done w/ breitling

[cleansocks]

I have three Breitlings and all three have developed problems with the crystal - either a scratch on the sapphire or warping of the antireflective coating.

Sent in almost brand new navitimer due to a (small) real scratch on the sapphire itself - $800 for a new crystal, plus they require full service. Refused, watch sent back, now the scratch is also surrounded by a section of the crystal whose sapphire coating is rubbed away as apparently they tried to remove the scratch with a polisher which wore away the antireflective coating. They denied doing this. So it's worse overall.

In 2021 I sent in my blackbird that was already fully serviced in the same year to get my dial swapped out for different color - 6 months later after the full service. They said the "watch was dried out" and required a full service. I refused citing full service 6mo prior. They agreed to just re-lube the movement since it was under warranty. Fast-forward to within the last couple months. Once again the anti-reflective coating is warped appearing with splotches so I sent it in the get the crystal changed out. $350 for a new crystal, and they report that the "movement is dried out" again and won't replace the crystal without a full service amounting to $1350. I refused citing service just a few years ago including re-lubrication and it's running fine and the movement shouldn't be dried out after just 3-4 years. They won't budge this time. They won't replace the crystal without full service. Refused and will receive back with another marred crystal.


I have an orbiter and the crystal has a giant scratch from a doorknob. I won't even bother this time.


I own several omegas and rolexes and this crystal damage issue is exclusive to Breitling, even with my omegas with antireflective coatings that overall I wear a lot more than the breitlings. The fact of the matter is Breitling is not Rolex and it's not the 90's anymore. They cannot pull this stuff without losing customer base. You can only sell to a dealer for 20% of their list price in many cases. So basically they're not even worth selling on.


The other little irritation is the bracelets I have that are non-microadjustable including the butterfly clasp on the navi and the pilot bracelet on blackbird are not comfortable or well-fitting. They're also extremely difficult to remove or add links oneself due to the 5-7 link design with the double screw heads.


All in all they're aesthetically very nice but enough is enough.

[77T]

I guess it's not good to scratch a Breitling crystal and sounds like the AR on the outer surface isn't very resilient.

Do the Rolex and Omega watches have scratches on their crystals too?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cleansocks]

Originally Posted by 77T

I guess it's not good to scratch a Breitling crystal and sounds like the AR on the outer surface isn't very resilient.

Do the Rolex and Omega watches have scratches on their crystals too?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nope never had any crystal issues with the 7 rolexes and 3 omegas I have

[dchang81]

I gave up on the brand due to their service dept. Send in a watch, got it back not running properly and they said I damaged it, and wanted me to pay for another full service.....

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by dchang81

I gave up on the brand due to their service dept. Send in a watch, got it back not running properly and they said I damaged it, and wanted me to pay for another full service.....

That’s not good

[RW16610]

Oh my, so sorry all of this happened and I agree with the anti reflective coatings. I really hope Breitling addresses this, especially at service centres in the United States.

[FloydRedford]

I’ve had similar issues. Breitling insists on a full service with a crystal swap. It’s a money grab and pisses me off. They vigilantly restrict access to parts even through their AD’s so you have to go through them to get a new crystal.

I do love the way the crystal “disappears” with the exterior AR coating, drastically reducing glare/reflections but get a scratch and you’ll have to live with it until service. It’s a shame because we should be able to get a new sapphire replaced for minimal cost/installation but Breitling has purposefully cornered the repair market so they can take our money.

Love the watches, not a fan of the company.

[FloydRedford]

Originally Posted by cleansocks

I have three Breitlings and all three have developed problems with the crystal - either a scratch on the sapphire or warping of the antireflective coating.

Sent in almost brand new navitimer due to a (small) real scratch on the sapphire itself - $800 for a new crystal, plus they require full service. Refused, watch sent back, now the scratch is also surrounded by a section of the crystal whose sapphire coating is rubbed away as apparently they tried to remove the scratch with a polisher which wore away the antireflective coating. They denied doing this. So it's worse overall.

In 2021 I sent in my blackbird that was already fully serviced in the same year to get my dial swapped out for different color - 6 months later after the full service. They said the "watch was dried out" and required a full service. I refused citing full service 6mo prior. They agreed to just re-lube the movement since it was under warranty. Fast-forward to within the last couple months. Once again the anti-reflective coating is warped appearing with splotches so I sent it in the get the crystal changed out. $350 for a new crystal, and they report that the "movement is dried out" again and won't replace the crystal without a full service amounting to $1350. I refused citing service just a few years ago including re-lubrication and it's running fine and the movement shouldn't be dried out after just 3-4 years. They won't budge this time. They won't replace the crystal without full service. Refused and will receive back with another marred crystal.


I have an orbiter and the crystal has a giant scratch from a doorknob. I won't even bother this time.


I own several omegas and rolexes and this crystal damage issue is exclusive to Breitling, even with my omegas with antireflective coatings that overall I wear a lot more than the breitlings. The fact of the matter is Breitling is not Rolex and it's not the 90's anymore. They cannot pull this stuff without losing customer base. You can only sell to a dealer for 20% of their list price in many cases. So basically they're not even worth selling on.


The other little irritation is the bracelets I have that are non-microadjustable including the butterfly clasp on the navi and the pilot bracelet on blackbird are not comfortable or well-fitting. They're also extremely difficult to remove or add links oneself due to the 5-7 link design with the double screw heads.


All in all they're aesthetically very nice but enough is enough.

You might consider removing the AR coating. I did it with an Old Navitimer I once owned. It’s as simple as using a cape cod cloth or some polywatch and a rag, plus some elbow grease. Takes about a half hour with diligent rubbing. The crystal will look clear and scratch free. You just won’t enjoy the anti-glare effect that the exterior AR coating provides, although it will still have the interior AR coating intact.

You may actually prefer the look. Btw, Rolex doesn’t use exterior AR, only interior reportedly because of the shiny flashy effect that some may find desirable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by FloydRedford

I’ve had similar issues. Breitling insists on a full service with a crystal swap. It’s a money grab and pisses me off. They vigilantly restrict access to parts even through their AD’s so you have to go through them to get a new crystal.

I do love the way the crystal “disappears” with the exterior AR coating, drastically reducing glare/reflections but get a scratch and you’ll have to live with it until service. It’s a shame because we should be able to get a new sapphire replaced for minimal cost/installation but Breitling has purposefully cornered the repair market so they can take our money.

Love the watches, not a fan of the company.

I would question if they ever even complete a full service.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AF_Rob]

I've had similar issues with the AR coating on a SuperOcean from over 10 years ago. Sad to hear they haven't gotten better. Maybe internal coatings are the way to go. Perhaps that doesn't make sense, don't know.

[cleansocks]

Originally Posted by shaunylw

I would question if they ever even complete a full service.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agree - a few years ago 6 months after a movement service they said that the movement was "dry" and I was able to show them with service receipt I had luckily kept that they needed to rectify that issue since it was within the warranty period of the last movement service. 3-4 years later with the crystal swap request, they said they same thing: "the movement is dry." So that means either they use magically evaporating lubricant, or they never fixed the "dryness" the first time, or this is their standard line to justify an unnecessary repair.

[cleansocks]

Originally Posted by FloydRedford

You might consider removing the AR coating. I did it with an Old Navitimer I once owned. It’s as simple as using a cape cod cloth or some polywatch and a rag, plus some elbow grease. Takes about a half hour with diligent rubbing. The crystal will look clear and scratch free. You just won’t enjoy the anti-glare effect that the exterior AR coating provides, although it will still have the interior AR coating intact.

You may actually prefer the look. Btw, Rolex doesn’t use exterior AR, only interior reportedly because of the shiny flashy effect that some may find desirable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just worry I'll mess it up even more !

[Driver8]

I've been a huge Breitling fan for over 30 years, including through the "design dark ages" in the last couple of years of the Schneider family ownership just before Kern and CVC (and now Partners Group) took over. I initially had high hopes, but I think the fact Breitling are now owned by private equity firms, means that profit, profit, profit is way more important than customer service these days. Very sad really, as Breitling during the majority of the Schneider era were by far my favourite watch brand for many years.

And to the OP's original point - yes it's "just" the external AR coating that's scratched. It's the trade-off between having a crystal that basically looks like it's not there, vs a lower hardness rating that the sapphire underneath.

[FloydRedford]

Originally Posted by Driver8

I've been a huge Breitling fan for over 30 years, including through the "design dark ages" in the last couple of years of the Schneider family ownership just before Kern and CVC (and now Partners Group) took over. I initially had high hopes, but I think the fact Breitling are now owned by private equity firms, means that profit, profit, profit is way more important than customer service these days. Very sad really, as Breitling during the majority of the Schneider era were by far my favourite watch brand for many years.

And to the OP's original point - yes it's "just" the external AR coating that's scratched. It's the trade-off between having a crystal that basically looks like it's not there, vs a lower hardness rating that the sapphire underneath.

It’s sad really. Private equity has ruined quality among many industries, increased costs, and lowered employee wages. It’s especially dreadful in the healthcare space. Extracting profit to pay more middlemen and wealthy investors is the name of the game, even if it means bankrupting the original business.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Driver8]

Originally Posted by FloydRedford

It’s sad really. Private equity has ruined quality among many industries, increased costs, and lowered employee wages. It’s especially dreadful in the healthcare space. Extracting profit to pay more middlemen and wealthy investors is the name of the game, even if it means bankrupting the original business.

Ain't that the truth.