The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Very kind... aprreciate the help so far...

I am considering a NOS Trans Ocean - I like the retro look, but to honest I really wanted something automatic - Price wise they vary greatly ... any tips comments or suggestions in the regard would be appreciated...

One such watch is currently listed as:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 3DWatching

I am somewhat unsure about the seller though... says he has the original reciept from the 70's but no boxes or other paperwork and the watch was stored in a safe... seems very much like the stock on ewatchshow.com but the page has eBay's Buyer protection ... any thoughts??

Nothing wrong with what I see, but wouldn't buy without movement shots - who knows what is inside.

Old World Jewellers (ewatchshow) are 100% trustworthy and I would go for them over eBay every single day of the week.

Their prices aren't stellar, and you have to factor service costs in as the oils have long since broken down, but for peace of mind you can't do better.

Does anyone have experince with Watchcat?

http://www.watchcat.com/NewListings/brei5913transo.htm

I am considering this watch

This one looks okay... might be a bit pricy but okay... a movement shot wouldn't hurt either though...

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

No personal dealings with WatchCat, but they seem to have good pieces, but as jlee5050 says, they are a bit pricey.

This model also came in the automatic - ref 2129

http://cgi.ebay.at/BREITLING-CHRONO-MAT ... 255a43f2e9

A couple of thoughts. Check that the bracelet can be sized for your wrist, it's integral and you would not be able
to easily put this on a strap unlike most other models.

I don't have many Cal 11/12 movement watches, so others will have to say how sturdy they are for daily wear, but the watches I have
with the 7740 are pretty good and I'd say work well as daily wearers.

If you are in Europe (I thought you were for some reason), you will potentially have to pay duty on top.

BTW - he Watchcat is an NAWCC member and I believe that means he has to offer a 3 day no quibble return policy. Check if he does.
However it is a drag if you are not in the US to send it back, but not impossible.

They can be a pain to repair, but they aren't particularly 'fragile' watches. They're 40 years old now so that needs to be born in mind, but there's no reason not to wear and enjoy.

You're scaring me Roff...

Not that I wear my c-matic everyday but the days I do... man am i oh so careful...

God help me if ever something breaks on my beloved baby...

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

Thanks for your posts
I am based in Prague and only a couple of hours from Dresden... I have been in your store in the past but I was looking at something else at that time...I am quite interested in the watch you posted above and plan to stop by but it probably wont be this weekend. I will take a chance that you dont sell it in the meantime and check with you before I leave.

Rgds S

I think there must be some confusion 00s7even, I am not the seller, nor do I know the seller, nor can I vouch for the seller.
I was just showing you an automatic example of the Transocean. If you can see it in person though that is the best thing.



The Superocean I have is New Old Stock and that runs great.

It does seem though that in their haste to be first they put it out quick and then went back and fixed it up.

http://www.onthedash.com/docs/ChronomaticMovements.html

Can't imagine anyone like Microsoft or Apple doing that today with their products.

Parts availability make repairs problematic. The rotor is the weak link in the chain. Replacement rotors are nearly impossible to find. Mainsprings are also discontinued. They are not particularly difficult to work on. Of course, with any complication, I take a lot of pictures during disassembly as my memory is not what it once was.

I only wear my 1809 Cosmo when I am flying. For obvious reasons it is a great watch for a pilot. I do wind it by hand every couple of days to keep it running, but I keep the actual wearing on the wrist to a minimum.

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger

In some blowup diagrams of the caliber 11, the rotor actually looks very heavy duty...

In any case, I guess with any vintage piece it's better to be safe than sorry... I remember I once messed up a Felsa movement inside my 2528/2 Spanish date just by slapping a pack of cigs against my palm (to pack the tobacco)

_________________
"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

In some blowup diagrams of the caliber 11, the rotor actually looks very heavy duty...

In any case, I guess with any vintage piece it's better to be safe than sorry... I remember I once messed up a Felsa movement inside my 2528/2 Spanish date just by slapping a pack of cigs against my palm (to pack the tobacco)

Whooosh... I am very grateful for all of your comments, but I must admist I am a complete novice in this regard and just wanted to buy something vintage for wearing opposed to investment... I am somewhat now hesitant as if I buy a 1973 Transocean for example and for any reason it stopped working I would be heartbroken ; ((

I am still very much interested in acquiring something from the 70's and perhaps I should have been asking what your thoughts are in this regard... robust enough for regular wearing and readily servicable ...?

Thanks again in advance of your responses...

I wouldn't have a 35+ year old watch as my only watch, but I have watches far older that I wear as part of a rotation - that's what they are for.

Servicing is generally cheaper and easier than modern pieces as any certified watchmaker can do the work and parts are largely generic. The early automatic chronos are more of a problem because they didn't appear until 1969 and then got swallowed up in the quartz revolution so a) there weren't so many made and b) they didn't have time to evolve from leading edge to a stable platform.

The upper bushing for the rotor wears to the point that the rotor drags on the plate. The bushing hole can be closed by a competent watchmaker. That fix can only be done a few times before there is insufficient material remaining to make a lasting repair.

The best solution would be to replace the bushing with a jewel. I've never looked to see if a jewel of the required size is available. Of course, that would negate the authenticity of the movement. It would be a good solution for long term wear, but not for retention of value.

Repairing older watches can be problematic. The cost to benefit ratio usually dictates their demise. Most people balk at spending a lot of money to fix an old watch. The watchmaker also loses on the repair if they decide to proceed because he almost always encounters problems that take more time than he originally estimated. It gets even worse if an amateur worked on it first. I don't recall ever saying "Gee, that went quicker than I thought it would."

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger