The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello,
I have been looking quite a bit on the site and I am pretty sure I have this narrowed down. However, some recent info on the site has made me step back a moment. I have an old Navi II and would like to go with a different bracelet for it. From earlier readings, I believe the choices are:

- old navi/cosmonaute, which will be a 5 link with curved end pieces. I currently have a Pilot with UTC for the watch as well, but I would like a bracelet for this one with no UTC for another option.

- 423a which has straight end pieces at 22lug, 18 clasp. However, I am not positive if this bracelet has the cursive Breitling on the clasp or the regular script.

- 440a which has straight end pieces at 22lug, 18 clasp. Same question as above on the clasp script.

The most recent which I am trying to verify is will the 431a fit the old Navi II. I have found some postings that seem to indicate it will fit, but then a couple others seem to say that the end pieces on the 431a are different and will not fit the old Navi II case. I may be reading the postings incorrectly, however.

Any assistance would be appreciated and thanks in advance!

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Breitling Old Navitimer II
Breitling Emergency
Breitling Superocean Steelfish

431A won't fit.
First three mentioned bracelets will fit.
I think (didn't measure) that bracelets are 22/20mm, 22/18mm was mark for straps.
423A has cursive "B" script and 440A has normal script with raised wings logo on the safety clasp.

Hi, bnewbie. No, the pre-2003 22mm bracelets do indeed taper to 18mm. I have had the 8 segment Old Nav/Cosmo bracelet and the 7 segment 423A and both are 22-18. Also 22-18 are the 350A Pilot bracelets for the Crosswind as well as the 358A UTC specific Pilot bracelet for the Crosswind. (both manufactured through 2004) The B-1's 874A Fighter bracelet and its 877A UTC specific Fighter bracelet are also 22-18 even though they were manufactured through 2006. The first 22-20 Pilot bracelet was the 357A for the Evo (359A UTC specific) and the first 22-20 Navi (7 segment) bracelet was the 431A IIRC followed by the 440A raised logo version. The 22-18 423A was still specified for the flyback Cossie (A22322) at least through 2007 as well. (latest sales handbook I have available here) Of course you already know the 22 mm straps decreased the taper in 2003 going from 22-18mm with small stitching to 22-20 with larger stitching. The length specs remained the same for regular, long, and short straps however. In years past, BUSA always provided either a full bracelet polish or a new calf strap depending on how they received a watch for a full service visit. (on bracelet or strap) They even exchanged the tang/buckle or deployant clasp for the larger one during the visit as well. Just a little service history info for you. Hope this helps...
Best,
Ron

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"The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea"...

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Hi Ron,
thanks for clarification and informative post.
(I'm sure you meant 5 links segment for Old Nav/Cosmo.)

Thank you very much for the information. I do apppreciate it very much. I believe the 423a is the choice for me as it has the cursive script, so I will have to keep my eyes open for that one. I see a 433a available for sale right now, but I am guessing that the end links on the 433a won't fit, correct?

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Breitling Old Navitimer II
Breitling Emergency
Breitling Superocean Steelfish

Correct, it is for Chrono-Matic.

Oops! Typo! Yes, FIVE!!!
Best,
Ron

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"The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea"...

Click to view: 500px Photo Gallery "Flow" or... 500px Photo Gallery or... Breitling Pics Slideshow

Many thanks!

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Breitling Old Navitimer II
Breitling Emergency
Breitling Superocean Steelfish

A new question that I cannot answer. I see a 423a bracelet out there for sale, however it has curved ends inks vs. straight. I did see a photo on Breitlingsource showing a 423a with curved end links as well. However, I was under the impression that the 423a needs to have straight end links for fitting to the Old Navitimer II. Does that sound correct?

Thanks!

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Breitling Old Navitimer II
Breitling Emergency
Breitling Superocean Steelfish

The 423A does indeed have curved end links and it does indeed fit the Old Nav, the Old Navi II (and their contemoporaries, the Cosmonaute and the later caliber 22 flyback Cossie as well). Here are detail photos of mine before I sold it a few years ago...











Notice that it is full length and biased correctly for wrist ergonomics. When new it is balanced 5N/5S (full links, not counting end links) and 3 of those full links are removable in order to fit and balance the bracelet correctly. YOu'll also note the manufacture date of my bracelet was the third week of 2002. This was the last year the 423A was manufactured, the first year being 1997.
Hope this helps..
Best,
Ron

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"The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea"...

Click to view: 500px Photo Gallery "Flow" or... 500px Photo Gallery or... Breitling Pics Slideshow

Thanks! That is a huge help as I thought the one I see had different end links attached to it. I have asked the seller to send a close up shot of the interior of the bracelet so that I can see the manuf date and the model number to verify. So I surmise that either the curved end links or straight links will both work on this bracelet.

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Breitling Old Navitimer II
Breitling Emergency
Breitling Superocean Steelfish

Interestingly enough, I picked one up directly from Breitling around 6 months ago.
It has a date code 0800 which would imply that it was a 12 yo NOS.
No wonder I got a significant discount on it

omi, I fully understand why you prefer the 423 with the italic/cursive font. It is my favorite bracelet as well.

Pictured here on these watches:

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"It is just a matter of time!"

Outstanding photos! Every time I see that bracelet, I like it more and more. Breitling direct may still have these? Would BUK or BUS be a better choice? I did not think they would still have these available and my only option was the secondary market.

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Breitling Old Navitimer II
Breitling Emergency
Breitling Superocean Steelfish

Unlikely to have them, but worth asking.

I am hearing about one from 03. Could they still have one with that code on it? Or if 2002 was the last year, I assume it means that the 03 is still correct, but for a different watch that was still manufactured after 02.

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Breitling Old Navitimer II
Breitling Emergency
Breitling Superocean Steelfish