Newbie with Type XXI dilemma

A warm greeting to all! I have been reading th purists forum for a few years now and have learned a great deal from it. This is my first post and I'm hoping to seek opinion of fellow watch enthusiast on the issue I have on hand. I purchased a Breguet Type XXI from the Singapore AD in Dec'05. It's a lovely watch and it is one of my favourite watch. Unfortunately 2 months ago I noticed a spot of rust on the base of the minute hand! (it's the hand with diamond shaped tip and rounded ends) I couldn't believe what I saw and after carefully examining it under a 10x loupe, it looks a lot like rust... The pic is attached, but in the lack of proper macro lense, that's the best shot I've got.

I'm considering whether I should send it in to have the cause examined and replacement done if necessary. However, I'm very particular about dust, finger prints, scratches etc. with any watch I own. After reading some of the posting and from personal experience, I am actually very reluctant to have the watch opened up at this point. I am wondering if anyone has experience with Breguet service and know if the watches are repaired locally or sent back to Breguet? Also is it too much to expect that the watch will come back dust-free (as far as anything beneath the glass is concern).

The watch is a keeper for me and I really need to build up some confidence before I send it in to fix.... Thank you in advance for you advise. Have a good day!

Available on the marketplace

BREGUET Breguet Transatlantique Type Xxi 3810BR Men's Used Watch #51026

22,600 USD

Pre-owned - Good · JP

View all Breguet on the marketplace →

Breguet Type XXI Flyback Chrono Date Auto Rose Gold 42mm Watch 3810BR/92/9ZU

17,450 USD

Pre-owned - Excellent · US

Breguet Type XXI Flyback Chronograph Rose Gold Brown 42mm 3810BR/92/9ZU Full Set

14,750 USD

Pre-owned - Good · US

Breguet Type XXI Flyback Chronograph Titanium Box/Papers 3815TI/HM/3ZU

11,500 USD

Pre-owned - Excellent · US

I have just had a very similar debate (see below)...

By: markkeenan : May 24th, 2007-08:53

on having a small adjustment made to a Type XX that i recently bought from breguet. I too am obsessed with having a spotless dial and my hesitation with having the watch adjusted was largely a function or whether it would come back in a different conditio...

Thank you for your replies. I am still very hesitant... There is no doubt that the watches are spotless coming out of the factory. That is somthing I felt might be comprimised if it is not handled properly @ service. Yes I'm very particular about dust, an...

I understand your anxiety.......-->

By: born13 : May 24th, 2007-23:45

I understand your anxiety. I, too, am a perfectionist in that way. What I would do if I were you was to send it in for service, putting in writing that the dial was clean, etc. and had this signed by both AD and I This would mean that if something went wr...

thanks

By: eyyeo : May 25th, 2007-20:51

On a positive note, you can't see the blemish...

By: tc88main : May 26th, 2007-10:59

...unless you run the chrono. However, since the watch is new and service is a long time away, I would opt for getting the center minute hand replaced now. As an owner of a XXI, its beauty is second to none and deserves to be free of imperfections. It wou...

ok, I have made my decision

By: eyyeo : May 27th, 2007-20:38

Thank you all for your comments, which helped mould my decision. I have decided to send the watch in and get it fix. Sound too much like a leap of faith for a simple thing like that. Silly me?...

good luck and

By: vlkcheng : May 28th, 2007-04:34

Tough But precise...

By: BHK9 : June 1st, 2007-23:29

Tough But precise decision.......... Hi, just want to share with you my experince with my 1st panerai.I bought it for about 2 weeks,and noticed that the power reserve indicator's nite luminous peel off from its hand.Ya.thats totally unacceptable. well,in ...

in the same shoes ; )

By: eyyeo : June 4th, 2007-16:47

Glad to know all is well for your watch. Nice one you got there! PAM93?

SWATCH Messed up my watch!!!

By: eyyeo : July 13th, 2007-08:04

I'm actually so upset that I didn't feel like talking, but just had to vent it out. I took the leap and send my watch to SWATCH service centre to rectify the OXIDIZED minute counter hand. I had the choice of sending it back to the factory or have a set of...

that sucks, I really hope they can make it right for you (nt)

By: ei8htohms : July 13th, 2007-18:51

Hmm....that's truly disappointing!

By: BHK9 : July 13th, 2007-21:52

Are we expecting too much from an imperfect world?

By: eyyeo : July 13th, 2007-22:25

Thank you gentlemen for your listening ears, I feel much better now. Having sleep on it (the matter, not the watch!) for one night, I 'm left thinking whether I'm expecting too much from services in general. Perhaps I should just accept that perfect servc...

Expect nothing less!

By: aegisfilmcompany : January 2nd, 2009-21:39

Happy or Sad Ending?

By: eyyeo : June 11th, 2010-01:34

Hi all, First and foremost a very warm hello to everyone. I have not been very active on the forum lately due to life's other commitment but felt really bad about not providing a closure to this post. My apologies that it took me so long to do it. So to c...

Just a little recount

By: aaronyeomp : June 11th, 2010-06:04

I recently purchased a La Tradition from a local AD, didn't notice anything until I got home and took out the 15x loupe to "admire"my new baby. Upon closer inspection, i discovered that the entry pallet had a AIR BUBBLE in it, to make matters worse, there...

Replaced, wow!

By: eyyeo : June 11th, 2010-16:51

Hi aaron, thanks for your post. You're very luck to have you watch replaced! Anyway, I already got my watch back in 2008, just posting to provide a (very) belated updated. The same service staff attended to me then and she's nice. I guess both our encount...

Breguet