The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Good morning, gentlemen. Very nice to join you all here. I've been a lurker for a while, and recognize quite a few of you from the other forum. For the last month I've been delving into the vintage 'ling world after a couple very cool and lucky finds gained my full attention(obsession). This most recent set of finds is no exception and has me completely crazed with finding a way to make this project whole again.

This is of course where I need the advice and help of all the experienced and knowledgable members here. I am at crossroads. I'm stuck and need a push if you will. Here's my current dilemma ...

I am an obsessive scrounger by nature. It's a gift as well as a curse. In my recent rummaging trip at a local watch shop I made a discovery that has me more excited than any other find I've made in the realm of vintage watches. The problem lies in that my excitement may turn out to be a long drawn out waste of time and energy, but I cannot stop fixating on solving this and putting the puzzle back together. It feels very much like having a 500 piece puzzle but knowing the two most important pieces are missing; yet I can't stop putting it together.

I found this all in separate pieces and in different boxes of parts and junk. The middle case was first. It already had me screaming on the inside because I immediately knew it was a Breitling case after my last project '43 ref. 178 came together. The digging became much more intense at that point and within a few seconds I had found the case back. Hmmm ... not the ref. number I expected to see. The shop owner had been through this box and missed them both. I continued digging, now with even more purpose, for an hour. When I was sure I had overturned every scrap in the little boxes I had to look through, I pestered the owner about any other old chrono parts he may have about. Now, I do this every time I see him. Sometimes he has some, but usually not handy. This time he also said he might but nothing laying about that he could get to at the moment. I guess I hung around long enough for his memory to kick back in. As I was about to head out he stopped me and went back into his workshop room. A moment later he came out with a bezel and two movements. Not just any bezel ... THE bezel. I knew it instantly and was almost jumping up and down. I was so excited about the bezel, I didn't look at the movements closely for probably another 20 minutes as we talked about the case that was now complete. When I finally did, I nearly lost it. How crazy could it get? There before me was a 99% complete Venus 175. This couldn't be happening. Needless to say, I convinced him to let me look through a few boxes of dials after that. Unfortunately my lucky streak had ended there, and after my quick stop had turned into a 3 hour treasure hunt, I was off with a hand full of goodies.

So. Here is sit with a nearly complete piece of history in my hands. But now what? Where on this earth am I going to find the two most important pieces to my puzzle? Finding a needle in a haystack blindfolded seems to be an easier task. I realize my chances are nearly the same as picking the winning lotto numbers. Will I give up? Not on your life!!

I have to ask the stupid question. If I don't, I would be an idiot. I know the answers I expect to hear, but it must be asked regardless.

Can anyone suggest where in the world I might find an original dial and inner slide rule bezel for a 1945 Chronomat 769? What should I do from here? I'm exploring having replacements made, but that's just not good enough in the long run. I know I could never part it out as it sits. I would always dream of what could have been. I not expecting much, but is have to hope for a miracle here. Thanks in advance and thank you for reading this long drawn out story regardless of whether you can help or not. I could use all of you crossing your fingers for me!

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Dave

patience. movements/dial combos & "project wrecks" come up on ebay, lately replaced a rather damaged 45 dial w/ a very nice one from Germany, took me almost a year of waiting.

From my side I found the project watch early Nov'2010 , a dial + slide rule + movement combo late Nov'2010 and got the watch complete in January 2011 .
Your pickup is VERY nice, the case + bezel looks in premium condition . Many 18K watches have been scraped for recycling gold, so it allows you to be optimistic!

Thank you gentlemen. I will try to remain optimistic as surely there's one out there somewhere just waiting to be rediscovered and it's meant for me!

Fred, while I'm strapped in for a long agonizing wait, I can't say I'll be patient while I'm waiting. I'm sure to poke and prod and more than likely annoy people until that day comes. Patience may be a virtue, but is nowhere near one of my strong traits. LoL!


Does anyone have a picture of a complete 43-45 with the crystal bezel removed? I would love to see how the dial looks like that, and exactly how the inner bezel sits and is attached to the outer.

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Dave

Just to encourage you ... My 1943 had very tired dial and sliderule. I was not lucky enough to find a black 1943-45 replacement dial , maybe in the future? But I found this '46 or 47 silver dial + slide rule , excellent condition. It is not too bad as a first step.

For the bezel fixing system, a very thin ring - same dimensions than sliderule for compensing the vertical gap, and 3 radial pins to be adjusted from steel wire , which are inserted in the 3 holes of the bezel and come into the circular slot of the case . If you dis-assemble the bezel, you will have to replace those 3 pins . Some are replacing the pins by 3 taps .

Wow, saabreit! Congrats. That's a wonderful find. That's exactly the dial I hope to find!! If for some reason you decide to part with it, PLEASE let me know!!!

Heck, even if you part with your tired old dial and bezel, I would be more than happy to hear that, too!

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Dave

I'm trying to figure out how the bezel retention rings and bezel are actually supposed to go together and fit to the case. I'm missing a ring and need to figure out an alternative solution or way to replace or remanufacture this ring. Won't be easy either way, but getting close to impossible without visuals on what I'm supposed to have and how it works.

Does anyone have pics or care to take the trouble to describe this for me? Thanks again for helping out the rookie!

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Dave

Sorry , I am not clever with pics ! As the watch restoration was in progress , I had a problem in understanding the way the bezel had to be attached properly . I had found it as a project watch and the bezel was not fixed .
A circular ring , which finally was not a part of this watch, drove me first in a wrong direction. I have to say that my Chronomat is in the early ones ( SN 508xxx from 1943 stamped inside the caseback, V175 with Côtes de Genève and non engraved bridge). I confirm that a poor salvaged 1946 gave its dial and hands . Hardly noticeable on the 3rd pic , you can see a small gold spot on the bezel , it is one of the 3 small brass taps fitted to hold the bezel .

something like this ?
I dont have a better pic, but will try to make one soon

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Ooh! I think that's it!?! That ring is going to be the death of my watch unless I find one or have one fabricated. That's not perhaps an extra is it?

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Dave

would not fit, this is from an 806, too big to save your 769.

either have one fabricated, or look for a donor, was lucky enough to find a 769 w/ ring but without bezel, kept the bezel and resold the rest - have up to now not seen a bezel holder ring on offer seperately.

actually its not from an 806 , the 806 doesnt use that ring as the sliderule ring sits inside the bezel without any ring to attach it, the beaded bezel is 36/38mm so I believe its for a 769 or 808 , whichever one had the beaded bezel ? (or would it even be for a chronomat ?) its definitely not for a 806 or 809

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

sorry, then it must be from an 808 ?

I would think that since the rings are so scarce, there would be sufficient market to warrant having several fabricated by a machine shop using an original for the specs. I know if I had one in hand, that's exactly what I would have done. The problem lies in finding an example to use.

I now know I was spoiled in finding pieces for other watches fairly easily. This is going to be a true challenge. And one I will very much cherish when I conquer it!

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Dave

Have I told you guys how much of an idiot I am sometimes? No? Well, let's just clear this up ... I AM AN IDIOT SOMETIMES!!

I have no idea how I overlooked these 3 pins all this time. Guess I thought it was dirt I just hadn't cleaned up yet. Whatever the reason, I completely overlooked them. Discovered them this morning just fiddling around with the case in anticipation of a dial find.

I can't find my macro lens to take a good close up, but under magnification, they look to be screws in mine. They don't turn so I'm soaking the bezel in Gumout to see if they will release. If not, how can they be replaced?

Here's the best pic I could get with my phone ...

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Dave