The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello all, and Happy New Year!
Nice to find this forum, and hope to learn a bit, as well as share what I can..My first purchase of '09 is this very colorful 7650, with a 1278887 serial..Can any of the gurus tell me an approximate year of production, numbers produced, and overall thoughts on the watch.
Many thanks in advance

The only 'bummer' is the condition of the minute hand..which I believe may be hard to replace..please correct me if I am wrong. (hopefully I am!)

Cheers,
David

Roff is the ueber expert here but looks like a 1969 Co-Pilot. Look on the thread following forum thread:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6577" target="_blank

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Navi 1966 806 (Venus 178)
Chrono-Matic ref. 2130 (Cal. 11)
Navi Mechanique (Lemania 1873) LE Patrouille de France
Navi Old II (Valjoux 7750) LE Snowbirds (sold)
Tavannes 1942 Chronomat ref. 769 (Venus 175)

Foxyrenard, many thanks..this is a good start..hopefully the uber expert will chime in..on a side note, my last name, DeVos, is Flemish for the red fox..vulpesvulpes.
Cheers,
David

Uber expert - yikes, not sure I can live up to that

1969 co-pilot indeed, and a very nice example. Everything looks in very good condition, which automatically makes us think restoration, but if this has been restored it was an older restoration as the hand and bezel show wear - I actually think this may be in original condition.

Can't comment on the movement obviously, but the hands look original and restoration shouldn't be too difficult - chronodeco (Craig) is a member here who does some restoration work so he may be able to help you out.

I'm not sure of production numbers for this model, don't know of any reliable source for that information - sorry.

Thank you Roffe..all this points to great news..I agree with the original part, or very old resto..
I am in touch with the folks who do the Breitling work here in the USA..watch will go to visit them in the not too distant future to get a reading on the movement etc..as well as hands work/replacement if needed..minute hand has a crack going across, hard to see how deep it is, even under high maginification..
Cheers,
David

I assume you mean the Heists (Horological Services in Philly). If you aren't aware there is a long waiting list there - work can take a year or so. However, the quality is exceptional.

That's them..spoke with Theresa at length, know her from a previous watch they restored for me..
depending on size of job, wait time could be shorter..will see what they say..

Cheers,
David

Very nice - they sure do great work!

Wow, it looks new!

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I was thrilled with the end result save the relumed hands..dial was an NOS T..drove me up the wall looking at the bright hands and not so bright lume plots on the dial..I had the hands reworked, but still not perfect..watch itself though is a beauty..
Thanks all for the help and kind words!
Cheers,
David