The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello everyone,

I've just started looking for a vintage Breitling and I know very little about the movements and details, so it's making it difficult to determine a fake from the real thing. So I was hoping that someone could help me one that I am looking at on eBay. I know it's not preferred to post a link so I will try to do the link as well as a couple pictures from the eBay listing.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... K:MEWAX:IT

I do note that the eBay listing says it's numbered 391006 on the back, and the research I've done says there should be two numbers: the model number (starting with a letter) and the serial number. But was this always the case? Even when this watch is supposed to be from (1939)?

Any advice on this watch would be greatly appreciated... thanks very much in advance.

iano

Not my area of expertise but hopefully Roff will be able to give you a considered opinion later today.

_________________

For more information on identifying Breitling replicas, please visit my web site
http://f4buz.com/watches/breitling/fakes/fakes.html

Fake.

Brand new restamped dial (and the stamp isn't perfectly lined up with the bed - the ink didn't take on the edge at around 3:30). No way we should be seein a script dial with a stamped bridge on the movement.

Caseback shots would show model and serial numbers that are inconsistent with Breitling as well.

Thanks for your reply Roffensian.

That's a little disappointing but I'm glad that I asked before considering an offer.

I did some searching around and found another example of the same model, supposedly it's a few years later than the one I first posted (new link and pics below). There are definite differences between the two faces, and this second watch may also suffer from incorrect numbers on the back (based on my extremely limited knowledge). Is this another example of a replica? I'm just trying to learn more about this, it's quite interesting.

http://www.chrono24.com/en/breitling/tr ... 716047.htm

I really appreciate the advice, thanks again from a fellow Ontarian.

Roff will know more, but this is neither a Venus movement, as the seller says (Landeron), nor is AXF a correct Breitling import code, I think.

edit: checked AXF, watch (or at least movement) used to be an Abercrombie&Fitch

Not AXF, I think that you'll find that it's KXF - Clebar / Zodiac.

Case could be original, movement isn't, dial is restamped.

Amazing, thanks to you both.

It's pretty fascinating and you guys have obviously built up a lot of knowledge over time. I'm feeling like I'm in over my head and starting to reconsider the whole thing.

Are there reputable sellers online that I could buy from with confidence that they will accurately represent the true details of their watches? With eBay and random sites one is obviously at the mercy of those sellers who either don't know enough to give true details or ones who choose to misrepresent the watch.

Thanks again
iano

you did the right thing. find a watch u like, post the link here and get decent feedback, I am sure you will find your perfect Breitling this way. p.s. do not look for letters in vintage model numbers, this started much later

General rules are to avoid South American sellers and post here before you buy.

There is also a fairly active vintage section of this forum and a read through that will help you learn some of the things to look out for.

I won't give up just yet but I'll take some time to do some reading and following the forum before I re-start the hunt.

Thanks again

Never knew Abercrombie & Fitch made watches. Might have to get one to match my shorts!

_________________

For more information on identifying Breitling replicas, please visit my web site
http://f4buz.com/watches/breitling/fakes/fakes.html

apparently many were sold in South America, as our friends from Florida who front for Argentina sell a lot of "original, authentic" Abercrombie chronos and triple dates, would sure go well with your shorts