Breitling was the first to offer in 1954 the "Cottier-System" world time function in a modern design

Apr 25, 2019,10:54 AM
 


In September 1954 Breitling started series production of reference 1 260. While Patek Philippe had the movements of references 1415 and 2523 modified for the world time display by Louis Cottier, working in his own atelier as a "freelancer" (to also supply the same world time mechanism to Agassiz, Cartier, Rolex and Vacheron Constantin), Breitling made the complication "in-house", based on the Felsa 711 movement.



The reference city disk can be set manually by turning the bezel, including the glass. To me, the design is very elegant, especially when compared with the usual solution of a wide turning bezel used before on the Patek Philippe 1415 and later by Ebel on the Voyager.


Amazingly, everyone relied on Louis Cottier to supply movements with an integrated 24 hour world time display running counter clockwise before Breitling started to produce their own movements. By the way, Cottier had not invented this display system as often told. It was already used for clocks ("Pendule Universelle Géographique") by Charles Delagrave in the 19th century.





I also prefer the steel case to the gold plated version. Unfortunately, the steel case version in my collection is a horrible re-dial. The watch was bought from a German auction house at the beginning of my collecting. Too silly to do basic research, I was lured by the box to come with the watch, though, this was also very unlikely supplied with an Unitime model.



When originality was not yet that important, a supplier called "S-PARTS Germany, registered Trademark" openly advertised and supplied remade dials for the Breitling Unitime model. Comparing, I realised to not even have got this remanufactured dial with my watch but a free interpretation of what Breitling had created...



In a German brochure of the period the reference is only "260" and not the usually quoted " 1 260". With this brochure I have now also a suggestion how an original box should look.



So, I am also still in the market for a nice and original steel cased Unitime. Your great photos are an excellent reminder to intensify the search again.

Björn
This message has been edited by cazalea on 2019-04-26 05:26:12

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Vintage Breitling Unitime Ref 1 260. A lovely world time.

 
 By: amanico : April 25th, 2019-02:56
This is a watch I missed, some years ago, but I am very happy because a friend of mine jumped on it. The size is good for me ( circa 36 mm ), the dial is a feast. Here are the two I saw: Steel, my favorite: Gold filled: And this last one for Tourneau, who...  

Vintage heaven ! [nt]

 
 By: Cpt Scarlet : April 25th, 2019-03:01

Definitely. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : April 25th, 2019-03:04

Just fantastic! [nt]

 
 By: Moana43 : April 25th, 2019-04:24

Breitling was the first to offer in 1954 the "Cottier-System" world time function in a modern design

 
 By: BjoernM21 : April 25th, 2019-10:54
In September 1954 Breitling started series production of reference 1 260. While Patek Philippe had the movements of references 1415 and 2523 modified for the world time display by Louis Cottier, working in his own atelier as a "freelancer" (to also supply...