The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I just came across this one on the Swedish ebay. The pics look a lot like the reference on breitlingsource (or maybe I'm just blind enough) but one think gets my eye - the date font seems to be rotated 90 degrees... Please let me know what you think of the piece.

http://www.tradera.com/OBS_Mycket_sallsynt_Breitling_Bullhead_Chronograph-auktion-58533648

_________________
Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

I'm not knowledgeable enough about vintage models to know if this one is genuine, but I have seen a number of these in quite different configurations. Some I've seen have had the date rotated 90 degrees, some don't ; some have had slightly different dial markings ; on some the hands have been different, etc...... and I don't personally know if any of them were real or fake! There was a huge spate of these turning up on eBay about 6 months ago - and most originated from Thailand which kind of had the alarm bells ringing for me.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

I've emailed the seller asking about the watch's history. Any other thoughts are most welcome.

_________________
Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

Sorry - been crazy busy at work and so MIA for awhile.

On the face of it it looks OK, though I'd need to check the book and try and match serials (looks like 1071954??).

You likely don't have a problem with it being a fake, more likely with a watch of this age is that it has been assembled from a number of other watches and that can be very hard to spot.

Thanks a lot. I believe the serial is 1571954, according to an email from the seller.

_________________
Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

I'll check the book this evening for photos of the model as comparison and also see what year the serial matches to.

I got home late last night, and didn't get much time, but I did check the serial, which was as I suspected - after 1978. This isn't necessarily a problem, but would make me wary.

Up to 1978 Breitling used sequential serial numbers so it was easy to date a watch. However after the takeover of the company the serials stopped being sequential and became impossible to date - not even the same number of digits. By 1978 Breitling had reached about 148xxxx, so if the serial on this one is 157xxxx it is quite considerably higher. That said, there were definitely a number of 7101s that had been produced but not sold at the time of the takeover and they are a fairly regular NOS watch.

It's possible that some of those watches were given later casebacks, but it is also possible that the caseback isn't original to the watch.

In terms of the movement, the 7101 had a Valjoux 7740, and as far as I know that was the only movement used in a bullhead. However, this watch has a Valjoux 7734.

Bottom line, I'd be wary. If you want a bullhead then I think you are better off with one of the NOS ones from Old World - http://www.ewatchshow.com/view/watch/3_ ... os-pupitre. More money, but peace of mind.

Many thanks, Roffensian!

After your advice, I'll stay clear from this one. Again, that was really appreciated. Thanks!

_________________
Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid