The Breitling Watch Source Forums

was waiting for the sun to re-appear over Vienna, had beautiful weather yesterday - in Zurich, but could not find the time for decent pics.

so really just one shot of this beautiful piece, to thank Jon and his family for taking such great care of it & Craig for making it run like new again.

will post more pics of that unbelievably "virginal" case & some movements shots, but this will have to wait for light that does it justice - or gets close at least.

case was produced in 1953, but chrono second hand & WOG-marked bridge indicate final assembly in late 1955 or 1956.

condition is truly unbelievable, here's a full res: http://i.imgur.com/kq8UPiR.jpg

Wow, great one. Unbelievably nice.

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"A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure."

I think I said enough about this one but it really is the best one ever

unbelievable piece

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

Absolutely stunning example, and a great home for it.

More than happy to have put this one in a knowledgable collectors hands. I do call dibs on it if you decide to part with it Fred is the 4th person to wear the watch and it has largely been in a desk drawer for the past 30 or 40 years.

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Milgauss 116400GV
Navitimer AB012312
Speedmaster 3570.50
Frederique Constant 306G4S6

WTB/TF:
JLC 1548420

Lovely example. Probably the best I've seen. I like the lume on this one but don't you think is resembles the factory Nav replacement dial lume that our eminent Navitimer expert has such a problem with?



Since this AVI has such a known history it seems that this style lume was used very early on so what's the problem with the replacement dial Nav lume, or am I totally missing something here (not the first time I'm sure)? It does make one wonder though if replacement dials were available for some of the other models.

lume is quite different on the AVI and the replacement dials, Paul, I have one & I'll be happy to post a comparison soon.

Thanks Fred!

Wish I new where this secret watch shop was, just stunning both of them

Top piece, I like it very much!

Amazing, beautiful & perfect dial, the paint on the numbers are most likely Radium.

/ Kurt B http://www.kurt-b.com

thank you all. I will try to grab some macro shots of the dial, as it does have some characteristics I have never seen, even on the most perfectly preserved pieces. Jon, it looks as if your wife's grandfather either has almost never worn the watch or was the most careful person imaginable.

Fred - you should post a pic of the strap that was on it - it had to be at least 40 years old and still in pretty good shape.
On the subject of lume - I have seen several 806 Navs (and some other references) with black lume in white painted hands. Was this original or some other color that changed over time? I have not been asked to do this color yet but it is possible.

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S. Craig Bergsma

here's the comparison pic, Paul, quite different, really.

Breitling Navitimer "service dial" in a ref. 765 AVI in bottom pic, shudder - claimed to be a Breitling S.A. restoration by an unreliable source, bought this for re-restoration, of course; will soon have a correct dial....

full res: http://i.imgur.com/P1RjGsX.jpg