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Shocked at service cost!
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Author:  1952 [ Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:26 am ]
Post subject:  Shocked at service cost!

My Blackbird Blacksteel has been running slow for a while, so I contacted Breitling UK for a price to overhaul it.

The reply was in gbp: 540 plus 18 shipping! :shock:

Dear god, either I don't appreciate the cost of technical labour these days or the horology world has jumped a decades worth of inflation since I last had a Navitimer serviced which cost about 200 less. So what is the justification for it?

Author:  Roffensian [ Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

Well to be fair the service is very thorough as evidenced by the videos, but bottom line, it's a monopoly and they can charge what they like.

If it's a BB BS it should only need a maintenance service though, not full. I assume that It is not under warranty

Author:  poppydog [ Mon Mar 17, 2014 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

Good grief, I just received notification that my Sub is ready to collect, and it's considerably less than that :shock: My Seadweller cost £430 in August 2012.

Author:  Phill_78 [ Tue Mar 18, 2014 5:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

I wouldn't think you need a complete service if you just want your watch to run within COSC. A movement regulation would be enough, unless there are wear and tear problems with some parts of the movement.

Author:  wrangler [ Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

For comparison, I was just quoted $560 by BUSA to overhaul my Navitimer World, plus $106.80 for hands, and $30 for freight. Is there a VAT included in the UK quotes?

Author:  Straffordwhites [ Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

I'm prity sure that the uk price will include VAT as unlike the USA the price you see is the price you pay as the VAT is always included in the price

Author:  1952 [ Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

Thanks for your replies.
Yes that price was to include the vat. They said that was for a full overhaul. It's been over 4 years since manufacture so it may well need a full strip down. I'm not expecting them to do anything with the dlc case.
I think I wanted a full movement service but didn't expect the price to be so high. That was my gripe really....

As it happens my favoured authorised omega service centre are going to service my carrera after I dropped it on the floor and they quoted me 340 to do the blackbird.
sheeesh......
This is when I'm glad to have superquartz to rely on!

Author:  zak57 [ Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

I have always trusted the service and overhaul of my Breitlings to BUK but the prices are making me wonder whether I can justify such costs on old watches that are worth perhaps only twice that cost.

Author:  1952 [ Tue Mar 18, 2014 2:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

I have never been disappointed by BUKs commitment to quality either (better than Rolex UK imo) but the rising costs are killing me. I'll have to lighten the collection I think :(

Author:  Tim S [ Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

I have to agree that I was a little shocked at the service cost. I just had my Navi 5 year service completed; they did a very good job, no complaints at all with the quality or work done, and I did have to have a chrono button replaced that had fallen off, but at nearly $1,000 it was a little much in my opinion. Still that's the price you pay so all good. The watch looks and runs fantastically well.

Author:  amnesia [ Wed Mar 19, 2014 1:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

Current UK prices...

http://www.breitling.com/multimedia/pdf/sav/sav-894.pdf

Expect to be shafted by your AD if you don't send your watch to Breitling UK directly.
My Emergency Mission overhaul cost me just over £300 a couple of years ago. A local AD quoted me five or six hundred.

Author:  wrangler [ Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

Breitling USA prices for comparison: http://www.breitling.com/multimedia/pdf ... v-1219.pdf

Author:  bwiese [ Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

Why do they charge such a premium for 01 movements? Wouldn't it be the exact same process for an eta movement?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Author:  natesen [ Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

bwiese wrote:
Why do they charge such a premium for 01 movements? Wouldn't it be the exact same process for an eta movement?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk


Because they can :)

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Author:  Roffensian [ Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Shocked at service cost!

With ETA parts are readily available and produced by the million. With in house the pieces are made in much smaller quantities - simple economies of scale. Additionally, not all Breitling watchmakers are trained / certified on the in house movements so fewer skilled resources available.

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