The Breitling Watch Source Forums

If you would like to see better photographs than the ones I posted, please go to the site below, graciously provided by buddman, above. The Wakmann watch shown is identical to my watch, save for
the Breitling logo/name/Geneve and placement of "17 JEWELS." The question, of course, is, was there a relationship between Wakmann and Breitling? Some other explanation?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Wakma ... Sw8oFXyMyW

Thanks to all.

For some reason, when I copied the below site url in my previous post, it does not get to the exact site. If this still happens, please use the post of buddman, above.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Wakma ... Sw8oFXyMyW

Unfortunately that's pure Wakmann. It appears someone has altered the Wakmann dial with the Breitling details. Pretty common among fakers to take a Wakmann and morph it into a Breitling because of the Wakmann connection.

Okay. More research. I found an article by Oran Chan on the site Wound For Life on the Wakmann-Breitling connection. (http://www.woundforlife.com/2015/07/20/ ... a-wakmann/). A paragraph in this interesting article states:

"Wakmann Watch Company was founded in New York in 1946, and became known as experts in the world of chronographs and multipurpose timekeeping. At the time, the US had increased duties on imported Swiss watches, which opened the door for Wakmann to partner up with Breitling. Wakmann would receive a batch of nearly complete watches from Switzerland, which would then undergo final assembly before being sold under the Wakmann name. Beyond “re-branded” watches, Wakmann also supplied timekeeping devices for the Armed Forces, U.S. Government, commercial airlines, and radio/television studios as part of their Breitling relationship. Later the company would be purchased by Breitling and absorbed into the larger and more successful umbrella."

I still do not understand why FRANCE is on the bottom of the dial. Also, I wonder if it is possible that this watch was made after Breitling purchased Wakmann. Of course, as the article and the last poster indicates, especially given the Breitling/Wakmann connection, a skilled forger may have altered the dial. I will email "Wound For Life" and see if I can clarify this further. While I will be disappointed if it is not an authentic Breitling, this journey has been a fascinating and gratifying one and has made me even more attached to my watch. Thank you all. I will keep you posted, and would, of course, welcome further clarification or information from the people on this forum.

Wakmann was the US importer of Breitling watches and they had a partnership in the US, neither was owned by other.
France printed on the dial means the watch was assembled by Wakmann in France and not in Switzerland. Commonly seen.

Thank you Wayne. The Chan Article I reference above did not mention that the assembly took place in France. It's nice to know. The article states that Breitling did eventually purchase Wakmann. Do you have any thoughts on my watch having the Breitling logo/name on it rather than Wakmann? I assume you agree with the earlier post that the dial was altered?

Thanks again.

Mike

as said before - most non-Gigandet Wakmann were produced in France and typically also carry that stamping on the movement (Yema was the largest supplier). watch is such a Wakmann model and has no connection to Breitling above being distributed by the same company.

Thank you