The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Brand new to this forum. I want to buy my first Breitling, and have my heart set on an Iraqi Air Force model as an interesting conversation starting piece!

But as a completely green newbie I've no idea how to spot a fake or what I should be concerned about when buying. I'm thinking of bidding on this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HUGE-MINT-IRA ... 35e211f73c

Is it real?? Is it worth buying??

several inconsistencies on this piece, but Bill mentions them this time. yes, we saw several of the very late pieces with Cal.11s, Breitling was desperately trying to use whatever stock components they had, but it's the first white on black date ring I see iirc.

unsure abt. lume originality too.

The lume looks sloppy but a Google image search for "Iraqi chronomatic" yields several examples like it, with sloppy dark green lume and matching hands. The inconsistencies mentioned in the listing and questionable dial would make me wait. Best advice is to be patient, look at past and current auctions, get a feel for what's correct and what you like in these pieces... And then buy one. When you get impatient, you buy the wrong piece and the right one pops up the next day happy new year.

The date wheel is from a Hamilton Fountainbleau Cal 11. I wouldn't buy this one without a movement shot because the Hamilton's Cal 11's are commonly swapped into more expensive watches. The rest of the watch looks acceptable for a military version.

Looks like he added the movement shot and it looks like the correct Cal 11. The date wheel wouldn't hold me back if everything else was satisfactory.