Breitling Superocean 42 - Face moving

[Resto157]

Went to pop my Superocean on this morning and noticed the face had turned. As I rotate the bezel (quickly) the face turns although not in time with the bezel.

A quick google search hasn’t thrown anything up. The watch is probably long overdue a service. I’ve owned it for 15 years, worn it on and off as a daily and never had it done in that time.

A known issue or something to worry about?

[Watchthis]

That looks like the full movement has turned but that shouldn't be possible due to the stem.

[Sy1441b]

Watchthis said:

That looks like the full movement has turned but that shouldn't be possible due to the stem.

Was thinking exactly the same. Stem must have broken off. If you unscrew the crown I'd expect it to come out.

[Resto157]

It’s definitely just the face, hands are still telling the correct time and working as normal. If I gently shake the watch I can hear the face rattle slightly.

[pistolpedro]

I think I’m right in saying this uses an ETA 2842 movement. These are normally held in place with a couple of case clamps, which tension the movement into the case as the clamp screws (threaded into the movement) are tightened. If the stem has snapped (I agree with the earlier suggestion), the case clamps would normally still provide sufficient purchase to hold the movement securely in position.

Maybe the clamps have worked loose over time and this has then put additional load into the stem, causing it to fail. If this is the case, it should be quite an easy fix for a watchmaker.

[minimalist]

This looks similar to what happened with my wife's Rolex. The underside of the dial has locating pins which align it with the movement below. These had somehow broken.

It was due a service so was fixed then.

[Geertsen]

Sy1441b said:

Watchthis said:

That looks like the full movement has turned but that shouldn't be possible due to the stem.

Was thinking exactly the same. Stem must have broken off. If you unscrew the crown I'd expect it to come out.

Why would the movement have to have turned also (just from the photo)? It does look like that but if just the dial moved it would look the same wouldn’t it...the date window has probably just lined up perfectly with a random date by chance...?

[Resto157]

Yes, it’s just coincidence, as the face moves it doesn’t always align with the date. The above explanation sounds most likely. Service it is then.

I will say it’s been rock solid for the 15 years I’ve had it. A very robust and versatile watch.

[Jamescrs]

Looks a nice watch and I’d say if this is the first issue in 15 years it’s done pretty well. I’m sure a service will sort it out.

[Deefor62]

A couple more small taps and it will be a destro

Agree with others that it should be relatively easy to sort out.

[NDA]

I doubt it needs a service if it's working normally - just some new dial clamps. The job of only a few minutes to be honest.

No harm in having a full service, but I only ever service my watches when they stop. The watch repairer will need to find the displaced parts - so that could get you into service territory.