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| Can anyone identify? https://www.breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=68241 |
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| Author: | maat1976 [ Mon Jan 03, 2022 4:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Can anyone identify? |
Hi All. I have a Breitling watch that was my grandfather's. It does not have a model name on it, which makes dating it very challenging. Can anyone advise what this is? Breitling have been less than helpful and just sent me somewhere to get it serviced. https://ibb.co/qRxMdf3 https://ibb.co/Qc0YF1t Thanks! maat1976 |
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| Author: | davedc74 [ Mon Jan 03, 2022 4:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
Nice, late 1930s or early 1940s clamshell case. Authentic and nice. Find a competent watchmaker, Breitling generally wont be very helpful on this front. |
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| Author: | maat1976 [ Mon Jan 03, 2022 4:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
Thanks Dave. They recommended a group called Horological Services. I've emailed them. Hopefully they can help. Thanks. |
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| Author: | WatchFred [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 4:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
yes, the Heists (Mark & teresa run Horological Services) are highly competent. as Dave says, early (and very rare) "Clamshell", serial points to ca. 1939, reference number is 747. little to be done about dial condition I fear, but a lovely piece! if you can, please post higher res pics, so we can document that dial variation? |
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| Author: | maat1976 [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 5:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
Hi Both. Here is a better photo. I am sure this will sound really stupid but what is a clamshell? 747 reference means what? Sorry, this is all new to me, and very interesting to be honest. https://ibb.co/KmdGTb4 maat1976 |
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| Author: | davedc74 [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 5:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
Clamshell refers to a very early waterproof case (identifiable by the four small screws on the back near the lugs). Don't take a 90 year old watch swimming, though  747 is the Breitling reference number for this watch (probably), sort of like a model number.
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| Author: | WatchFred [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 6:04 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
here's all you may ever want to know about the Schmitz Freres "clamshell" case designs, (one of, there's some discussion among collectors there may have been earlier Mido prototypes) the first waterproof chronograph case design: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/brev ... et.861992/ yes, if the diameter is 36mm (that's what it seem to be), the Breitling model reference number is 747 |
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| Author: | maat1976 [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 6:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
Thanks guys, really interesting. What should this watch have looked like? Do you know any catalogues or references for me to get more info on this model? maat1976 |
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| Author: | WatchFred [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 6:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
here's a pic from the ca. 1940 catalog.  they were available in several dial/hands configuration, the ref. 745 next to it shows dial/hands taht seem close to your grandfather's watch. |
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| Author: | WatchFred [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 6:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
and a (slightly) younger example, ca. 1940; different dial/hands 
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| Author: | maat1976 [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 6:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
THIS IS SO COOL!!!!!!!!!! So it's likely a 745, the roman numerals and placement of the little dials (I'm sure they have a real name) are in the right place. I sense a rabbit hole of questions coming after I google a bit... |
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| Author: | davedc74 [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 6:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
No, it’s a 747 as Fred mentioned there are many dial and hand combinations. |
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| Author: | WatchFred [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 6:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
here you have the 36mm Breitling in comparison w/ the 34mm Gallet:  and another ca. 1940 Breitling 747.  the reference numbers apply to cases - all of them were available in multiple dial/hands configurations, as said; here are some (by far not all!) examples: 
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| Author: | WatchFred [ Tue Jan 04, 2022 6:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
davedc74 wrote: Breitling generally wont be very helpful on this front. well, Breitling actually tries to be rather helpful, you just (for now) need to find the right place to ask 
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| Author: | liebs520 [ Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Can anyone identify? |
maat1976 wrote: Hi Both. Beautiful piece, congratulations!! Love the combo of that elegant Roman numeral dial and the sporty waterproof case. Here is a better photo. I am sure this will sound really stupid but what is a clamshell? 747 reference means what? Sorry, this is all new to me, and very interesting to be honest. https://ibb.co/KmdGTb4 maat1976 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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