The Breitling Watch Source Forums

There is definitely a requirement for import codes prior to the issuing of the BOW / WOG codes, and there in lie the problems - first we know that a valid import code on a watch of this era won't say BOW or WOG and second, without knowing who all of the importers were we have no idea of what import codes were correct and which were incorrect.

Personally I am less concerned with Clebar than I would have been with (say) Zodiac or some of the other more common ones.

Bill, just a short sidestep back to the "calling out", my reply was meant to be tongue in cheek, I was (and am) most interested to read what you have to say and know it is meant to be constructive and in the spirit of (collector) friendship.

The case is as close to the catalog pic as any (clearly authentic, later) piece I have held in my hand and compared to these early catalogs, these seem to be drawings, not photographs and not totally exact ?

Back to the import code: We know (well, as much as "knowing" is possible here), that watches imported to the US in the 1930s and early 1940s need to have an Import Code on the movement bridge - it could not have been WOG or BOW, as these companies did not exist yet, so what code would we expect ?

Edit: Ranfft shows a WXZ with "Breitling" in italics, did anybody here ever see those ?

Unfortunately the Ranfft list isn't foolproof. The italics entries indicate a single occurence of that code appearing and, since these are submitted by people that have these particular examples, can't be thoroughly verified as being original to that particular watch. That's why I don't put a lot of credence into what's on the list where there are multiple makers for one code. I submitted one code to Ranfft, VXZ (Lewis & Son). These one of codes are interesting though. Due to the number of Breitling's produced before the WOG or BOW codes were used, I would be surpised if this one WXZ piece was the only known other example.

A great read gentlemen... and a great piece Fred.. fascinating to say the least... textbook assumption most of the time when I started to collect vintage B's a few years back was that Landeron and Breitling are a This one is probably one if not the only exception.

I have nothing to add because I'm the "young grasshoppa"...

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

This one appears to have amost the exact same movement and the serial number is also close. I suspect the 'Breitling' on the dial might have been added, since it looks fresher than the rest of the dial. It could have originally been an unbranded version as displayed in the book. Anyway it brings up some interesting thoughts about these models.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Breitling-Vintage-RARE-OLD-PILOT-Chronograph-Mechanical-Steel-Watch-1NR-/120961968627?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item1c29e529f3

Very educational read! I'm looking forward to some more photos Fred.

Vintage... I suspect as well if the 'Breitling' and 'Antimagnetic' were added afterwards. I'd need to see a close picture of the book, but the 'Swiss Made' at 6 and the 'Telemetre' don't appear in the book, and the pushers are different.

Interesting.

In my '1942 Breitling catalog scans you can see different layouts of dials . It allows me to think that Breitling was offering to personalize each watch order , and linked to small production amounts, it means that a watch can be close to one of a kind .