The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Wondering if anyone has any info on this watch.

I purchased in the early nineties and am looking to get it restored if possible.

I rarely wear it, and need to find the correct strap or band for it.

I am not looking to sell, but am interested in its value.

Photos aren't terribly big, and I'm not that familiar with diver style models of the early 90s. Someone will no doubt recognise it immediately, but I'm not one of them. I assume it's from the Superocean family of the time, but that's it for me.

Thanks for the reply, managed to get the bigger size photos now.

Oh, well that changes things - not at all what I thought.

Bad news I'm afraid - this isn't a Breitling.

Model number and serial number on the caseback were never used by Breitling, the logo has been added to a blank caseback.

Breitling never produced a cyclops date watch, and the hands are not Breitling. The dial may be original, in that the logo looks quite good, but I wouldn't put money on it either.

In terms of value - well enjoy it for what it is, but I wouldn't invest anything into restoring it - as a nameless watch it's worth maybe $100 or so

I found this remarkably similar watch, is this not a Breitling either?

http://www.heirloom2.com/non-chrono3.htm#BREITLING_30ATM_INCABLOC_AUTO_DIVERS_

Found this watch in the Breitling Israel Museum 1970--79



http://www.breitling.org.il/site/detail/departAlbum/albumPic.asp?depart_id=24739&category_id=16844&passCloseTXT=&gadgetStyleBOO=&designCustomNUM=NULL&designCustomWidthNUM=0&designCustomHeightNUM=0&designCustomSecondNUM=0&iframeNameTXT=IFwinEdit_16844&borderSizeNUMg=&borderColorTXTg=&backColorTXTg=&textColorTXTg=&gadgetStyleXmlBOO=&iPageNum=7&seaWord=

I stand corrected - apologies.

I love this place, learn something every day.

The caseback on yours is definitely not right, but looks like the rest might be. The giveaways on the caseback are the serial number (should be 7 digits starting with a 1) and the B logo - look at the loop in the middle of the B, it's just not right - compare it with the dial.

Breitling certainly produced some odd watches in their final years, and I guess that this is one of them. My hebrew is non existent, but looks like a 3865 which is documented as a ETA 2472 powered steel diver's watch. No similar documented serial numbers, so looks like this really is a one of a kind piece. Can't comment on the movement - from the picture it could be anything.

Sorry for the misidentification, and sorry that I can add nothing more, this is just completely beyond my experience. Assuming that it's only the caseback that's wrong (which might still be a stretch because it has to force questions about the rest of the watch) then it will have value, but your guess is as good as mine in terms of what it is.

Roffensian, you are a true gentleman.

Thanks for your assistance, I read your reply this morning and was kind of down about it.
When I came home I scoured about and found some more info.
Glad I found some or it would be sold for parts on ebay by now

Where do I send it for restoration???

Given the likely calue of this I wouldn't go to the Breitling approved restorers (Mark Heist in the US) because of the time and cost involved.

Get in touch with chronodeco on here - he restores watches, and while I haven't had need for his services since he joined, Paul (username Vintage) swears by him.

I looked at the watch again with some surgeons magnifying glasses and did see HR 2472 with tiny ETA stamp, and WOG nearby.

That's good news, sounds like just the caseback then.

Anyone have any idea as to the value??
If I send it registered mail to be restored I need an Insurance value.

The 3962 is a genuine Breitling watch. I had one a few years ago and actually bought it out of South America! Goes to show you have to know what you're looking at. This is actually represented in Breitling Source in the brochures from 1969 on the main page. Nice watch that I sold for $450 and is probably still in that same area as to value.

Paul

Thanks Paul.

The watch keeps perfect time, so maybe a refinish of the face is all that is needed.

What kind of band did this have?

Eddie

Look under Chronologs and Books on the first page and select 1969 scans and go to page 23. It might be hard to tell from that particular scan but it looks almost like a carbon fiber type design on the strap when blown up. Since they didn't have carbon fiber back then I'm not sure what it was but probably some sort of leather print.

Paul