Vintage Breitling Chronograph 1930s-1940s

nilomis · 2012-11-26T13:23:46Z

Explore a vintage Breitling chronograph from the 1930s/40s. Expert discussion on authenticity, Landeron movements, and challenges of collecting early Breitlings.

nilomis

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

17 replies9484 views14 photos

Nilomis presents a detailed look at a vintage Breitling from the 1930s or early 1940s, alongside other historical Breitling and Wakmann chronographs. This post offers a rare opportunity to examine early Breitling designs and movements, sparking a rich discussion among collectors about authenticity and historical context.

Team,

Here is the part II of the 10th post with detailed pictures from the Breitling from the 30's or early 40's:

The enamel dial shows some damage around the 7. The chronograph on the background it's at the end of this post.

Non signed crown.

The plastic crystal:

A view from the side

The other side of the 36-37mm case

The movement. It needs, badly, a good cleaning and oiling.

The outside of the case back.

The serial number, from the inside. I masked the last digit.

Now, the bonus part: An airplane Breitling/Wakmann chronograph

Side view. I presume that this chronograph was designed to be mounted on the airplane dashboard.

Another airplane chronograph (this one is not working)

Another bonus. A Breitling pocket rattrapante watch.

A final picture of the set.

Thanks for seeing.

Cheers,

Nilo

Key Points from the Discussion

Collecting pre-1940s Breitlings is challenging due to the infrequent signing of dials, cases, or movements during that period, and the prevalence of franken watches or fakes.
The two-button chronograph design is a key indicator for dating early Breitling watches, as single-button chronographs were more common before the late 1930s.
Breitling's use of Landeron movements in the 1930s and 1940s is a complex and debated topic, with definitive examples being rare and highly sought after by collectors.
While the specific watch in question has an enamel dial, WatchFred notes he has never seen an enamel dial on a confirmed early Breitling, raising questions about its originality.
Research indicates that Depraz adapted Landeron movements for Breitling during this period, and the Landeron 39 caliber was listed in a period Breitling catalog, supporting its potential use.
The thinness of these old chronographs from the 1920s-1940s is a desirable characteristic, contrasting with many modern, thicker chronographs.

The Discussion

amanico

Nov 26, 2012

A BEAUTY! Thanks for sharing. Nicolas.

nilomis

Nov 27, 2012

Since I'm wearing a 44mm Zenith, it feels so small on the wrist. My 4 years old granddaughter, that was "supervising" my photo session, was under the believe that this watch was hers. Cheers, Nilo

nilomis

Nov 27, 2012

All modern nice watches are big. I decided to try and I'm doing well with this size. Otherwise, how I go to dream with a new Amvox? Cheers Nilo

jmpTT

Nov 27, 2012

I find myself drawn to these old chronographs from the '20s through the '40s. From your pictures, it looks like the case is quite thin compared to most modern chronographs. I hope the materials revolution eventually leads to the development of thinner hand-wind chronograph movements. In the meantime, the original will suffice!

Ubik

Nov 28, 2012

Collecting pre-40's Breitlings is very difficult for a number of reasons, first they rarely signed their dials, cases or movements in this period and second over the past few years there has been a serious industry in faking or frankening these early Breitling watches. The watch you show is gorgeous, but it begs a lot of questions and I'll say upfront, I'm not sure I have a final solution. There are three things that this watch could be, (A) A very rare and early genuine Breitling, (B) A franken

Ubik

Nov 28, 2012

but I still feel like the blind men holding onto an elephant and trying to describe it. As always I'd be excited to see if anyone else has some more info/thoughts.

Continue the conversation

This thread is active on the Horological Meandering forum with 17 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.

Join the Discussion →

Key Points from the Discussion

Continue the conversation

More from this Forum