, Id the OP quoted numbers that would help.

Water damage is a vague term there’s a huge difference between ingress of seawater and rainwater! Generally, the less time the watch spends with water in the better, ideally it needs stripping down without delay, particularly when seawater is involved.

Also, the underlying problem has to be resolved; why did the watch let water in?

Edit: The last water-damaged watch I fixed ended up on SC 3 weeks later after the owner almost pleaded with me to fix it cheaply, if that's the intention with this one I`m not interested.

[a13x]

It’s model A2536412. Here is the breakdown direct from Breitling.



Thanks


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[seabiscuit]

What exactly did your friend do to the watch to effectively ruin it?

[walkerwek1958]

What exactly did your friend do to the watch to effectively ruin it?

I wondered that too!

From reading the report I suspect the water had been in for some time.

[Sinnlover]

If the watch was handed to a friend to wear surely the friend should make good for the repair? What sort of friend would borrow something and then wash their hands (pun intended) of any damage?
I would hope the friend intends to pay for the damage they have caused.

[Raffe]

You broke it, you bought it.

[Kingstepper]

Is it really his fault if lent a leaky watch?

If the friend used it properly and still suffered water ingress sounds like the watch was faulty.

Having said this, if components are rusted must have been in contact with water for a good while.

[a13x]

There’s no real back story, it was leant to a friend/more family member over a year ago. Fully working and came back to me this way. I’m not sure what happened exactly but from reading Breitling assessment I would assume it’s been this way for a while.

I’ve no desire to chase for the money back, will only cause further friction. I was more interested in whether it’s even possible to repair outside of Breitling direct as uneconomical to do so through them. If possible, any recommendations to take it on. Would probably make a good YouTube video of the repair

[Sinnlover]

Is it really his fault if lent a leaky watch?

If the friend used it properly and still suffered water ingress sounds like the watch was faulty.

He took the risk when borrowing the watch IMO.
OP does not want to chase so it’s all irrelevant.

OP looking at the report I think you have 3 choices
Go to Breitling and pay
Find someone that maybe able to get the watch back working without OEM parts but it will be far from perfect and the dial and hands may degrade further as time goes by - this may not be possible. (Either the repair or finding someone willing to take the work on) as parts will be controlled by Breitling.
Stick it a drawer and forget about it.

[David_D]

Is it really his fault if lent a leaky watch?

If the friend used it properly and still suffered water ingress sounds like the watch was faulty.

Having said this, if components are rusted must have been in contact with water for a good while.

No good deed goes unpunished!

Shocking from the “friend”.

[ralphy]

Home insurance?

R

[Kingstepper]

No good deed goes unpunished!

Shocking from the “friend”.

Not sure the relevance to my post.

[lewie]

Does that just leave the front case and Caseback original?😂

[a13x]

Home insurance?

R

It’s something I’ve considered and will look into.

The circumstances are a little grey. The watch was owned by a family member who was sadly killed. The watch was then given to a close friend to wear as a way of him remembering. Sadly when it was returned, it came back in this state.

Even the deployant clasp has damage.

Sticking it in the back of the drawer may be the only solution!

[sundial]

It’s something I’ve considered and will look into.

The circumstances are a little grey. The watch was owned by a family member who was sadly killed. The watch was then given to a close friend to wear as a way of him remembering. Sadly when it was returned, it came back in this state.

Even the deployant clasp has damage.

Sticking it in the back of the drawer may be the only solution!

Highly unlikely an insured's "all risks" high value personal possessions insurance covers a watch lent to, and damaged by, a third party. And such an item would usually require a separate declaration by the owner to the insurance co., at the insurance policy inception or renewal date – unless added to existing cover by an agreed endorsement.

dunk

[LPC6]

It’s something I’ve considered and will look into.

The circumstances are a little grey. The watch was owned by a family member who was sadly killed. The watch was then given to a close friend to wear as a way of him remembering. Sadly when it was returned, it came back in this state.

Even the deployant clasp has damage.

Sticking it in the back of the drawer may be the only solution!

Consider having a watch maker take a look and see if it can be rectified cheaper before just throwing it in the drawer, or at least to stop the rot in case you want to rectify later with breitling

[JasonM]

Breitling will try to replace everything they can, if you can live with the cosmetics then concentrate on the movement, I doubt it’s Breitling specific, I resurrected a Colt quartz chrono years ago as it was a off the shelf ETA with a fancy Breitling dust cap.

[JasonM]

Edit. Sorry, I forgot it’s the Bentley, so it’s probably a in house movement

[watchlovr]

You broke it, you bought it.

That’s the watch collectors way.
It would be how I approach it.
Non watch people would surely see it differently.

[Ruggertech]

That’s the watch collectors way.
It would be how I approach it.
Non watch people would surely see it differently.

"You broke it, you bought it" surely applies to any lent item not just watches?

[Skool]

What condition was the watch in that was given to the close friend of the family member that was killed?

If it meant that much to the close friend, what were they doing with it if it meant so much sentimently to them to result in the damage?

Wondering why its being given back now but none of my business and sounds like its better to keep as is if can't afford to repair.

[MartynJC (UK)]

I’d buy a replacement second hand one off chrono24 or similar and cut my losses. And scrap that one. But I’d be extremely p@saws off with the “friend”.