The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Dear All,

I'm new to the forum and would like to get some insight from you experts out there, on my 806 which is acquired from a Germany online dealer.

Big white sub-dial w/ 2 planes logo, aged tritium marker but in crispy sharp edge
Case marked 806E with serial no. 144XXXX
Movement is Venus 178

I've visited every possible resources online and concluded it is a late 70's production before Breitling went broke. However, with its marking and S/N, shouldn't it comes with Valjoux 7736 movement?

The watch was returned to me after a 6 months services at the Breitling Swiss, for a overhaul and replacement on parts which they recommended.

Now, I'm a proud owner and its on my wrist as a daily wear.

I appreciate anyone can tell me more about Breitling production of this "dark era"...and may reveal some interesting story about my watch.

BR
Dav

Try this page as it mentions an 806E with a number close to yours,

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=25057

_________________
Regards
David D

The E suffix was a replacement for the -36 designation of the mid 60s, so yes it should be a Valjoux 7736 movement. Breitling did some strange things in the 70s, but I have never seen a 178 in an 806 E

Its exact so as Roff said, the 806E is not with a Venus 178, it comes always with valjoux 7736, Breitling did not this strange thing, it was a later replacement of a watchmaker in later period.

Thank you all.
Wonder who in the world would swap the movement like this.
In such case, what impact when we come to value the piece?

Probably needed a new movement and someone thought that alll 806s needed a 178.

In terms of value - it's concrete evidence that the watch is a frankenwatch - it's only value as a Breitling is as a donor watch, but still collectible as a vintage chrono. Obviously not worth anything close to 806 money - sorry.

can you swap out the movement again? i see a 178 movement on a popular auction site starting bid $750. is that legit and feasible?

Tough to know without seeing the watch.

The 7736 pusher placement was different to the 178 so don't know how that was handled. The watch may actually have more problems than simply the movement.

Any chance of pictures?

a Venus 178 movement and dial you can buy from here at $700-800
http://www.watchpartssupply.com/venus.aspx

The watch I've acquired online from Germany and prior to that, have ask scans on movement and details, but no reasons on why its a 178 but not a 7736.

Then I send the watch to Breitling, SA for a overhaul. It was back with a sparkling clean and top condition chrono vintage movement I ever have in my collection.

I would not even think about swapping its movement to a 7736, because you can buy one at
http://www.finertimes.com/ for $3.3K

I will try to photo my watch over the weekend to share.

I think someone has swapped only the back.

May be, and this getting interesting.
As we all know Breitling put 7736 into this time of production due to short supply on 178. On top on that, Breitling should be under tough time and near its bankrupt at late 70s. My best guess is anything can happen at the time and who know its a mess up in their production?!...

Or did anyone know is Breitling selling a new Navitimer 806 with 178 or 7736 at the same price at that time? Does consumer are well inform and educated the different when purchase..these are interesting questions over my head.

The problem with the theory of swapping the back is that it's unlikely that you would find one that fit very well - casebacks aren't randomly interchangeable parts.

This is true, but sometimes they fit or a watchmaker makes them fit.

Photo on my 806E?

this is a watch with a very hight serial number of the end of the official Breitling production 1978 or later or made after the end of the official production. In this time Breitling or Breitling-workers or other watchmakers assemled all parts which they could find in the stock. There are a lot of Navitimers, special NOS 7806 from this period with a wrong back cover.