Owch. That's watch "service" for you. What gets me is the workings is probably a generic ETA movement, and being a quartz a further cheaper movement than a mechanical one. I bet the innards cost less than £100, so the main factor is the labour, and repairing/replacing anything else damaged by the corrosion (hands dials etc).

Daft thing is, its these "service" costs that are the reason why I hate mechanical watches, but it seems that branded quartz watches suffer the same.

Anyhows, I thought that having a watch tested for water resistance included the sealing of the crown wheel (unless it was left pulled out ).

 

Funny I had an aerospace and never had any water probelms now have a Breitling B1 which has been serviced (new battery)and used in water and even a very hot steam room with no problems. I think you should check to see if it was the shop that serviced the watch or Breitling themselves (mine was sent to breitling) if it was the shop then maybe you can sue them.

 

Is it covered under your insurance policy (accidental damage)?

 

Thanks Paul - that is something I could check.

Re the crown the shop that changed the battery said they tested it with the crown OUT and it was still waterproof to below 5 bar. Why does none of this make any sense?!

D

 

suggest you visit Consumer Direct
for help

 

Conclusion - its £500 to fix or s*d off...

I roped in the Swiss HQ but they all say that as the watch is still waterproof I MUST have operated the crown underwater. I know I didnt, so I guess the moral of the story is dont spend more than £100 on a b watch, as, when a well designed, expensive watch floods for no reason there goes your 'investment'.

I mean, who actually twiddles the crown when they are having a swim? And ANYWAY an expensive, quality Swiss watch 'waterproof to 100m' should surely cope with any accidental nudge on the winder (if it ever even happened) when swimming?

Bunch of B's and will make sure the guys on the Breitling forum find out too. Bout all that is left to me as recompense as I am not splashing out (ahem ) for a £500 fix on a watch that might ruin itself at will again.

D

 

Forgive the question Diesel

But why do you need to wear your watch when swimming anyway?

Shaun

 

Only cos its safer than taking it off and leaving it on the deckchair mate! Ohh and cos I like pushing buttons underwater of course

D

 

Have to tried an independent watch repairer for a quote? Steve at Ryte Time would be a good place to start. Not really what you want, but when you cant get them to shoulder their responsibility, plan B has to be getting the watch repaired properly for as little as possible to mitigate your loss.

Simon

 

Send them a letter, get an independant test to show that the watch was not sealed then after 28 days file papers at your nearest court, for £500 they cannot recover their costs so will either fail to turn up or pay up to save time and money.