The Breitling Colt was introduced in the 1980s with a specific purpose: to serve as a reliable and robust timepiece for the armed forces. Following in the footsteps of military-focused predecessors like the Chronomat, the Colt was designed for maximum legibility and durability, featuring a no-nonsense dial with luminescent markers and a sturdy case with a wide bezel and raised rider tabs to protect the crystal. While its initial military focus was clear, its rugged charm, precision, and accessible price point soon attracted a much broader civilian audience. Over its lifespan, the Colt collection evolved, offering a variety of models including chronographs and three-hand watches with both mechanical and Breitling’s high-precision “SuperQuartz” movements, and even a “Lady” version
This Breitling Colt arrived with us in need of a full service and repair. The movement powering the watch is a high grade ETA 7750 – one of the most popular, quality chronograph movements. Versions of the 7750 are used by many high-quality Swiss watch houses, like TAG Heuer and Omega.
Breitling Colt Service – Servicing the Breitling Colt 7750 Movement
As always we begin by checking the functions of the watch and the external condition. The watch is obviously dirty and the glass is an aftermarket replacement with lots of scratches. Our client has asked us to replace this, which won’t be a problem. In terms of the functions, We check if it winds up (both by hand and automatically), hand setting, date change and the chronograph. Everything appeared to be in reasonable working order, though there was some obvious wear to the reverser. It’s important to ensure your watch is serviced every 3-5 years, this will ensure it continues to function as it should.
When we disassemble the watch we start by removing the rotor, before putting the movement into a movement holder specific for this calibre. We do this to ensure it is held securely so we can concentrate on carefully extracting the hands.
We’ve discussed servicing a 7750 chronograph previously, though we have not touched upon removing the hands. This can often be a little awkward with certain brands, in particular Breitling, as their hands are pressed on extremely tight. This watch has clearly been serviced in the past, as the centre chronograph hand cooperated and came off without a hitch.
With the dial and hands removed we can continue with disassembly. Disassembling this watch is rather involved, as we need to check many of the 250+ components to ensure they are in good condition. As noted, the reverser is worn, we will also replace the mainspring as standard to ensure we have a reliable source of power for many years to come.
Cleaning, Reassembly, and Replacing the Glass
With the movement fully disassembled and checked, it is cleaned – going through a cycle in our Elma Solvex RM automatic cleaning machine. Once parts are completely clean and dried, we can commence reassembly of the movement. During reassembly, we followed our usual servicing procedure, following the manufacturer’s technical guidelines in terms of oil and grease usage and other treatments.
We work on the case separately from the movement. We fully disassemble the case, removing the pushers, tube, bezel, glass and gaskets. Everything is rather dirty and in need of a thorough clean. We do this in our ultrasonic cleaning machine, before we also give the case a light polish and refinish. We then give another ultrasonic clean before fitting the replacement glass and glass seal.
With the movement reassembled, we can case this Breitling Colt before testing it for water resistance. It then moves on test to ensure good timekeeping within tolerance, appropriate power reserve, and correct functioning. Once testing is complete, it is released ready for collection by our client. If you’re interested in the process of watch repairs, or you have any questions about servicing your watch, contact us using our Ask the Watchmaker form.
If your timepiece needs servicing or restoration, contact us today or visit us in store to discuss how our expert team can bring your watch back to its best.
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