The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi. I just won this vintage Breitling Chronograph with Venuss 188 movement. I've been spending a few days looking for a watch on the internet, and I did some research, including research on Argentinian fakes. Unfortunately I never found any info on "Frankenwatches" until after I bid on this one, and won. Do you all think this is a Frankenwatch/bad deal?










Thanks very much! I've been saving money for a breitling for a long time now. I've loved them ever since I was a little kid, because it's the watch that my father wore.

You will probably get more comments on this in the vintage forum, I'll move it there for you.

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Well, the good news is that is' a Breitling watch with a Venus 188.

I got the serial and model numbers from the eBay listing and I'll check those out to make sure that they match with the watch. There are a couple of things that I want to check out before I pass judgment, but it is an Argentinian watch

Thanks Roffensian!

I just checked with Paypal, and they told me that if I bring the watch to a specialist and he says it's either a fake, or rebuilt, they will fully reimburse me. I hope it's a nice clean and real watch, though.

Looking forward to hearing your answer about the serial and model number. Also- could you tell me where I can check the serial number and model number on the watch itself, just to make sure it matches up to what's listed on the auction page?

Thanks!

You won't go wrong taking it to an expert - hopefully a Breitling AD close to you will know something of older watches. They'll be able to tell a lot more from holding it.

The only serial number is the one on the caseback, there's nothing to compare against inside the watch itself - I'm going to try and find reference photos of the model identified on the caseback to confirm that they are similar to yours. You didn't show the caseback photo but it is on eBay. I also want to check the movement photos in more depth - in particular the screws holding it into the case.

My views on Argentinian sourced watches is well documented on other topics here, but with a bit of luck I'll fail to find any problems

Here's a picture of the back of the watch....
I can't tell if the serial is 745530 or 746530

There's also another number under it... 1190



Thanks again!

I think that is a 6. Look at the 9 on the number below and turn it upside down. It does look a bit like a messed up 5 though.

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Doesn't matter if it's a 5 or a 6 - both date to 1950.

1190 is a round case, square button watch with a 30 minute counter and it was powered by a Venus 188.

So, we have the right case, right movement, and at one time this was the right caseback (I'll come back to that). If this were from a seller that I trusted I wouldn't hesitate to say it was right, as it is I'm only prepared to say that it's consistent with a model 1190.

It does have one problem - the caseback. The caseback is undoubtedly from a Breitling 1190, but the Breitling signature has been added much more recently. The correct caseback should be unmarked other than the model and serial numbers and the stainless steel on the inside.

Unfortunately, some sellers think they will increase the value by adding the Breitling name - and that's what has happened here. How serious a problem is it - well that's for you to decide. You didn't buy it to sell, but the resale value is certainly hurt.

Sorry it's not better news, but it could be worse.

What model would you say this is?

I found that the Cadets from 1950 also used the Venus 188 movement, but this only looks similar at best when compared to the cadet. I'm not finding any info on a model 1190 on the internet.

Thanks for all of the info so far!

It's a model 1190!

There are lots of different model numbers in watches of this era - 1190 is listed in the best resource for vintage watches - Benno Richter's book. There is also a photo of a watch listed as an 1190, but it's from 1958 and has a 45 minute register.

Right you are. The 1190 in Richter's book says 45 minute register, if I remember correctly, but the two 1190's I've had were both 30 minute registers. The dials also been redone.

Paul

Actually, the 1190 is a bit odd. Richter identifies it as a 30 minute register in the list, and that's what I understand it to be. However there is an advertisement from 1958 of an 1190 which clearly shows it to be a 45 minute register. Assuming that Breitling got the advertisement right it must have changed at some point in the 50s.

VERY NICE Great watch. Not able to give you any comments as I am not very up on vintage gear Thanks for the share

So I received this watch, and it is beautiful... I wound it up and it's been keeping perfect time since yesterday morning.

The only thing that bugs me is that the two buttons seem to be a little bit loose... If I jiggle the watch sometimes you can hear the buttons moving around. is this normal?

The buttons work nicely, and so does the chorno, which snaps perfectly back to zero when I hit the bottom button.

I'm just worried because the two buttons seem either fragile or cheap , but then again I've never held a model 1190 before, so I don't know if it's normal or not.

Thanks for all of your help!

It may just be the age - the springs may have weakened. However it may (unfortunately) be related to my comment a couple of weeks ago about the screws holding the movement in. The movement looks like it may be slightly too small for the case in which case there will be slightly too much play for the pushers.