Breitling Aerospace Battery Replacement

[mli...@my-dejanews.com]

Can anybody offer advice on the most cost effective way to
have a battery replaced in a Breitling Aerospace. I live in
the Boston area, can a local jeweler do this?

The last time I brought it to an authorized dealer it cost
$150 and took 6 weeks! There must be a better way.

Any info appreciated.

Mark

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[Hank Eskin]

Hi Mark,

I just bought an Aerospace two days ago in NYC. The shop
I bought it from - Tourneau gave me lifetime battery replacement
for the watch - for which they claimed the price would normally
be $25 for each replacement. So, go find a reputable jeweler -
it should be about that price. I certainly wouldn't pay more.
Good luck.

- Hank

p.s. I also live in Boston, so I'll either have to go to NYC
to have my battery replaced for free, or find a place in Boston.
So, please let me know what you find! Thanks.

[Hank Eskin]

That's the best part - Tourneau will re-seal the watch to
factory specs. If that's important to an Aerospace owner,
be sure to verify that the repair shop will do this.

- Hank

"John W. Barron" wrote:
>
> On the advice of a selling dealer who did not have onsite repair suggested I
> take it downstairs to a Sears jewlery and watch repair department. I paid
> $10.00. She was careful to warn me that there was no warrenty on the
> waterproof nature of case after she opened it. Since I don't swim nor bathe
> with my watches, I was satisfied. The case back snaps into place, much to my
> surprise!

> --
> John W. Barron
> j.w.b...@worldnet.att.net
> PCS Mobile Phone: 919-272-2384
>
> Avoyelles Parish (LA) Web Page:
> http://www.mindspring.com/~jwbarron/avoyeles.htm

[John W. Barron]

[Hank Eskin]

That's the best part - Tourneau will re-seal the watch to
factory specs. If that's important to an Aerospace owner,
be sure to verify that the repair shop will do this.

- Hank

[mli...@my-dejanews.com]

Thanks for the info. I was going to Alpha Omega Jewelers in
Harvard Square, where I bought the watch. It is important for
it to be correctly sealed since I do swim and shower with the watch on.

Is it easy to remove the back? Could I do this myself?

Mark

In article <36228872...@ix.netcom.com>,

[Wayne]

I too live just outside of Boston and did purchase my Aerospace at
AlphaOmega. When asked last year they quoted $100 and two weeks.
Not satisfied with either I spent $3 on the battery and did it myself.

You need a flat strong blade to snap off the back. You have to be very
careful because the case scratches easily. Once off it takes just a
minute to swap batteries. The seal is a greased o-ring. You need to be
careful to position it correctly in its groove when you snap the back
back on. The only tricky part is that you have to apply even pressure
to the cover or it will not go on correctly. All is well with the
watch in and out of water.

[sharp...@webtv.net]

There is no mystique connected to this very straight-forward watch. I
routinely change batteries in this watch for 10.00, which includes
checking all seals and functions. My loyal customers send me their
watches from all over the world, and I can conservatively estimate that,
over the years, I have successfully installed over 100,000 watch
batteries. Allan L. Menkin, AWI, NAWCC

[Hank Eskin]

Ok guys, having just bought my Aerospace, can I ask how much you
paid for it at AlphaOmega? I visited them several times, but I think I was
able to get a better deal in NYC. Which model did you purchase,
and with which strap/bracelet? For instance, I bought the black face
"repetition minutes" with the gold markers, and a leather strap for
$1,325 plus $25 shipping (no tax). It was an authorized dealer; they
also threw in a nice pocket knife and a Mont-blanc leather wallet,
as well as 3 years additional warrantee and lifetime free battery
replacement. I'm not trying to brag - I just got the feeling that
A/O was not very willing to negotiate...

- Hank

[mli...@my-dejanews.com]

Allan...Are you in the Boston area? Nothing personal,
but I will only deal with a known jeweler with a
store front and maybe a few BBB decals.

Hank...Its been about 5 years. If memory serves I paid about
$1100. But thats quite a whila ago. Sounds to me like you
got a good deal. My experience is that AO will deal, maybe
you tried to push them below their min price. Also, just
called their Burlington office. Was quotes $40 and 1 week
turn time. Maybe they are learning.

Mark

In article <5504-362...@newsd-143.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,

-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------

[sharp...@webtv.net]

Mark: We've been located in New York City for 23 years, have a retail
location on 3rd Ave., and I'm not looking to solicit any additional
business (have more than I can handle). I am a certified watchmaker
affiliated with the American Watchmakers Institute, and the National
Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. I do watch appraisals for
major watch auction houses, and we have a large internet business site.
Hope my credentials meet your scrutiny. By the way, we have never, in
all the years we're in business, lost a customers timepiece, and I would
suggest you find a qualified watchmaker, rather than a BBB sticker.
Have a good one, Allan

[Norman M. Schwartz]

Do the hour numerals (12, 3, 6, and 9) appear "slanted" as I've seen them
on the newest Aerospaces?
Norman

Hank Eskin <he...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in article
<3623A1DA...@ix.netcom.com>...

[Hank Eskin]

Nope, not on mine. I did see that on the 18K gold version (with
black strap, about $7,000). I personally don't like the new slanted
look.

- Hank

[Greg Reid]

Holy cow that's nearly 3 a day for the last 100 years!

Greg

[sharp...@webtv.net]

Greg. I knew someone, with nothing better to do, would make a sarcastic
reply. I do a MINIMUM of 100 batteries a week, not 3 a day, and that
has been my bread and butter for over 23 years, BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
Allan

[Greg Reid]

If you do that many and can make a liveing at it, good for you. Better
that then some other jobs I've heard of like ...cleaning yards of dog
poop, yep that's all they do.

Greg

P.S. Yep I'm the sarcastic smart ass, my one humble claim to fame!

In article <6109-36...@newsd-141.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,

[mli...@my-dejanews.com]

A happy ending. I just spent $2.50, got a small screw
driver, popped the back off and replaced the battery.
Anybody with a little care and 1/2 a brain can do this!
The back must be pressed on firmly, making sure the o-ring is
properly installed. Wow....what a hosing I took the
first time I had this done for $175.00!!!!!!
Thanks for all your comments. Never again will
I return this to my local jeweler for a battery replacement.

Mark

In article <6vrkbd$ck2$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,

mli...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
> Can anybody offer advice on the most cost effective way to
> have a battery replaced in a Breitling Aerospace. I live in
> the Boston area, can a local jeweler do this?
>
> The last time I brought it to an authorized dealer it cost
> $150 and took 6 weeks! There must be a better way.
>
> Any info appreciated.
>
> Mark
>

[The Baron]

You forgot to take into consideration that the battery probably cost 23
cents that's why there is such a high mark up. I have heard costs of $175
down to $50 from folks in this group before and could not understand. Guess
they don't shop Radio Shack or Kmart or if they have a watch that costs
$2000 they couldn't possibly imagine it using a $3.00 battery(23 cents).
Kmart and Wal-Mart will usually install the battery , for free.
mli...@my-dejanews.com wrote in message
<70qkmo$v7r$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...