The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi all.
I've just bought this Navitimer and I'm really happy with it generally.
I'm posting it here for expert opinions.
It looks to me to be very tidy and all original but I'm concerned about that chrono minute hand. Why is it bigger and blue in some lights?
Has it been replaced at some point? Shouldn't it look like the others?
If so, can someone please advise on where to find a replacement (original) hand and who to send it to for service/ repair? Preferably in the UK.
Thank you very much in advance.
Oh and by the way, there are engravings on the inside of the caseback that the camera couldn't pick up.
They read
HR or maybe AR? 8/8/71
0511183
and
9/81G
I assume those have something to do with servicing etc?
Thanks,
DT.

Welcome.

The chrono minute hand is a replacement. Finding an original will not be easy especially for the smaller sub dials. Others on here might be able to help / advise.

The markings on the inside of the case back relate to servicing.

The chrono hour hand looks wrong to me too as I think it should be a little broader than the others.

The chrono second hand appears to have a lumed tip, again not what you'd expect. Might just be discoloured.

My thoughts. Would wait to hear the thoughts of more experienced forum members.


Will

Image of correct hands from watch belonging to forum member shown in another post...




Will

I do not have much time to look at the moment but critical analysis, case has been polished, 30 minute counter is definite replacement, other subdial hands are replacements or perhaps mixed up? sweep seconds hand has been lumed, and hands have been relumed or most likely replaced.
Serial # and movement look good, dial and slide rule look good

I have a very similar piece with similar serial and dial, attached for comparison, although note my crystal was incorrect in the photo




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I would revise above by saying it's possible hands have original Lume, although they don't match, macro pic could make me certain


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Aside from the 30 minute counter hand, which is not original, I personally think its OK
I cant judge the case from the pics but the edges seem rounded (= polished)

movement is OK as well

and I am currently not even dismissing the lumed chrono hand tip , I have seen other examples and contrary to my earlier beliefs it may even be original that way . If not original its been lumed very early in its life as lume on the tip shows the same level of aging as the rest of the dial

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

Interesting you say that Rene, I've wondered that

There are so many examples out there with Lume tip chronograph hand, and the Lume nearly always matches the dial. In Many of the pieces, the dial Lume is unquestionably original. I wonder if it's possible it was an option given to pilots? Seems silly to not be able to see the chrono hand in the dark if flying a plane

Not to subtract from the OPs original query but I think there should be a thread on that subject alone.



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the evidence is mounting the lumed chrono seconds might be original, maybe really an option at purchase ? clearly a fraction of pieces we see, but in most cases well applied and aging in line with the dial.

think the lume was not applied by the hands manufacturer though - it looks and ages like the dial lume, not the lume in the main hands.

not long time ago, i was "killed" here for showing a 806 with lume tip in a way,
that there is no way, that this is / was / could be original from factory

and i don't want to dispute here again about that

and really it is possible, that never awatch leaves the factory like this (with lume tip),

but the fact is:

we see a lot of them.

I talked last week with a watchmaker and breitling collector (not all people live in
internet world and blogs) and asked him about. He told me:

He don't know, but there could be the possibility, that Breitling started to do this,
but stoped it, because there is one thing for fact - the lume on the hand made a
lot of problems with some movement parts (for reason of the weight at the end
of hand).

when using the chrono function this additional weight at this place damaged a movement
part. I can't explane better. This problemnalso had a lot of other watches (divers with big
lume Lolipop ...).

Another fact is, that most of the watches we see with lume tip are from 1966/1967.

regards

Stephan

Hi Stephan
If I recall correctly that discussion that you were 'killed' was not about the lume tip ?, you even agreed it looked strange ?

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=56156

There was a discussion about 'thick 12' and whether or not the dial was possibly relumed , there was some difference of opinion about the originality of the lume on the dial

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

Rene,

you don' t recall correctly. The "thick 12" later in this discussion was a point to
discuss about.

the thread started with showing a lume tip and i asked about knowledge about that.

The answers had been (three members, three answers - same opinion):

have seen quite a lot of 806 of all production years and quite a lot of NOS replacement hands, none had a lume tip

I have never seen a lume tipped stop seconds hand.

have never seen a 100% 806 come out of the factory with lume on the tip of the chrono hand

anyway!

Stephan