The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi
Been looking at a 1970 806 (large sub dials).
The chrono sweep seconds hand has a red tip to it (the arrow head). I haven't seen 806's like this before. Assume it is a replacement hand perhaps from an Old Navitimer? The hands look fine apart from the red tip.


20140529_182741_2.jpg


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Sorry image issues! Damn smart devices!!


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To me it all looks very fresh - too fresh unless it's been kept in a safe (but then why would it have a wrong sweep hand?) or you haven't photographed the colours well. Don't you expect some ageing to the lume in 45 years? The red on the dial is faded but the corresponding red on the sliderule is not, so the patina is not even. Does the photo reflect what it looks like in person?

I haven't seen it in the 'flesh'.
Photos sent by the seller. I am told it was 'overhauled' circa 20 yrs ago. Have asked seller to confirm what was done. I would say the hands are replacements but not sure about the dial. I have seen some from the 1970's with good lume.
Price is pretty good. Movement looks clean and has a regular service history over last 20 years.
I don't mind a bit of re luming but the red hand concerns me!



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The lume on the hands and the dial match quite well so they may both have been replaced/relumed at the same time. Hand resuming doesn't bother me as much as dial resuming. I suspect the sliderule is replaced too which is why the reds don't match. But if price is right and you are OK with the changes....

You can always either get the red tip restored, or you can buy a replacement.

Yeah. Thought a little touching up might do the trick. Have looked for replacement hands before but would appear to be rarer than the proverbial rocking horse sh*t!
Not sure about the glass too. Hard to see curvature is correct from pics. Suppose correct ones easy to come by and could be replaced when touching up the red!


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Correct plexi's are 5 or 6 $

Chronohand can eaily be painted white again by a competent watchmaker , who will service it and replace the plexi as well

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

+1

We have seen the red tip before, It's impossible to say anything for sure regarding the lume from that picture, but what I can say for sure, is that the sliderule has been replaced with a factory replacement non period correct one, and the case has been polished a lot.
If it was me, I would ask for a full size untouched picture of the dial, before proceeding with a possible purchase, and if the lume on the dial has been replaced (which I believe it has), then I wouldn't buy it.

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

Thanks for all the advice.


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Sorry, one last thing!
Kurt, why would you not want to buy a relumed dial? Is it personal preference?



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Yes, I guess that's what it's called, and I wouldn't buy a polished watch either.

It's well known here that I'm a perfectionist, and only the best counts in my world, but it is also a fact that once you start restoring on a vintage watch, then the value goes into a free fall, and that counts much more for the dial then for the rest of the watch.
Here's the exact same watch in 100% original & unrestored exceptional good condition.

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

Nice!!
Now that's what I'm looking for!
I will keep looking.
Thanks again.


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Kurt, let me learn: Why is the replacement slide rule not period correct? The dial has the three red markings...

It's just a little different, I guess it needs a trained eye to see it.

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