The Breitling Watch Source Forums

So, last week I mailbombed Roff about a Chrono-Matic that was bought in Canada in the early 80´s. The guy who sold the watch was a doctor and didn´t know much about the watch he had own for over 20 years. He said that it had been serviced around 6 moths ago by a well reputated watchmaker. Did my homework and called this watchmaker up and asked him if he remembred the watch, and he did and told me it was a allthrough Breitling and in good condition. I knew that the serial didn´t add up, but I still had a pretty good feeling about this. So I won the auction with 999US dollars after the owner of the watch promised me If it wasn´t a calibre 11 (that what roff told me it should be) I would get all my money back.... So here are some pictures. Should I send it back or did I get a pretty good deal? And Could someone date this for me (guessing the caseback isn´t original). All information about this would be worth alot to me. The bezel doesen´t have any clicks... it just slides and only have a stop at the 12o clock position? Should it be like that? Is it hard to remove the bezel and clean under it. Also think that the crystal needs a polish.






All coments are welcome! I think it´s a beutiful watch!

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"Nice from a far, but far from nice"


Breitling "pre" Chrono-Matic 1969
Omega Seamaster 300 1969
Rolex Submariner 16800 1982 (birthyear watch)
IWC Aquatimer 3548 2008

+Misc

It's definitely a Calibre 11, and as we have discussed, I don't see problems beyond the caseback which is 1968 - before these were even available.

Wetty found a number of others with similar serial number ranges so I think there is something more than simply a replacement caseback.

Either way, I don't see anything else wrong with it - and a nice price!!

Yeah... I think it´s definetly worth 1000 bucks even if the caseback isn´t original. I personally love it, smaller then my Chrono Avenger...but more personality.
The strap on it was a 18mm´s...and a bit to small... Think I have to go with a 19mm on this one right? Any tip for a suitable 19mm strap for this one Roff? or any other?

Regards// Johan

_________________
"Nice from a far, but far from nice"


Breitling "pre" Chrono-Matic 1969
Omega Seamaster 300 1969
Rolex Submariner 16800 1982 (birthyear watch)
IWC Aquatimer 3548 2008

+Misc

Congrats with the watch and welcom to the world of vintage Breitling

Grattis till ett fint köp och välkommen in i Breitlings gamla värld

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Breitling Navitimer Vintage
Breitling Emergency Mission

19mm from memory.

If you don't mind the money you can't do better than ABP - http://www.abp-paris.com/watchbands_cre ... id=7&cid=1 and click on the 'Click Here' button at the top to start building one.

Thanks for the tip! About the Bezel....does it just slide and have one fixed position or should it have 120 clicks?


Tack för det Malfre.... Bara att köpa fler

_________________
"Nice from a far, but far from nice"


Breitling "pre" Chrono-Matic 1969
Omega Seamaster 300 1969
Rolex Submariner 16800 1982 (birthyear watch)
IWC Aquatimer 3548 2008

+Misc

Don't remember if it's uni-directional or bi-directional - should click if uni, not if bi.

It´s turning both ways....so I guess everything is allright...exept it´s very hard to turn...needs cleaning inbetween i belive....

_________________
"Nice from a far, but far from nice"


Breitling "pre" Chrono-Matic 1969
Omega Seamaster 300 1969
Rolex Submariner 16800 1982 (birthyear watch)
IWC Aquatimer 3548 2008

+Misc

Probably, cleaning is pretty straightforward and any watchmaker can help you.

I don't see anything wrong with this watch at all. It was a common occurence for these to sit in a display box for years before being sold so just because the original owner bought it in the early eighties doesn't mean it was made then. If you look in the 1969 catalog, here on Breitling Source, you'll see a copy of this ref 2112 Chronomatic. Nothing wrong with a 1968 serial number either. This would be considered a "pre" watch of the earliest issue as were 1968 Navitimers, Copilots, and Cosmonauts all with the caliber 11 movement. I've had two of them before. That's why there's always the question of who came out with the first automatic chrono first and why Breitling always had a good arguement.

Paul

Very nice early Chrono-matic.

Everything looks ok to me. The bezel have just one click (in center position) and should turn both ways. The case back is ok.

I have the manual wind brother, the ref 2212, with same case but valjoux 7730 intead of the caliber 11.



Cheers
Jarl

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www.classicheuers.blogspot.com

Well thank you for that one! That makes me very happy to know that the caseback also might be original. When I unscrewed the caseback yesterday I saw it had some engravings in it..very har to read though... It was like 3/3 and a line and 0410 and under that 4/12 or something like that. What does that mean?
So this it a early 69?

Thanks for all the info

_________________
"Nice from a far, but far from nice"


Breitling "pre" Chrono-Matic 1969
Omega Seamaster 300 1969
Rolex Submariner 16800 1982 (birthyear watch)
IWC Aquatimer 3548 2008

+Misc

That will likely be marks made by a watchmaker during servicing.

I had heard about pre-models (as I alluded to in the PMs), but wasn't aware that their were legitimate calibre 11s out there with 68 serials.

You learn something new every day - thanks Paul!