The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Thanks for all the info fellas. Amazing the knowledge you guys have about these vintage pieces. So it appears my watch is from the mid 70s to early 80s. Any idea whether it was available in the US during that time?

Probably.

If it was pre 1978 (when the original company was sold off on the brink of bankruptcy) then Breitling were producing any number of strange things and selling it to anyone, anywhere. If one of the 'triubute' / reissue pieces that Breitling issued under Ernest Schneider before the first official models appeared in 1984, the focus was on the European market, but definitely looking to develop distribution in North America.

Sorry to revive an old thread but been soaking up some info and had a couple of questions. Would this movement be classified as a B11 caliber being a Lemania 1873 or what evolved into the B11 since it is obviously and early one use of the movement? Also, did Breitling modify these movements much from the std. 1873?

At this time it will be a fairly standard 1873. Calibre 11 is a 'new' Breitling calibre, as is the concept of doing much in hte way of modification.

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If it was pre 1978 (when the original company was sold off on the brink of bankruptcy) .[/quote]

The company Leon Breitling was closed before bankruptcy. Willi Breitling sold everything from his grandfather's company , the parts, the property rights, the production tools and the buildings , and died 3 months after closing the company . We all have to imagine how difficult has been the long way of this man to avoid going to bankrupcy .

"on the brink of bankruptcy"

Thats what it means Saabreit , "on the brink" = 'just in time to prevent' or 'just before is happens'

At least thats why I was taught it means in english class

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

You are right, I am afraid my english knowledge is a bit asleep ! Thanks to Breitling Vintage Discussion ,I shall also restore my english

That is what I figured, so I guess pretty much all Breitling did was decorate the bridge with their logo then? Pretty interesting to see some of the other watches this movement has gone into.

I have these down as from a batch of made up pieces that have been around for a while. They don't have Breitling hands or other features and we have lots of catalog reference material from the 1970s. I'll change my mind if I see ad or catalog copy.

Same for a lot of made up Top Times with diving bezels, mostly with a variation of real Co-Pilot cases. They were also made up before 2000 and appear on the market periodically.

I'll agree with you that I'd love to see my watch pictured in a legit Breitling ad of the era but I'm not holding my breath one will ever surface.

Being made up from parts and pieces, it is possible but would have been done by Breitling, at least in my case. Not sure people were piecing together watches from various parts in order to fool people on the internet in the late 90s which is when I took possession of it, and in rough shape I might add.

I had always been a bit skeptical that it had been repair with generic parts but as time has gone on I've seen lots of similar watches and several identical matches to know they are legit, although falling into a time period when things likely weren't documented very well, if at all.

Of course all this good info has come from the great folks here! Thanks again.

I think I have an old article from the 1970s talking about faking watches and the problem for buyers and collectors. It's been going on for a very long time. Doesn't Richter have a page on it in the 1995 edition of his book. I think it might be the second oldest profession.

That is interesting. While I assumed some level of creating fakes have always existed in the watch industry, I just assumed pre-internet (before a large available market to scam) those faking watches would have focused on the obvious popular choices of that time period (Submariners, Navitimers, etc).

I guess what we are talking about here though is not so much fakes but frankens. I mean there is no doubt this particular watch was not a main stream Breitling product and given the tumultuous time period it appears to have been made it sounds like anything is possible. I like to believe Breitling made it, but did indeed create a model based on what they had available and maybe not a well thought out plan. A desperation build so to speak. Thankfully it has a nice movement and maybe that was the focus and why other detail areas were overlooked (sterile crown, minimal case back info).

Hi. Just purchased one of these mystery Breitling chronographs, from an original owner, who bought his, new, in 1973. It still sports the original stainless steel watch band (not pictured). I've seen the 9657 model being referenced, but this is the first 9757 I've seen. I've not had the back off of mine, so I'll have to check it out, when I have it serviced.

I have seen a very similar-looking watch, on page 111 of Benno Richter's Breitling book (shown below), from 2007.

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Best regards,
KarlWS

Very nice to see an original version in great shape. When you get a chance I'd love to see the original a photo of the original bracelet and the caseback.

I had mine bead blasted since the case was pretty dinged but love the original stainless star burst look.

Nice find!

Thanx. Here are some photos, with the original bracelet installed.

Karl

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Best regards,
KarlWS