The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Howdy folks,

I just received my SOHC, and I'm thrilled to have a fine watch again. I've had a Rolex Submariner and GMT Master II in the past, and most recently, my faithful daily wear has been a Glycine Airman GMT and a CWC British Military Chrono.

I knew when I researched Breitling that the the movement for many of the watches was a Valjoux 7750. Both the CWC and the Glycine are 7750 based, but couldn't be any more different to the Breitling.

Subjectively, I'd place the pecking order, based on feel, at:

CWC: Last. Serviceable, but noticeably rough and wobbly. This shouldn't shock anyone as that watch cost me approximately $250 in the late 1990s.
Glycine Airman: Second. Quite a nice watch and continues to serve me well. It feels a bit less agricultural than the CWC, but it should as it cost 4x as much.
Breitling SOHC: No contest. Seriously, whatever Breitling did to this movement, it is both obvious and very effective.

I doubt the above is a shock to anyone...

*Everything* about the SOHC feels orders of magnitude better than the other two. So much so that is is difficult to understand just how all three watches have the same DNA. It's actually hard to believe that the Glycine and Breitling have the same movement; they are that mechanically different feeling.

I know Breitling does something to the 7750, I just don't know what. Just like a Jack Roush built small block Ford is substantially different in every conceivable way from a factory crate engine, I expect Breitling spends quite a bit of time 'blueprinting' the Valjoux movement.

So, my question is... Does anyone know what they do? How extensive the mods and upgrades are?

Thanks,

m

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SuperOcean Heritage Chrono
Avenger Seawolf
Rolex GMT Master II
Glycine Airman GMT

It's been discussed countless times before, but the bootm line is that no one knows for sure because Breitling don't reveal it. What we do know is......

Breitling uses the highest grade ebauche - there are three different grades and only the top grade is designed to be capable of meeting COSC specs. Breitling then replace a number of parts with parts that they have sourced or produced themselves. A number of other pieces are tested to tighter tolerances than ETA do and if they don't pass those tests then they too are replaced. Breitling also handles the finishing.

A great question - do a search on this forum, and you will find more info.

Certain key parts are changed, and the whole lot is given the "Breitling treatment".

There is a lot that can go wrong with an auto chrono - it remains the high watermark of practical mechanical watchmaking. The first 7750 was developed in 1974, and was the first auto chrono to be entirely designed on computer. Weird vectors and tape loops back then – maybe a green screen if you were lucky? I don’t know, but one thing I’m certain of is that a lot of debate regarding “in-house” movements is misplaced.

A Breitling 7750 might whiz around and make a bit of noise, and indeed, the top chrono button will not be as smooth as it should – but it’s far tougher and easier to maintain than anything Rolex, JLC, or any others have come up with.