The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have a Breitling watch my grandfather use to wear during WWII. He picked it up while he was over on a stop in that country at the time. I remember as a kid when I found the box it was in and pulled it out I got in trouble for touching it. He said it was a rare watch and I shouldn't handle it. I have it today as he passed. It's been in a box and it still works. I tried to upload a photo of it, but was wanting to know what year it was made. I assume since it was during WWII it was between the 40's to 50's. I had gotten some info on it and was told it was a rare model. It's a Breitling Premier 3 Chrono watch in 18K 0750 (144). Says on the back of watch Waterproof Antimagnectic Shock Protected. Number 703144 788. Thanks for any info you can provide. I'll try to upload a photo of it.

Pictures will certainly help. .jpg files up to 150k can be attached directly using the fields below message window, for larger files instructions are here - viewtopic.php?f=5&t=453

The serial number falls slightly outside of the known range but is likely just after the war - very late 1946 or more likely early 1947. The watch should have three subdials at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock.

Welcome to BreitlingSource.

as Roff says, the serial number is between the documented ranges for 1946 and 1947, very beautiful Premier ref. 788 in 18k, an early & large waterproof tri-compax - then at the high end of the Breitling product range; great piece !

you mention the watch runs, after lying in a box for decades. please do not run it for an extended period, the oils will have run dry years ago and you might cause severe damage - this beauty needs and deserves a service quite urgently !

here's the relevant page from the 1946 catalog:

I like it, looks like a nice unmolested 18K premier

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Of course I would like to see the money shot, the movement but if it looks like the outside.... AHHHHHH!!! Bless your grendpa's heart.

I know many people find things like these in attic's or like me get them, but here is the question that many people ask about them since we don't know much about them, but from what we can gather thru the internet or forums we can find somethings about these watches. What are these types of watches worth? I have seen a range, but I have yet to find a watch online that is an exact match of the one I have pictured here. Thanks for any help that might be provided.

To give you an estimate, i would probably buy it if it was usd2000, think about it if it was usd2500 and pass on it if it was 3000

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard