The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Bought this new in the 60s, had hard use in cropspraying, deserts & jangles for 25 yrs.

Do you know of an authentic Breitling vintage navitimer repairer in Europe?. Do Breitling Co. repair vintage ones?. There is an excelent looking one in USA but is too far. I am in the UK.

I do not need decorative cosmetic work, only sound mechanical restoration with authentic parts needing replacement. ......thanx .....nick

I believe that Breitling UK is one of the few Breitling divisions that will do it, but not recommended due to cost. No experience, but this guys has been recommended before if you want UK:

http://www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk/

Stephen Burrage
P.O.Box 8362
Leicester
LE7 4WX

Phone: 0116 267 7673

Email: info@rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk


We also have a US based member here who is highly recommended.

Thanx Roff,

I read about overhauling a vintage with conflicting prices like examples below , but what I ponder about is whether authentic replacement parts are still available for a 60s Navitimer & whether these would be used by the repairer.

I tried the Breitling web site but there is no indications that they carry out oldie's overhauls.

I feel that they would have been the most reliable source. Anybody knows if they do & how to contact the factory?.

The forums show of watches with non aunthentic spares fitted to them, which really spoils the piece & in my opinion would be much better left unrepaired with the proper bits in it even if they don't work.

my recommendation would be to contact member chronodeco.
his pricing is more than fair and you will have a perfectly restored piece.
even if you use courier service to the US and back if you are afraid of parcelforce you will save a lot of money compared to BUK restoration.

Not sure why you would think that Breitling would be the best bet - it's a different company than produced your watch remember, and they don't have parts / tools / etc. They just bought the rights to the name from the 1978 liquidation.

In terms of 'genuine Breitling parts', these movements never had Breitling parts, they are (or at least this is) a Venus movement and Venus parts are readily available to watchmakers.

Roff, I am shattered & showed my ignorace, liquidation?, 1978?, Venus?....... & was always dreaming of a mighty whole Swiss Co. ..... am speechless, the whole thing is a fraud......

Anyway now that I picked myself off the floor, what is this "chronodeco", I have just found the site of Mr. Heist's HOROLOGICAL SERVICES and got me blowed away with his very impressive setup & qualifications. Sounds the real macoy thing for genuine servicing of your beloved vintage.

its alright polishing the outside well, I use my buffer in the shed often but, how about the insides?.

And would like to see to my two Aviation antiques as below, where would be best to go for them too?

Thanx .....nick

The Elgin Aviation Chrono & the Waltham:-

chronodeco (Craig) is a member here. You can either PM him through his profile - memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1961 or contact him through his website - http://www.chronodeco.com.

Mark Heist's work is very good, but Craig can help you out getting this back to running order. Not sure whether he works on aviation clocks as well (no harm in asking), and the value of them isn't as much so cost vs. value becomes an issue.

There are many, many satisfied customers of Craig here.

Thanx again Roff,

something tells me that may be what am looking for in this sentence but, cant quite get the meaning of:-

"......and the value of them isn't as much so cost vs. value becomes an issue........"

Please elaborate. .......nick

You could end up paying $250 to refurbish an aircraft timer that's worth $200.

Thanx,
I considered that & am wondering if the asking prices of similar to mine, arount $2,500.00 to $3,500.00 are realistic. If so then spending $500.00 to $1,000.00 on repairs it would be worth it as my siblings (45yrs old now) in the far future would benefit if the need arose. Instead of leaving them that money when I die (80+ now)

For the Navitimer it's aboslutely worth it. For the aircraft timers, not so much.

And as a second thought, if the Navitimer was left as it is, would in the future be desirable to collectors? & what would be worth judging from todays price for the unrestored.

From your experiense what is it worth today unrestored do you think.

Yes, its collectable and will stay collectable. Prices have steadily increased on Ebay and will probably continue to do so



Having watched prices for a few years , a bad example with a very damaged dial and non original hands just fetched over $2000 on EBay
good examples typically go higher ($3000-$3500)

_________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

So now the dilemma is go to which reputable, the $500.00 or the $200.00 for movement only overhaul? What a difference!.

many of us trust Craig (chronodeco), I can only repeat my suggestion.
send the watch to him and let him tell you what options he sees, i.e. just service the movement or proceed with subtle case restoration.
then make up your mind. whatever you decide, you will be treated fairly.