Horological Meandering

We don't often speak about Breitling watches, here, so let's try to repair this injustice.

Here are is duetto: A Chonomonopusher from the Royal Canadian Air Force, and a Superocean:



And here, some pictures of my targets:

Unitime:



And the top in my wish list, the Superocean Chrono from the same era than the non chrono version ( late Fifties ) :



What about your dreams and your reality?

Show them off!

Best,

Nicolas

... it seems we speak little about these interesting brand, so intimate connected with airplanes galore.

These timepieces you are showing are magnificent, and with all that vintage flavour we so much enjoy to have on our wrists.

Here in my Country, this Brand has few followers among watch WIS, due to the fact they have obtained in the past their movements from different sources, as these watch collectors seem to prefer those brands with in house mechanics better.

In my personal view, this personal position of some fellow collectors, narrows the enjoyment of the game, excluding some wonderful and historical timepieces, so beautiful like the example you are showing in your fine photographs.

I personally like this brand very much, and being very fond with everything related with flying and its history, I really appreciate the brand and its connection with flying.

I also find very attractive the line of chronographs offered in the past, very nice dials, very traditional design of cases, and, in spite of not using "in house" movements, those which were used, like the old Venus, are very reliable and accurate, and well regarded by connosieurs.

I can only show here two peaces I own, one of them is a Chronomat I bought brand new in 1993 during a trip to the USA, of which I fell in love of its beautiful blue color of its dial. This watch has served me very faithfully in all these years, though it is not a true vintage yet.

That was my first contact with Breitling, and was surprised by the sound and vibration of its rotor, which, by some reason, was (is) so notable on the wrist. I like the special sensation it offers, in contrast to the silence of my Rolex watches, for example.

My second piece, is very interesting, and may be it deserves a presentation with more info about these models.
It is a reference nr 806 Navitimer, made in 1966, that is a second generation variant of this famous model.

Again, I fell in love with its dial, as you can easily see, its white sub dials have turned a beautiful gold hue.

This watch is equipped with a Venus 178 movement as for its period, which is a very good machinery, and it got the
WOG initials, which were the identification of the importer for the US market.

If this piece could talk, would be interesting to know how this Swiss watch, imported to the USA, ended its days in Argentina. That´s part of the charm of collecting, to try to discover these stories!

I wish you´ll like these watches, and thank you for calling our attention to Breitling here.
Un abrazo, mi estimado amigo!
Abel.

I remember this time very well, when in the 90ies, everybody wanted a Chronomat, or a Navitimer.

I wanted to play a bit different game with Breitling, but for sure, these 2 watches you show are popular, and I would not be surprised to see much more popping out, here.

You have an awesome collection, my friend.

Thanks for attending the Roll Call!

Un abrazo, Compadre.

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2012-03-01 07:46:09

... and you are so right for your recollection about how well regarded were Chronomats and Navitimers in the 90´s.

I have been viewing with much interest your photos again, and find specially charming the RCAF chrono, with its awesome white dial and contrasting patinated round indexes. I love the plain classic look of this watch.

But the Superocean black and beautifuly patinated indexes making contrast, is a view to die for! Stunning! A classic vintage!

Well amigo Nicolas, let´s wait what our Purists friend have to show from their Breitling collections!
Un abrazo amigo!
Kind regard, Abel.

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...a recent model. I think the current one available is the same. Got mine about ten years ago.

In fact, it's the retro-look that made me buy it. I'm a sucker for all things vintage so buying a new watch was a bit out of my comfort zone at first. But this one fits in well with my taste.

... and agree that the "retro" look of its dial makes it so attractive, with the red circular scale, which reminds old chronos of the 40`s and 50´s. Super Breitling! Thanks for sharing!!
Kind regards, Abel.

from current collection...thank you for sharing
In 90's I was crazy about it..still wanna one
for sentimental reasons
Best
D

...It's my favorite current Breitling model. I also wouldn't mind having a vintage Navitimer like Abel's, but at this point there are other watches on my relatively short must-have list ahead of it.

Regards,
Marcus

...I love the dial and bezel color.

the gleaming lacquer dial was the reason why I bought the piece. I have to admit, though, that its size (46mm) is bothering me after a while, so it does not get the wrist time it deserves. In 42mm it would have been perfect, but the new SO Heritage variant in 42mm does not offer the vibrant colours.

Regards,
Marcus

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... design of the original model. Both, hands and markers, are highly unique.

Regards,
Marcus

Which is faithful to the original.

They could have done better with the Superocean, but this is a cool watch.

Best,

Nicolas

i was lucky enough to own a 1930's Pilots watch, a 1969 Navitoner Chrono-Matic, a 1966 Cosmonaute, a 1999 Spatiographe and 2 military quartz navitimers, 1 Algerian the other Iraqi. here are some very poor pics of all but the Iraqi Navi.

i think my favourite of all 6 is the Spatiographe which i will try to replace one day. its so funky with its digital 10 minute display that i should never have let it go. C'est la Vie. 

G

Wow, Graham, c'est peut etre la vie, but what a pain!

This pilot watch is certainly something!

Thanks for contributing, my dear friend.

Nicolas

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You are my hero Graham. I one day dream that I should be on the antiques roadshow.

Did you see the Laco on last weekend?

I have a new obsession now - American Pickers and Pawn Stars!

Breitling was my first vintage watch love many years ago and while I have strayed my passion for them has never diminished.

I was always struck by the variety of styles they produced, the wonderful heritage and the original and wearable chronographs.

It was Breitling who first patented the separate single pusher around 1915 and then produced the first two pusher chronographs around 1935 that have created the layout of the classic chrono we know today. Breitling also continually innovated, producing in collaboration with Heur and other firms the well known first automatic chronograph in the Sixties.

To me they still hold mysteries that are to be uncovered.

Towards the end of the Seventies, like so many companies, Breitling was struggling and went into liquidation, to most collectors this marks the end of Breitlings production and make up the vintage watches collectors look for.

The Breitling 817 was produced towards the very end, around 1975, and was exlusively for the Italian military.

Around the same time Breitling produced this single button chronograph for the Canadian military. Strangely given their aviation and military heritage the only two Breitling watches I know uniquely produced for military issue.

In the early Seventies Breitling produced this 7104 Long Player, which has a Valjoux 7740 movement.

This Superocean with the Caliber 11 automatic movement was also produced in the early Seventies and has a uniquely designed waterproof case which allows the bezel to be turned. I believe it was the largest commercially produced watch of the time with a case 47mm large.

The late Sixties/ early Seventies also so production of the smaller Superocean, which has a specially modified movement to create a single hour chronograph.

In the mid-Sixties they produced this 765 a reference that was in continuous production from the late Thirties, this one is double marked with Wakmann who were for many years Breitling's US distributor.


Perhaps one of the most famous models is of course the Navitimer. Initially produced around 1954 and then until their demise. This one sports the AOPA wings who were an early champion and seller of the Navtimer.

The 806 Navtimer was initillay produced with all black subdials transitioning sometime in the early Sixties to the white subdials. This one dates to around 1960, gilt gloss dial.

The 765 AVI was a long held grail of mine, a more subtle cousin to the Navitimer and designed for pilots it was initially produced around 1954, for me it's one of the most balanced chronographs from this period with a big case size of 40mm. This one is also from about 59/60.


Before either of these Breitling established a unique signature chronograph in the Chronomat, originally reference 769 then 808. This first appeared around 1942 and again was a model, much varied, in continous production until the end. This one dates around 1945. Around 36mm.

In the late Thirties, Breitling was only just starting to put their signature on the dials and this one is very rare being both signed and using what is believed to be a uniquely adapted Landeron ebauche. It is around 40mm and dates to the mid to late Thirties.

Breitling only really signed their dials somewhere around the mid to late Thirties, they were still unsure at that time what their brand name would be. They initially traded under the company name Montbrillant and only really decided on Breitling at the end of the Thirties.

This pilots watch circa 1937 is a rare Montbrillant marked Breitling and for me represents the birth of the company name.

This message has been edited by Ubik on 2012-03-05 04:41:49

... why Nicolas recommended me to take my pills while waiting what you had for showing!!

Now I feel the dose I took was not enough!

It´s so difficult to chose just one, as the one I like best! Beautiful spiral scales dials, beautiful military watches...
God, real mindblowing collection!

Congrats Unik on this magnificent display of Breitling models!! And thank you so much for sharing them!
Best cordial regards, Abel.

Over the years Breitling has covered many different styles. I don't think I could pick one myself.