The Breitling Watch Source Forums

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!

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?

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Oyster Date '78, Blackbird chrono DLC '10, Blackbird chrono' 02, Navitimer Fighters '02, Aerospace Evo , Seamaster Chrono Diver 300' 02, Carrera cbm2110

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

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

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Regards

Steve

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.

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Collection
GMTIIc
Daytona
Nautilus 5711
Deep Sea D-Blue
Submariner Hulk
Tudor BB - FOR SALE
SOLD
Aerospace
Navitimer World
Bentley GT Racing
Cockpit
Navitimer 01 LE 788/2000

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?

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

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Emergency sqtz x2,Co-Pilot Module, UTCx2,Mission
Skyracer, Airwolf
Aerospace (96-00)
Superocean 42 x2
Chrono Cockpit x4
Chronoracer Rattrapante
Chrono Colt Qtz, Transocean x2
Chronomat B01,GMT,Evolution,Blackbird BS,GMT L/E
Avenger M1,Seawolf BS

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!

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Oyster Date '78, Blackbird chrono DLC '10, Blackbird chrono' 02, Navitimer Fighters '02, Aerospace Evo , Seamaster Chrono Diver 300' 02, Carrera cbm2110

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.

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Breitling B-1 1999
Breitling Chrono Superocean 2004
Casio G Shock
Citizen Eco Drive AT4000-02E (for gardening)
Seiko 5 SNZG15J1
Hamilton X Wind LE

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

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Oyster Date '78, Blackbird chrono DLC '10, Blackbird chrono' 02, Navitimer Fighters '02, Aerospace Evo , Seamaster Chrono Diver 300' 02, Carrera cbm2110

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.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

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.

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

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

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.