The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I know very little about watches, but I've often commented to my wife about wanting a Breitling. She surprised me this weekend with a Crosswind Special with a Pilot bracelet. It is a great looking watch.

I googled it, found this website (it's awesome!), and saw that it was last manufactured in 2004. She purchased it as new at a jewlery store in the Houston Galleria (FYI, she paid $4000) and had no idea it was an older model.

When I found that it was last made in '04, I was worried it was a fake. I've searched alot of posts here and looked at the pics of counterfit manuals, boxes, etc. I think this one is legit, but, can one really buy a new Crosswind Special at a retail outlet that is at least 6 years old? It just seems fishy to me.

Thanks in advance

Finding a NOS Crosswind Special after so many years have gone by is highly unlikely, but not impossible. It sounds to me like it could be a pre-owned piece, but the easiest thing to do is post us up a few pictures and we'll let you know if it looks OK. Instructions here -

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=453

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Driver8

Site Moderator

My camera is at my office...I will post some pics tomorrow.

Thanks

Excellent.

Just incidentally, did it come with a full set of boxes and papers, including the warranty card? If it did, do the serial and model numbers match the numbers on the back of the watch? Also, is the date filled in on the warranty card? If so, is it the date your wife bought it?

Lastly is the jewellers your wife bought it from an official Breitling AD?

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Driver8

Site Moderator

It does have a complete set of papers and warranty card and the serial and model numbers match. The plastic bag that contains all the papers seems a little "used". However, the papers are blank. Nothing was filled in on the card.

The store she purchased it from is not listed as an AD on Breitling's website.

OK, from what you say it sounds genuine (which is a very good thing!), but I would say it definitely sounds like it was pre-owned. Now obviously pre-owned doesn't mean it was ever worn, but the fact it came from a non-AD jewellers, with open papers tends to indicate a grey-market origin.

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say it was more than likely bought by someone from a grey-market dealer and then traded to the jewellers your wife bought it from.

But anyway, post us some pictures when you get a chance.

(The Crosswind Special is a lovely watch BTW!)

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Here's a few pics...and hoping it's not a fake

That's definitely genuine. No question about it at all. Very nice watch indeed.

Whether it's pre-owned or not, it looks in awesome condition, so I wouldn't worry about it if I was you. What I would say though is keep an eye on it's timekeeping because it's at least 6 years old, and it could probably do with a service. If it was pre-owned (and hasn't been serviced) it will be due one, and if it's really NOS, it'll have been sitting idle for at least 6 years, during which time some of the lubricants will have degraded. As the warranty card wasn't completed, you won't have an official Breitling warranty, so if anything needs replacing you will have to pay for it, but Breitling will give you a quote for any repairs upfront.

Either way, that's a superb classic piece you have there! Congrats, and wear it in good health.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks so much for your help in authenticating my surprise gift, I really appreciate it!

and very nice!

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

Beautiful watch...congrats on the pick up. I really wish that they still made this one.