Vintage Breitling Chronomatic and Top Time Overview

nilomis · 2013-04-13T05:02:47Z

Explore vintage Breitling watches, including Chronomatics and Top Time models. Nilomis showcases rare finds and community insights on collecting.

nilomis

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

38 replies19150 views15 photos

Nilomis concludes a multi-part series on vintage Breitling watches, showcasing a final collection from a friend's 'lost boxes.' This installment features modern pieces including Chronomatics, Sprints, and various Top Time models, offering a visual feast for collectors and enthusiasts of Breitling's rich heritage.

Team,

As I committed last week, here we have the final set of the Breitling pictures that I took from "two lost boxes" from a friend collector.

Wrapping up this series (that may continue if he locates more missing boxes), we have "modern" watches, including a very nice Chronomatic, a Sprint and some Top Time.

Lets see those beauties, starting with two wrist shots:

A very nice TransOcean Chrono-Matic. The caliber 11/12 is made using a Buren movement base plus a Dubois Depraz chronograph module.

A Sprint (Soccer?)

More of the TransOcean

Lovely 70's case

Another nice Chrono-Matic, now with Caliber 15 (running seconds). Compare with the previous Chrono-Matic caliber 11/12 (no running seconds)

A Top Time, manual wind

A Datora, also manual

A ?

A manual wind, also Top Time.

Another Top Time

A very nice, IMHO, Top Time.

A white dialed, manual wind, Top Time

A very "funky" dialed Top Time. Notice the weird horizontal hour markers.

A "panda" Top Time.

A "soccer" Sprint. Notice the 45 min accumulator (1/2 time in soccer/real football).

I hope that everyone enjoyed this last (?) series about Breitling.

A great weekend to all,

Nilo

Key Points from the Discussion

For accurate dating and model verification of vintage Breitlings, including caseback, inside caseback, and movement pictures is immensely helpful, as current Breitling company knowledge on older models is often limited.
The TransOcean Chrono-Matic, likely a ref. 2119 or 2129, dates from late 1969 to 1972 and features a Caliber 11/12 movement, which combines a Buren base with a Dubois Depraz chronograph module.
The 'Sprint' model presented likely did not leave the factory in its current configuration, as available documentation suggests different original designs for this reference.
The Top Time series is considered one of the most accessible vintage Breitlings to acquire, sharing design similarities with other chronographs like the Heuer Carrera.
Jim Clark, a legendary Formula One driver, was known to wear a Top Time, which adds significant historical importance and collector interest to the model.
Collecting vintage Breitlings is complex due to the lack of reliable reference books and the prevalence of modified or 'less pure' pieces in large collections.

The Discussion

amanico

Apr 13, 2013

I am not very found of the funky chronos, but the black dialed top time you showed is just breathtaking... Best, nicolas

nilomis

Apr 13, 2013

I'm on a non-conventional phase and, for chronos my current taste is bigger and bolder are better. Of course, for non-chronos, I'm on a very traditional, almost 50's style (You didn't guessed yet?). Cheers, Nilo

G99

Apr 13, 2013

i used to have a sprint with a classic styled case. not sure about these funky cases, but any vintage Breitling is fine by me. thanks for all the work in getting these pics Nilo, i greatly appreciate it. Graham

nilomis

Apr 13, 2013

It's my pleasure to please you. Lets see what Ubik, the missing heir of Breitling has to say. Cheers, Nilo

MTF

Apr 14, 2013

nilo, Thank you. Was that the longest Breitling series on PuristS? I think so, upon using the SEARCH button. Still puzzled at the similarity to the "Hitch hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" trilogy of 5 books ! :-) Part 13 of 11 parts??? Regards, MTF

nilomis

Apr 14, 2013

My friend, the crazy Breitling collector, located two additional boxes that he "missed" when we did the 11 part series. Then I decided to play "the Guide to Galaxy" style. I'm glad that you notice this. Lets hope that he can locate another. The diving Breilings. Cheers, Nilo This message has been edited by nilomis on 2013-04-14 18:48:02

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Vintage Breitling Chronomatic and Top Time Overview

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