The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi everyone,

I came across someone in Los Angeles (where I’m located) trying to sell this beautiful Breitling 815 gold. I attached an imgur link to the pictures and would love a second pair of eyes. The watch seems all original. I believe there is some tarnish near the start/stop pusher or maybe damage? Hopefully just tarnish. And a small black scratch between 11 and 12. Any thoughts about these and the watch over all. Also he wants $2750 for the watch. I’ve seen one listed for $3100 by an auction company.
https://imgur.com/gallery/c9MFjC7

Also curious to know if underneath a gold plated watch is shiny stainless steel? Asking because if it is then someone could make a stainless franken. I hope it’s not.
What is it about gold plated watches that make them less desirable and less valuable than stainless steel? I’ve seen this trend in multiple watch companies and couldn’t find a reason.

Looks fine.

If the case is supposed to be gold, then the hands and dial indices are gold too.

Gold plated watches are less desirable because the finish wears, and because they are masquerading as something they are not - gold!

Thank you for your input.

So a scammer would have to go through alot of effort to change the dial and hands to stainless steel.

I see. Can gold plated watches be polished at all? I know they have a thin layer of gold but does this allow for a few polishes?

Also the seller says he doesn’t know how to remove the caseback to show me the movement. Can anyone tell me how to tell him to take the back off?

Unsure about the 815 but I believe it is gold capped, not gold plated, meaning a significantly thicker layer of gold (200 microns versus 20 microns from information I've seen). Second, re: your question about converting to a SS watch, even if you could, the caseback would give it away as it would be different.

Interesting. I didn’t even know gold capped existed. I’ll read up on it.

The caseback seems to be as the same stainless steel one. It’s not gold plated and looks identical to an 815 stainless. I may be wrong though.

It's different. It says "Stainless Steel Back"

Wow. Good eye. I hadn’t noticed that. Definitely will watch for it in the future. Do you by any chance know how to remove the caseback on these 815?

If you're successful in instructing the seller on how to remove the caseback without damaging the watch, will you know what you are looking for on the inside and can you determine if anything is amiss?

Since he's in your area, find a watchmaker who will remove the back and inspect it for a fee, and tell the seller to meet you there. If the watch passes the pre-buy inspection, you'll pay the watchmaker and buy the watch. If it doesn't, pay the watchmaker, tell the seller to keep the watch, and be happy you spent a few bucks checking it out.

Yes I know what to look for.

Also that would be a great idea in a non pandemic situation. Not a single watch store is open so your idea doesn’t work at all.

Sorry for the bad advice. A determined seller could send a picture of whatever you wanted to see, regardless of what's really on the inside of the watch that you are buying. Call me skeptical, I guess. I just read the Datora thread of exactly that occurrence that 2.5 yrs after the fact the new owner is still upset about. Personally, if I couldn't figure out a way to meet with an out of work watchmaker, I'd just wait for the shop to reopen. When I've given myself artificial deadlines to make purchases I invariably make poor decisions. YMMV.

Nihon. Your advice is great in both of your posts and I completely agree. Its not bad advice at all. I tried explaining to the seller how to open the back and now I sent the video that buddman kindly sent. I would love to pay someone to open the watch. This whole pandemic situation has made it difficult. I would wait on the watch but he has others interested and these watches in this condition don’t pop up often from what I’ve seen these past several months. His price is pretty good too. And you’re absolutely right that if the movement is incorrect that I would be full of regret.

No worries, I hope you're able to work this out. These are crazy times we're living in.