Watch care

Like all leather objects (shoes, gloves, etc) a leather strap needs to be carefully cared for in order to maintain its beauty in the long term. Protect leather straps from water, perspiration, damp, grease, perfume, cosmetics or chemicals, and avoid excessive exposure to the sun. The use of Breitling’s care kit (available from brand retailers) will help increase the lifespan of leather straps and maintain their appearance and their supple feel.

Leather does not like water. For aquatic activities, very humid or damp places, or climates that result in intense perspiration, a metal bracelet or rubber strap is better.

Following every immersion in chlorinated or salt water, carefully rinse your watch under a thin stream of tap water (not powerful), and dry it with an absorbent cloth.

Perspiration and dust on watch cases and bracelets can result in skin irritations, and in the long term, oxidation of the steel. To avoid these deposits, clean the strap periodically using a toothbrush and liquid soap, and rinse the strap and the case under a gentle stream of water (not powerful) and dry with an absorbent cloth. For watches with a leather strap, follow the same rules but do not wet the strap. If the leather is splashed, absorb the liquid as fast as possible with a cloth.

All Breitling products have a certain degree of water resistance, described in meters or in bars (1 bar ~ 10 m ~ approx. 33 ft). This level of water resistance refers to a technical standard, based on the pressure the watch would be exposed to, during a static immersion at a certain depth (for example 50 m / 165 ft). However, the movements of the owner (diving, jumping, swimming...), as well as the force of water in motion (shower jets, river currents, waterfalls...) can considerably increase this pressure. Therefore a water resistance level of 5 bar (50 m / 165 ft) does not entail that the watch can be worn in motion at this depth; it means the watch is intended for the corresponding activities described in the table below.

Water resistance checks/Replacement of seals

The water resistance of the case is ensured by a sophisticated seal system. These seals undergo the ravages of a number of external factors (perspiration, heat, temperature changes, ultraviolet rays, chlorine or salt water, chemicals, cosmetics, dust...). To remain as effective as possible, they need to be replaced regularly. In the event of intensive use in water, we recommend to exchange all gaskets in the frame of a maintenance service every year. Otherwise they should be changed every two years (and imperatively when the battery is changed on quartz models). Generally speaking, it is advisable to have a water resistance test performed once a year (ideally before the swimming season), or else every second year, by an authorized Breitling maintenance center or retailer.

Five essential precautions in the realm of water resistance

• Never activate the chronograph pushers under water or when the watch is wet (apart from Breitling models equipped with a patented magnetic pusher system that is water resistant up to 2000 meters). The same criteria apply to the rotating bezels (slide rules) of the Navitimer and Montbrillant models.
• Never pull out and use a crown under water or if the watch is wet (this applies to both standard and screw-lock crowns).
• If your watch is equipped with a screw-lock crown, ensure that this is locked before any use in water. This also applies to screw-lock pushers.
• Never try and open the case yourself.
• In the event of water or condensation under the crystal, take the watch to a Breitling retailer or authorized service center as quickly as possible.
• Never use bracelets other than metal bracelets and rubber straps in water.