The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello,
I am trying to find some information on my Breitling. It is a Chronomat Blackbird "Bombardier Aerospace" According to the paperwork on it is is number 190 of 200. I have all the original paperwork, including the warranty card (which was never mailed in...doh), the bakelite case, owners manual, even saved the little plastic ring that covered the bezel. The watch was given to me as a gift several years ago. It could use a good cleaning, and the leather band is showing some wear. My first question, is: Is there any maintenance that should be regularly performed? If so, what should I expect to pay for service? As I stated, the band is showing some wear, I have seen replacement bands, from the very cheap ($30) to the outrageously expensive ($several hundred) Second question: What should I expect to pay for a genuine replacement leather band? Third and final question: Any ideas on the worth of the watch? Again, I have seen them priced from the very cheap, to the really expensive. Thanks for any responses. I saw the call for photos and will post some tonight, as soon as I figure out for to get some good closeups of it...

Ive got no idea what its worth. A new OEM leather strap retails for $160. There are a lot of aftermarket options for much cheaper, but most dont come close to the quality of the OEM. Its your choice really. If the watch winds and keeps good time (within 10 sec. a day or so) you probably dont need a service. If time keeping is way off or if you just want a complete overhaul for the hell of it, Breitling will charge you about $500 for the work and it will come back looking and working like new (strap cost is extra).

This is what you get for your money:
http://www.breitling.com/service/index1.php

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-RJ

I don't have an opinon on value either but this is probably the third Chronomat Blackbird "Bombardier Aerospace that has come up on here in the last 6-8 months or so, however they are relatively rare - well as the LE implies only 200 made. If you use the search function on "Bombardier" you are likely to find several threads concerning them.
Hope this helps a tad and welcome to the site.

It'll be worth about the same as a regular Blackbird of the same vintage. Not sure off the top of my head when this came out so can't really price, but the Bombardier won't really impact price.

Thanks for the answers folks. I did receive the watch from someone affiliated with Bombardier, and it was manufactured 04/14/99 acourfing to the warranty card and info. I find it does keep good time as long as I do give it a wind once every other week. I wear it daily, so the band has taken a beating. Just browsing thru the forum I did find a couple posts on the Bombardier edition, sounded like someone is Sweden was trying to sell theirs. I know from the source that the watch was given to people who purchased a share of one of Flexjet's fractional ownership jets, makes me wonder how many are sitting in some rich guys junk drawer somewhere... Watches seem to be addictive, I have the Breitling and my Father's Vintage Rolex Oyster perpetual, I am like a kid in a candy store looking at all the old timepieces, it can be an expensive hobby collecting them. Anyways thanks for the info....dq