The Breitling Watch Source Forums

There are a lot of people who have mentioned wanting to pick up one of the DB Cosmos that come up occasionally.

Well, there is one of the less common examples available on the Bay right now - the version with a gold bezel - http://cgi.ebay.com/Breitling-Navitimer ... 240%3A1318

Price is fine right now, but with a week to go expect it to go considerably higher. But for those with the cash and the desire, it's a good market to be buying one.

That watch is stunning. I wish Breitling made more watches with a Clear back case. Or they should give the option of buying a clear back case with most models.

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Now-
Breitling Colt - Black
Breitling Blackbird - Polished

Next- ideas please.....

I would love to have this around my wrist!

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I may have what some people call an OBSESSION!

I usually am not a fan of the TT stuff, but this example is beautiful.
8 more days left...that price should climb up and up by then!
Thanks for the link.

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Cheers,
Christopher

Currently...
Blackbird, Black Hercules, PAM 000
Down to a humble three...

Very nice...I would imagine the price will climb too. I like it though, nice find.

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- Nathan
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Breitling Avenger Skyland (Black)

That is a nice find Roff. Will be interesting how the price moves over time.

2 questions - How many Cosmanaute DB's were created? I gather it wasn't a LE or SE (or was it?) but they do seem harder to find than other models...

Also what is the theory behind DB's i.e. why aren't their more DB's. It's such a brilliant experience to see the mechanics of a specific model/calibre I would have thought they'd be more prevalent. Is it something to do with limiting the notion to more prestigious models or LE's? not making it too common...

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

TheCosmo DB was a Special Edition, which in other words means it was made for only a set period of time. (SE's are usually produced for a year, although I'm not sure if this was the case with the Cosmo). Basically it means that they are more limited in numbers that standard production run models, but not as limited (or indeed individually numbered) like teh Limited Edition pieces. SE's are a kind of halfway-house between standard runs and Limited Edition runs.

Why Breitling don't employ more DB's on their models is a mystery that's right up there with trying to figure out how the Egyptians built the pyramids! For some reason Breitling seem to think people don't want to see automatic movements as the only models I can think of that have had DBs are a handful of manual wind pieces and (totally bizarrely) the mechaquartz models that are predominantly battery powered.

DB's don't necessarily compromise water resistance as there are plenty of 300m WR models by other manufacturers with DB's. Like I say it's a total mystery why Breitling dogmatically refuse to do it.

Apparently Breitling reps frequent sites and forums like this as a way of getting some free market research, but I'm starting to doubt that as we have been banging on about DB's and a slightly larger Chronomat for a couple of years!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

There's a common misconception that this watch was a one year piece, with 1995 being the usual year quoted.

In fact it was available for at least four years - from 94 - 97, in limited numbers each year. Based on the numbers that I have seen there were likely close to 3,000. Not sure if the production run was exactly that many, but that's the approximate number. As Driver8 says, it's an SE, not an LE. The variations (blue dial, gold bezel, etc) were all part of the same number sequence.

It will be interesting to see where this goes - I got my steel, black dial for GBP 1,501, which is a pretty good deal, but with the current economy the prices will be a little subdued.

The piece on the auction is s/n 134 and is indeed a 1994 model Cosmonaute II based on the box set which is 1994 vintage. The Old Navitimer II and Cosmonaute II with screw on casebacks replaced the snapon caseback models that year. The A12023 Cosmonaute II with the caliber B12 Lemania 1873 (1877 when geared for 24hr) movement utilized 17 jewels during the early part of the production run (entire run was 1994-1999) but later in the run began to transition to the 18 jewel version (no model number change). Beside the engraving on the bridge plate, the two versions are quickly recognizable by the the type metal used for the third gear in the main gearing train, nickel for the 17 jewel versions and brass for the 18 jewel versions. Interestingly, the DB Cossie is only mentioned in Chronolog 2 (97-98) and Chronolog 3 (98-99) although the piece had been available since 1994. The highest serial number DB Cossie I have seen is Alan Trott's #2598 which is a 1998 piece with 18 jewels. The piece I gave to my brother-in-law is #2110 and it is a 1997 piece with 18 jewels. My DB Cossie is a 1998 piece and it is #2476 with 18 jewels. Roff's assumption that there were less than 3000 ever built is reasonable, perhaps a few hundred less than that. The D12023 in that auction is the only "D" model I have ever seen and I suspect the total number of those is almost certainly less than a few hundred at most. If that piece was a later build "D" model and had 18 jewels instead of 17 I might consider putting in a bid for it. Whoever does snag it will certainly have a piece to enjoy and be proud of owning IMHO.

As for the reason Breitling is so judicious about providing display back pieces, a hint may be discerned in the description given for the piece in Chronologs 2 and 3. Breitling describes the display back as a way to admire the fine hand wound chronograph movement and I can't fault that assessment... Anyway, below is # 2476 for your viewing pleasure...
Cheers,
Ron

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

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A nice price in the end - $3,051. I was watching it and considered buying (price was only $2,225 until the last minute or so) as a trade up from my current steel one, but the price became a bit too much to justify it by the time that the exchange rate and import duty had been factored in.

Someone definitely got a good deal though - all steel ones have sold for more.

Congratulations - I really thought that would go for more.

Thanks Roff. I was thinking more as well. In fact, I was thinking a lot more.
I'm just so happy to have it at any cost. (It's one of my dream watches.) I can't tell you how thrilled I was to get it at that price.

Iconic watch. Congratulations!

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For more information on identifying Breitling replicas, please visit my web site
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Thanks Sharky!