The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Did the original BBird come in both polished and brushed or just brushed?



I know big watches are all the rage right now, but you can get an original BB at a pretty decent price if ebay completed sales are any indicator. At just above or just below $2k for a chono that seems like a pretty good deal, no? Also I know the "3" in the reference number at the 4th position is for COSC but what is the difference in the 50 and 53 in the last two digits between a13350, a13050, a13353?

EDIT: does 53 = diamond bezel?

Alan Trott has an excellent article on the history of the modern Chronomat that covers 50 / 53 and the other variants - http://forums.watchuseek.com/f39/breitl ... 13334.html

Nothing to do with diamond bezel as you will see, it was a recognition of Blackbird as a unique model. Original BB was brushed only.

I thought the original BB was brushed only too...but I don't know much

I saw a polished BB with 3 o'clock date position auction states "high polished case and band" and it sure looks reflective/polished. Would this have to have been polished after purchase and *not* by Breitling during service? Reference number is sans-3 so non-COSC, surely an "older" BB.

Thanks for the link!

Assuming that it's a BB rather than a regular chronomat then it was polished aftermarket.

No, it's newer model of old BB (50).
It has different bezel and pushers... http://www.watches.co.uk/watch_pics/lar ... br6602.jpg
Every 13cal BB came brushed.

The 53 is the later model, with the COSC movement, here's my old one.

Beautiful!

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

Those were the days. ~sigh~

Yep.
Same model in the Buy/Sell section is tempting me, but I must resist!!

Passed on an original LE Bluebird with UTC a couple of years back because of price and still regretting it, they really are modern classics.

Hope you are well BN.

Go for it!

_________________
Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

Hi Al, long time no hear.
Hope you are well too.
It is one of my grails, but I'll resist, because I'm planning several month backpacking trip to South America this autumn.

Sigh... you guys are killing me. The original BB was my first serious watch. I do miss it and regret selling it... even if it was a long time ago. A modern classic in the Breitling line.

And yes I do believe the very first BBs were brushed only.

A quick story from back in the day ... I remember sending my BB back for the first normal service and they sent it back with polished hands. My reaction... you stole my white hands, back to Breitling and another few weeks without it.

Cally

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Bell & Ross BR01-94 Phantom Ltd
Bell & Ross WW2 Bomber Regulateur
Breitling Superocean Steelfish

Not to hijack but which BB is considered the best one.
The early or later model?

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Time is everything.
Collection

Breitling Steel Superocean Heritage
Breitling Ti Seawolf
Breitling Ti Aerospace Le
Bulova Gold Accutron

Both are great, they just have different caliber, size and dial layout.