The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Thanks. I would think Breitling watches came with a manual/sales booklet in the 40's or was the instruction just by word of mouth, would be interesting to know! Guess Roff would know?

If they existed I have never seen one.

earliest user manual I have is for a Chronomat 769 (and a very early paper model of the Chronomat), seems to be early/mid 40s as it has the "old" dial design, but have no confirmed release dates. The next manual I saw was for the 806, mid50s.

Thanks Roff, Fred, maybe people were smarter back then, anyways not many people read the manuals even today, are more a formality I guess.
Btw what's the power reserve on the v72c's?

46 hours if fitted with the original spec mainspring.

Thanks Roff!
Also approx how many winds(40?) of the crown are normally needed from no power to full power reserve? Am not good with info on these manual winds. Also was the power reserve on the older ones like the 40's ones lower or same throughout?

San, no need to count the winds on a manual, just wind it until you feel some resistance, then stop.

you will find that you just "automatically" do that when wearing your watch, mine never run down; typically, when I do not wind them "subconciously" but pay attention to the winding, I am just 3 or 4 winds off the full wind.

Do not worry too much, enjoy your Datora !

Thanks Fred, any chance of damage by overwinding on these ones?

the question of "overwinding" has been discussed in depth here, San.

when u feel resistance, stop. easy. the watch has survived for almost 70 years, it will survive us all. do not drop it (happens to the best of us).

Thanks Fred:)

A question on the 785's, did they always come with leather straps or did they also have alternative steel/gold bracelets specifically made for them? If not, any suggestions on vintage Breitling bracelets for them?

It's do difficult to follow conversations with this linear thread format.

I note Fred's comment on the "WOG" code. Once Breitling America was established in July 1947, Breitling watches imported to the US were marked "BOW", which is the Breitling America US import code. It is my belief that prior to that, several US importers brought Breitlings into the US and it is possible to see Breitlings with other import codes, including several New York-based importers using marks like Mervos, Clebar, and others.

According to his obituary found on the internet, Icko Wakmann began importing watches to the US in 1943, but Wakmann Inc. was not incorporated until November 1947, so I don't know that "WOG", the Wakmann import code, was used prior to incorporation.

We haven't discovered documentation, but Breitling America appears to have ended business sometime in 1957 and during that year, "BOW" codes were replaced with "WOG", but be sure to note that there are other brands imported by Wakmann with that import code on the movement and nothing to do with Breitling.

A question on 785's, are the V72c movement ones rarer than the ones fitted with the Venus movement(Venus 191?) ? Though I don't see either of them come up for sale much. Offcourse I am attracted to the Valjoux 72c movement versions because of it's historical usage in other luxury brands like Rolex but what do Breitling collectors lay a premium on between the two movement types of the 785?

V191 is a lot rarer, though does not seem to make a difference in realistically achievable sales prices ?

This is an exert from a catalogue circa 1940. While not dealing with the Datora it outlines the basic usage.

I'd assume most catalogues had an instruction page of this sort.

Interestingly "onthedash" has a 1945 catalogue which shows what looks like Heuer's version of the Datora. If anyone can
translate that would be great.
http://www.onthedash.com/Guide/_Catalog ... page06.jpg