The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi Mark

Firstly, the box looks correct for a watch sold in 2001. By late 2002/early 2003 AD's were supplying certain Breitlings in the later yellow outer box with the silver lining on the edges and "wings" Breitling logo on the top. The inner box had also changed in that the yellow script style Breitling logo gave way to a silver block capital BREITLING across the lid. This again was superseeded by the Breitling "wings" logo on the inner box too.

As for the watch, it looks stunning ( to the Breitling Gods) The sticker on the folder containing the papers confirms the A68363 model which is correct for the "B-1" inscription on the face below "Breitling". Of course check the Model and serial numbers on the back match. The serial number will also be in the white box on the top right of the COSC certificate. Don't worry about the perforated number, this is a random serial number for the document. The 1505 is the price of a B-1 on a Fighter bracelet in 2001/2 (£1505). A B-1 with UTC on a Fighter was £1955. Prices are from the pricelist for this Chronolog in which the B-1 is item 617 on page 20.

The S1799 denotes the date of build of the bracelet which is week 17 of 1999. (Last week of April 1999) Mark, don't worry about this as far as the watch is concerned. This date is for the bracelet only and given the price on the sticker, I would venture that the UTC is an addition to the watch itself and is likely older going by the 1799 detail on the bracelet. If you can take the UTC off the watch and look at the case (or get your daughter ) there will be 4 numbers like the 1799 on the bracelet. Your watch should show either??00 or ??01 for a week in late 2000 or early 2001. Remember your model number is A68362 the 3 denoting the COSC certification so the watch should be a 2000 model onwards. Again if you take the bracelet off the UTC there should be a similar set of numbers which will give you the build date of the UTC. Don't worry if they aren't there as they could have been polished off during an overhaul service. They are very faint.

Even although it is an A68 non SQ model, with the UTC it is certainly worth a trade for £1000 worth of lens. If you are particularly heart set on aquiring a UTC it is worth it. The UTC being on its A877 Fighter is the nub of the matter. If it had been on a leather strap I would think differently. It's the bracelet that is the rarity. You could always buy an A78 SQ B-1 at alater date, swap the UTC and kit onto it and then sell the A68 on the full length bracelet/strap that the A78 came with.

Looks like all the papers are still intact and you have the International Warranty which will have the full model and serial number on the inside back cover and should be stamped and dated when it was first supplied.

Looks good to me Mark

Let us know when you have done the deed

_________________

Have
B-1 Black Dial+UTC
Emergency Black+UTC

HAD
B1Vulcan+UTC
B2 Black+UTC
C.A. M1-Team SEB in the Volvo Ocean Race+UTC
Emergency Ti -Yellow+UTC
Mission -Black
Old Navitimer -RAFAT

Just had a phone call from my friend and he is over the moon with the len's so it looks like the deal will go ahead, and after what you've said it's made up my mind, just one more thing what insurance price should i be looking at do you think and i would like to add it to my policy.

Regards Mark

_________________
Breitling SOH chrono on + ProII soon to be Pro III
B1 + UTC on Fighter A877
Navitimer World GMT on Navi + leather
SO 46mm on OR + Mesh
Avenger M1 Regatta on Pro 1

Difficult one that Mark and I'm not sure I'm the person to ask. Maybe a trip to the AD and seek their advice. In the market it's only worth what one is prepared to pay. You can't get a UTC from Breitling any more so you are at the mercy of the basic economic law of supply and demand. You would also be buying a B-1 privately as I would be surpirsed if an AD still had a NewOld Stock B-1 lying about.

If you go ahead you'll be buying probably one of the most complete watches Breitling produced as far as gadgets are concerned. If they could have shoe-horned a transmitter into the B-1 and fitted the B-2 windrose bezel, that would be my ultimate "tool" watch from Breitling IMHO. New Emergency on the horizon though, if all we hear is to be believed. Fingers crossed...who knows

_________________

Have
B-1 Black Dial+UTC
Emergency Black+UTC

HAD
B1Vulcan+UTC
B2 Black+UTC
C.A. M1-Team SEB in the Volvo Ocean Race+UTC
Emergency Ti -Yellow+UTC
Mission -Black
Old Navitimer -RAFAT

Thanks findoo my friend has phoned again and asked if we can do the deal, so i said yes, i will pop along to the AD at weekend and ask about a valuation, i think it could be worth a bit more than £1000.00 so i through in a canon tri pod ring as well, and a couple of filters.

thanks once again for your knowledge of these magnificent beasts

Kind Regards Mark

_________________
Breitling SOH chrono on + ProII soon to be Pro III
B1 + UTC on Fighter A877
Navitimer World GMT on Navi + leather
SO 46mm on OR + Mesh
Avenger M1 Regatta on Pro 1

In a word... YES!

Best Regards,
Ron

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"The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea"...

Click to view: 500px Photo Gallery "Flow" or... 500px Photo Gallery or... Breitling Pics Slideshow

Mark as Ron said it's certainly worth it. Even with you throwing in the tripod and the filters, your getting a cracking deal.

Oh and Ronald me old buddy.........STOP TEASING ME!!!

Best regards to you both
Gav

_________________

Have
B-1 Black Dial+UTC
Emergency Black+UTC

HAD
B1Vulcan+UTC
B2 Black+UTC
C.A. M1-Team SEB in the Volvo Ocean Race+UTC
Emergency Ti -Yellow+UTC
Mission -Black
Old Navitimer -RAFAT

That's fantastic photography, you can probably see from my pictures why i traded the len's

_________________
Breitling SOH chrono on + ProII soon to be Pro III
B1 + UTC on Fighter A877
Navitimer World GMT on Navi + leather
SO 46mm on OR + Mesh
Avenger M1 Regatta on Pro 1