Breitling is a long time watchmaker going back to 1884. They make high end luxury Swiss watches and they are notoriously expensive to both buy and repair. Most local watch or jewelry repair shops can handle a Breitling, but you need to be aware of how that can impact the warranty. In this article I will address where to find a Breitling repair, warranty information, dealing with an authorized service center, and how the Breitling Watch Repair near me operates.
Breitling Watch Repair Near Me – Find a Breitling Repair Shop
If you are looking for “Breitling watch repair near me”, use the map below…
Your local watch repair or jeweler can fix most problems with any watch including a Breitling. The downside however is that these are not authorized service centers. Simply having a local repair place work on your timepiece can void the warranty.
Unauthorized Breitling Watch Repair Shops
Local repair places can fix a Breitling but any work they perform can void your warranty. This is because they are likely not an authorized service center licensed by Breitling. That doesn’t mean you can’t take it to a local shop. Many local shops will perform great work. What they can’t do however is honor your warranty, guarantee their work, and may actually void your warranty.
So why does anyone take a watch to a local repair place?
Small shops tend to perform work faster and you can can talk directly to a technician. It is a matte of convenience and better customer experience. If your warranty is expired anyway then you are als0 not worried about voiding it.
Authorized service centers often take weeks to repair a watch and you will not speak directly to a tech. In most cases you will mail your watch in and communicate online electronically. You can take your watch to a Breitling boutique, but they will likely not fix it on site. Typically they are mailed out and the boutique manages the repair on your behalf.
How Long is The Warranty on My Breitling Watch?
A Breitling watch has a 2 year limited warranty. It covers manufacturer defects and craftsmanship only. There is an additional 5 year warranty on the movement. In order to maintain the warranty your watch needs to under go a water resistance test every two years at an authorized service center.
The warranty is pretty standard and does not cover normal wear and tear. This means parts like the band, straps, crystal, and the battery are no covered. Any damage you cause to the watch will not be covered.
If you need to make a claim on the warranty you must present the electronic warranty card you received at purchase. That is how you prove that the warranty is active and that the watch was purchased from an authorized dealer.
The warranty also points out what constitutes unauthorized repairs. Any repairs performed on the watch by a person other then an authorized Breitling technician voids the warranty. You also must remember that includes you, if you choose to do any of your own repair work.
You can view the Breitling warranty here.
Breitling Battery Replacement
Some Breitling watch models contain a battery. You should replace the battery evert one to three years. If your battery has died you should consider changing it right away. A dead battery can leak and damage other parts of the watches mechanics.
A battery swap can be done easily by a local shop and to be honest isn’t hard to do on your own. It can be done with a case holder, case knife, tweezers, and a mini screwdriver. Just be aware that you are putting your warranty at risk by doing the battery change yourself. My best advise is to let a pro do it and preferably an authorized service center.
You can check this conversion chart if the battery in the watch is not the same as what you find available.
Crystal Repair Work
The crystal is what some people refer to as the watch glass. It protects that hands and the dial. Most Breitling’s feature a sapphire crystal. Sapphire crystal is known to scratch resistant, but prone to shattering when hit hard enough.
Sapphire crystal are also one of the most expensive to repair. For any issues with the crystal you should seek a pro to perform the work.
Replacing the Band or Strap
The cost of replacing the band or strap depends on the type of material you want. If you are upgrading from a silver band to a titanium band you can expect to pay a premium price. Breitling has many options for bands and straps. The choices range from premium leathers through finest metals. Changing out the strap or band on certain models can be done with the use of a spring pen.
To keep the costs down on a strap replacement there are many 3rd party options that will fit on a Breitling watch.
Resizing the Watch
Resizing is one of the most common services at a watch repair shop. It not only establishes a custom fit, but functionally it secures your watch to your wrist to keep it safe.
Resizing a strap made of leather, rubber, fabric is possible by punching new holes or moving the clasp. Eventually though you run out of material to work with. Metal bands are easier to resize. For those it’s a matter of adding or removing links to get the size correct.
Crown and Stem Work
The crown is the knob that protrudes from the side of the case allowing you to adjust time, date, and other functions. Damage to the crown on it’s own is not a difficult repair. The trouble with crown damage is that in many cases the internal pin, called the stem, is also damaged.
If you have issues with the crown on a Breitling I recommend getting a professional to look at it. There are instances where the internal movement is also impacted if the stem gets pushed in to far.
Crown and stem work are technical and should be done by a pro only. On newer Breitling’s the parts should be available. On a vintage Breitling though crown and stem work are more challenging particularly with the stem. If a vintage time piece needs a new stem it needs to be found on the secondary market or a new one needs to be fabricated. This adds time and money to the repair work.
Movement Overhauls and Repairs
Breitling has one of the best movement warranties in the business as long as you keep up your service. These watches feature two kinds of movements the calibre B01 and calibre B04, or a B01 with an added GMT module. Work on the movement can be very expensive and complicated.
The older the watch is the harder it is to find parts. If you need an overhaul on a vintage Breitling expect it to take awhile as the parts are difficult to locate.
Mailing in Your Breitling to a Customer Service Center
If you ’can’t find Breitling watch repair near me an authorized service center is your best option. This will mean mailing in your watch and being without it. Even if you take it to a Breitling boutique, they don’t do anything beyond basic repairs in house.
Breitling calls their service an “Intervention”. This is what they refer to watch repair work as. When the authorized service center does any work for you they will guarantee it for 12 months after it is completed.
The authorized service center is the only place that you can have your warranty honored. Should your repair request be covered by the warranty there will be no charge for the work. Any repair request not covered under warranty will generate an estimate for the work. If you chose not to have the work done, they will mail the watch back.
To make a claim on your warranty, you must provide your electronic warranty card.
To find an authorized service center you can go here.
Tips For Mailing In Your Watch
Here are some best practices for mailing a watch to a service center:
- Write on an index card the issue you are having. Be very specific with the details.
- Estimate the watches value and write it on the index card.
- Add our name, address, email, and phone number on the index card.
- If you have a warranty claim, write that on the card.
- Insure the package fr the estimated value of the watch.
- Pack the watch in padding to protect it in shipping.
- Follow all instructions on the manufacturers website.
Can you Fix a Breitling Yourself?
You can fix basic Breitling watch issues yourself, but I do not advise it. These are high end luxury watches and keeping the warranty in tact is important. Doing any work yourself other then cleaning it puts your timepiece at risk of additional damage such as scratching the case and bezel or damaging internal components.
Other Resources
Here are other helpful resources…
- Reddit: Breitling
- Breitling Source Forum
- Watch U Seek: Breitling Thread
- TimeZone Forum: Breitling Thread
- Official Breitling Homepage
Breitling Watch Repair Near Me Conclusion
Breitling makes a great Swiss watch and uses all Swiss parts and components. While these watches are expensive to repair, I caution you in trying to cut corners by doing work yourself. While your local watch repair or jeweler are a good option, you need to consider the impact on the warranty. This is what I have learned from the Breitling watch repair near me.
