Some pilot chronograph twins: Heuer, Sinn, Leonidas, Breitling and Zenith.

Sep 08, 2017,08:18 AM
 

Some were issued for the German and Norwegian  Army Pilots, others for the Italian Pilots. But all have the same look, with a slight reserve for the Zenith, which is very close but not totally the same. 


Let's see hat in pictures. 

Sinn, 






Leonidas ( EI: Esercito Italiano ), 




Breitling ( E.I ) 




Heuer, 




And the Zenith... Which also has a different movement, the others housing a Valjoux 222 or 236. While the Zenith houses a Cal 146 DP. 




The Breitling is the smaller among these, with a 39, 5 mm case, while the others are 43 mm big. 

That would be a superb theme of collection, don't you think? 

The rarest is certainly the Norwegian Heuer, then the italian Breitling and  Zenith. 

Best,

Nicolas

PS: Credit pictures: For the Breitling: Radium Stash. 

For the Leonidas: Vintage Breitling dot com. 

For the Zenith: Revolution. 

For the Sinn: Chronex.de. 


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Really like Breitling 817 Cronometro - stunning one

 
 By: Joepny : September 8th, 2017-08:50
I still do not understand why the Italian Defense Ministry sold a big lot of them through an opaque process recently. Any Italian PuristS who can shed light on it? Why didn't they consign them to an established watch auction house so there would have been... 

You mean the auction in October 2016? They thought they could do it by themselves, I think.

 
 By: amanico : September 8th, 2017-08:53
This Breitling is super tempting. Best, Nicolas

Yes that one.

 
 By: Joepny : September 8th, 2017-09:05
It's a shame but all in the past now. I'm going to hunt for that Breitling if I can get my act together.

Isn't the Sinn...

 
 By: KMII : September 8th, 2017-10:00
Just a redialled Heuer? Sinn used to service them and later some dials were replaced with Sinn branded ones. There is even a later Sinn model, with the same case and bezel but an automatic, 7750 based movement, 155 I believe. But they are all quite appeal... 

Well...

 
 By: KMII : September 8th, 2017-10:29
I just found out that Helmut Sinn was involved from the start, so you could say it both ways

great thread Amanico. The most valuable among these is the Cairelli because it has a much better quality and more refined movement

 
 By: georgeszaslavsky : September 8th, 2017-11:00
The Heuer Bundeswehr and the Leonidas EI were both the same watch because later there was an absorption from Leonidas by Heuer and both were powered by the valjoux 230 with the Flyback function where as the Breitling had the 222 with the Flyback function ... 

Georges you know these vintage calibres so well

 
 By: Joepny : September 8th, 2017-12:10
thanks for the info. 👍

Superb a great theme

 
 By: emcquillan : September 8th, 2017-19:28
For me the Zenith is tops. Flawless. I'm partial to dress watches as I wear a suit every day and divers as I love the water, so the lack of pilot watches on my hard drive isn't a reflection of a lack of appreciation, but rather circumstances and perspecti... 

Those kind of military issued watches are really amazing.

 
 By: Freccero : September 9th, 2017-03:06
Always loved their bezel, the high readability and masculine look. The two Italians have an even bigger charm for me. Best.

Amazing pieces indeed Nicolas!

 
 By: Makilla : September 9th, 2017-04:06
im in love with military watches. These are a must have for sure but not easy to find anyway. Which ones is currently fetching the highest price? It should be the zenith I presume.

I thought so. Thx :) [nt]

 
 By: Makilla : September 9th, 2017-04:10