Buying a Breitling is like buying a piece of fine art: You have spent hours researching your favorite watchmakers to find just the right one, you saved your money, and now you made your purchase. Unlike art, though, your Breitling isn’t meant to hang on a wall under a spotlight. Naturally, you’re going to wear it. That means your watch will go with you to work and likely join you on your morning jog or swim, exposing it to sweat, shock, water, temperature changes, and all sorts of other potentially damaging wear and tear.
(mauriciodss / pixabay)
While our Swiss-trained technicians here at Times Ticking are more than capable of repairing your Breitling should it fall victim to any damage, we have some basic Do’s and Don’ts to protect your watch and your investment.
DON’TS
Extreme Temps
Breitling watches are engineered to function best between the temperatures of 32°F/0°C and 122°F/50°C. You should avoid subjecting your watch to sustained extreme cold (below 32°F/0°C) or heat (above 140°F/60°C), including placing it in direct sunlight. Heat can damage the watch battery and cause the watch to malfunction, while cold will affect its precision. Immediately going from one extreme to the other, such as direct sunlight to underwater, is also discouraged, as it can cause thermal shock and possibly shatter your watch crystal. You might want to rethink wearing it to the beach if you plan on tanning and swimming.
Magnets
One of the things you paid for in your Breitling is its precision timekeeping. If you have a watch with a mechanical movement, magnets and electromagnetic fields will wreak havoc with its flawless accuracy, so do your best to keep your Breitling away from them. This can be difficult when so many things in our lives generate electromagnetic fields, such as our cell phones, tablets, and even some handbags. Don’t fret, though, as intermittent exposure usually has little to no effect. It’s prolonged exposure that you need to avoid. If you notice your watch starting to run faster or slower, you may need to send it to a full-service Breitling watch repair shop like ours for demagnetization. This is a process and will get your watch ticking accurately again in no time.
Shock and Water
A Breitling watch is built strong enough for intensive use, but you really want to avoid knocking it around or dropping it. As for underwater fun, you’ll want to make sure your watch is appropriately equipped for the right kind of pressure before taking that swim or dive off the coast. Breitlings are engineered to have a certain amount of water resistance, meaning the depth level and activity level at which the watch is tested. This level is described in meters or bars. For instance, a water resistance level of 3 bars/30 meters or 100 feet can only comfortably handle splashing in the waves. If you’re an avid swimmer, you’ll want to take your watch off unless its water resistance is at least 5 bars/50 meters or 165 feet. For waterskiing, shallower dives, and snorkeling, your watch’s water resistance level should be at least 10 bars/100 meters or 330 feet. Finally, if you’re a deep-diver, don’t go down with your Breitling unless it’s equipped for greater than 30 bars/300 meters or 1000 feet.
Another important thing is never to activate a watch’s chronograph pusher or rotating bezel underwater or when the watch is wet. The same goes for pulling the crown. If you have a screw-lock crown on your watch, make sure it’s in the locked position before getting wet. And finally, don’t jump in the pool unless you replace that leather band with a metal bracelet or rubber strap first. Leather doesn’t like water, pure and simple. If you suspect any of the watch gaskets or seals have failed and you have water damage, it’s probably best that you don’t try to fix the watch yourself. This is a job for Breitling watch repair pros.
DO’S
Clean Your Watch Regularly
A buildup of sweat and dust can irritate the skin and possibly oxidate the steel of the casing. Periodically take a toothbrush and some liquid soap and gently scrub the watch’s surface, including the bracelet. If the strap is leather, remove it before washing. Then rinse the case and bracelet under a light stream of tap water. Dry with an absorbent cloth.
Rinse After the Pool, Ocean
You should thoroughly rinse your Breitling under a light stream of tap water after each dip in the pool or other exposure to chlorinated water. That goes for saltwater exposure as well, especially if your case and bracelet are steel. Chlorine is a chemical that will accelerate the oxidation of steel, and it can degrade gold to the point of disintegration. While saltwater won’t affect gold, it does corrode steel over time. Both chlorine and saltwater also have the potential to discolor gems and corrode gem settings mounted to the surface of your watch casing or bracelet.
Store It
When you’re not wearing your watch, consider putting it back in its original case. Leaving it lying on your nightstand or the edge of the bathroom sink will increase the chances for exposure to shock, humidity, and dust, thus limiting its lifespan. Your watch is a valuable piece of jewelry. Pamper it a little.
Professional Maintenance
Breitling recommends you have your watch serviced every two years to check movement parameters and watch functions, change the seals, check the water resistance, clean the metal case and bracelet, and change the battery if it has a quartz movement. Times Ticking’s reputable technicians are well-versed in Breitling watch care and repair and are happy to assist you with everything from routine maintenance to urgent repairs. And you don’t have to live in Utah, as we accept watch repair orders from all over the nation through our online service.
If you take care of it correctly, your Breitling watch has the potential to last generations. Preventative care, regular maintenance, and a lot of TLC will ensure that your timepiece has a special place in your heart and on your wrist forever.
