The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi everyone,

I have this Breitling that I' m currently having some serious problems with. Maybe you guys will be kind enough to inform me about what I should do with it.

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/9716/img30951fj8.jpg

Bnewbie has informed me it is a 1984-1990 model.

The problems are the following:

-dark spots have appeared inside the watch, on the arrows and the dial.
-condensation build-up on the inside of the glass face when taking a hot shower
-and then the watch loses something like an hour everyday.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3694/img31001in1.jpg

I would assume there is a waterproof problem and I have stopped wearing it.

But here are my questions:

1) hasn' t the watch been seriously damaged? I mean maybe some rust developped inside the watch, or whatever, making it necessary to replace the mechanism or parts of it. In this case it would be expensive I would assume, making it a safer bet to buy a brand new Breitling instread of fixing this one. What do you guys think?
2) I want to change the dial as I doubt they can clean it anyway, but I would like to change it with a different one as I never really fancied the original one. I don' t know where to find the colours that were available at the time for this watch and my Breitling official agent has no clue. He wants me to have the watch sent in for repair, and only then would Breitling tell my agent what is possible. So maybe someone can point me to an old brochure or pics, where I could see what was available at the time.

Thank you for your help!

uh, I' ve found this already, a 1985 catalogue scan. So the stuff I see on that page of their catalogue should fit isn' t it?

http://www.breitlingsource.com/books_1985.shtml

If it has got water in it (which it clearly has) then you need to get it looked at asap - the longer that you leave it the worse the damage will get.

In terms of a dial change, your biggest problem is likely to be finding a dial - get the movement addressed and any remaining moisture purged and then you can take the time trying to find a dial. With a watch of this age, I doubte Breitling will have any NOS dials.

thank you for your reply Roffensian.

From what you' re telling me it seems this won' t be easy (finding a dial) or cheap (fixing the mechanism). I' ll have it sent to Breitling by the dealer, and see how much they want to charge me.
If it' s too expensive, I don' t think I will bother anymore as I' ve already had some trouble with this oldie.

Dials usually cost around 70-100UK pounds, if the movement's quartz she wont be to costly, but if she's an automatic she will be expensive to fix.

Often you can find NOS breitling dials on certain auction sites.


Regs

Bry

A couple of years ago, I had picked up a 1981 Rolex Air King Date TT Jubilee with similar issues (at a steep discount; 500$ CASH).
I had it sent to RSC (in Toronto) and they sent me back the watch in 100% mint condition! Although it did cost me 1500$ for the entire service (new hands, new dial, new crown, new parts for the movement, new date wheel, new crystal, new gaskets and a complete lube job and waterproofing service), it was well worth it!

Do the complete service only if you really like the watch....

_________________
Rolex DeepSea, GMT Master II TT, Pres 18038, DJ TT 16013
Breitling Chronomat 39mm (bullet+UTC), Starliner SS/MOP (wife)

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