The Breitling Watch Source Forums

All help appreciated, just seeing if the overall condition is as it should be and that it has the correct bits where they are supposed to.
Pity the newer models can't get the date wheel aligned the same as this old girl...



http://www.ebay.ca/itm/251280222498?redirect=mobile

It looks globally correct but I do not feel well with the case aspect. It looks a bit unprecise , as if polished and replated ?
Dial correct with ageing lume, hands a bit too fresh accordingly . Hand for small second correct - can be either like others , or specific as here . V7740 correct with all markings . No SN on the caseback ??? On this model it should be engraved just Under the 7806 . Not lethal for this period , I personnaly got a NOS non assembled 815 from A. Wajs without SN under its original sticker .
Last thing : Bill' s copy and paste descriptions are worst and worst , definitely not a reference ! O&W bought spares, WIP watches and machines at the end of 1978 and not 1972 . O&W were never allowed to assemble any watches for Breitling , and they were supposed to remove any external path of Breitling name from their watches . For this reason , the Aviation 6087 ( reverse of 7806) had a neutral crown and caseback + a reprinted dial.
I have got those détails from A. Wajs himself !

Phil, always a pleasure to read your posts, a lot of knowledge; really nice.

Bill often has nice watches, but his descriptions are getting stranger and stranger;
just a quick c&p; often mixing text from different models .....

Thanks so much for the opinion. I am inclined to agree on the case condition, I think that by far the majority of watches from this era are actually worn out rubbish, and this is getting very close to that level.

Bugger it, might just buy a new one!

You guys are missing that it's a plated watch. Any polishing of the case to the extent your suggesting would go through the plating. It doesn't appear that's the case on this particular watch. Bill's habit of throwing the watches into his scanner has always led to less than the best results.

by all means, please buy a new one.

have been accused of being too friendly, but in this case it prooves hard to remain civil and respectful.

this watch is far from "worn out rubbish", neither is the "majority of others from that era"

if you look at vintage watches because they might be cheaper than the "new ones" - why not get a Swatch, or even better, a nice Invicta Quartz ?

If things from 1973 are now worn out rubbish then the vast majority of people posting to this thread are in serious trouble!

Wouldn't be overly surprised if this were replated, but would love to see this with some good photos. I always used to say that Bill's descriptions were honest but that you had to note what he didn't say to get the true story, these days I tend to ignore the descriptions.

The zoom shot of the dial looks nice and clean (6 o'clock subdial hand excepted) and clearly shows that this is a very long way from worn out!

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. What are you offended by my comment regarding the majority of eBay listings? Surely you'd not be foolish enough to associate 'immaculate' or NOS pieces when compared to used beaters?

As you are exactly the kind of expert I seek the assistance from, I will not respond with the same 'tone' you have used.
Perhaps I should clarify that I mean to say that by far the majority of these watches listed for sale ARE worn out rubbish, it is the nice ones that are rare and sought after. In fact, that's exactly what I am looking for.

Thanks again, gents. I will continue to hold out for a nice piece. And I only owned a quarts Seiko Sports 100 as a kid. Was actually a very good watch.

The term used and beaters has two different meanings to most of us. Used is something that has been worn, maybe even worn plenty, but is not usually a beater. A beater is something you wear that you couldn't care less what happens to it. Something like a $50 digital watch that you throw away when the battery expires. Beater. Vintage pieces are rarely nos or immaculate and if you do find one of those you will pay for it in most cases. Navitimers are unique in that even rusty parts watches have been selling easily for over $1k lately. You generally won't find a reasonably nice example, serviced, and needing nothing for less than $2k. Those of us that really love the vintage Breitling pieces can sometimes get a little touchy when someone says most are "rubbish". One mans junk is another mans treasure. That's what keeps the vintage world turning for me.

All good, I haven't taken offence & I certainly meant none.

Still, many of those I have seen have been just that: Someone's used beater. That's how they have treated it, and then it's dolled up for sale. Not a reflection on how you guys might view the item, it's just how it's been used.

Anyways, being new here I am certainly not trying to rock the boat and I AM looking for a nice 7806. I believe the stainless steel version is going to be what I am going to track down. This in the knowledge that there are rarer, more collectible and more desired pieces. But I still want one, as it's a true Breitling (being pre sell off) with a correctly aligned date wheel. After this one, a gold Chronomat seems tempting. We'll see.

Like all collectors, we have our individual 'foibles' and this is where I want to start my Breitling vintage collection. I have had four new models (Airwolf, Avenger, Chronomat Evo, Blackbird) and am down to the Chronomat once the Avenger sells.

And no, I doubt very much that $2k is going to get me over the line, but then I haven't bought a $2k watch for five years. Still bought lots of watches though!

So peace and goodwill to all, and I appreciate all your replies, even those whom I have inadvertently offended.

same to you, will be happy to assist you in your quest and evaluate watches if you require my help.

Here's the nos 7806 I picked up earlier this year. They are out there.

hi Mr. Vintage

Why NOS? its been re lumed and has a middle eastern engraving on the back. Last time I checked NOS meant New Old Stock.

Also case back shows signs of use!

Nos in the original box and still has the protective sticker on the back. Has not been relumed. Nos means new old stock as in unused. They can still show sign of handling from being 40 years old. Middle East engraving because it was a special presentation piece.

Do you homework better, there's absolutely nothing that indicates that the dial has ever been relumed.

Kurt B