The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I would appreciate if you can tell me if this watch is authentic. I would like to keep it if it is. What is a reasonable cost to have it restored? Thanks.

Looks fine to me.

Difficult to quote on service / restoration costs without knowing what it needs, but contact member chronodeco. He can restore it for you and does exceptional work at a very fair price.

Thanks for your inputs. My local Breitling service center has quoted me around $1000 for a full restoration job. I understand that the watch will probably cost as much. Is it worth it?

It's not worth sending it to Breitling, without knowing what they think needs doing that price is ridiculous. Craig (chronodeco) will be far, far less.

Thanks for the advice.

very nice.
does the watch have functional problem ?
as far as I can tell from the pics, I see no reason for a "restoration" at. all, dial and case look nice, an authentic crown is quite easy to find. Chronodeco could tell you exact figures, but from the look of it, a third of the quoted sum will probably give you a bautiful vintage watch to keep.

Even if there are functional problems, a service should address it - the movement looks to be in good condition. Of course we can't see whether there are broken jewels, bent arbors, etc, but I agree. Cosmetically the correct crown and maybe a sympathetic clean up of the caseback is all that's needed. Crystal will look like new after some polywatch.

Nice watch, looks good to me. I can't give you a quote considering I do not know what the problem may be with the movement, the case would need to be restored and the glass would need to be re-polished too. I would recommend a full Etablissage of it, this doesn't need to be done by Breitling as it can run from 500 up. Take the time and look around at various jewllers to get the best quote, it worth the effort and time to do it and will save you some pennies in the long run.

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The case is spotless!

Sorry I'll re-phase that, the case would need to be cleaned or polish as in the back case it looks rather scratched up too me.

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Caseback definitely could use some work (I already said that), but the case itself looks pretty darn good for more than 40 years old.

I meant the case back sorry for the confusion. Indeed the rest looks great.

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I'll chime in again. forget running around from jeweller to watchmaker and back, not many have the knowledge and love for vintage work. As Roff said, contact Craig (might take some time to respond as he's away from home) or somebody else you know is competent in this field. Avoid Breitling for vintage work.

Your watch looks great, optically a back polish and a new crown is all it takes, anything more than this will make it loose the vintage touch.

forget running around from jeweller to watchmaker and back, not many have the knowledge and love for vintage work.

Not sure what country everybody is from, But back when I studied at Schoonhoven (The Netherlands) for gold and silversmith and clock work we all had too learn about vintage movments. It's one of the things I love about collecting my watches is too restore them. I suggested going to vintage watch restorers cos the ones I know of are good and have a passion for timepieces.

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OP is obviously free to do what he pleases, but I would take a recommendation from this group over some random stranger every day of the week. Craig has worked on countless pieces for members here and the results are posted for anyone to see.