The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello all,

I need some rather specialist help sourcing a piece. My father owns the very last 1972 T2 Bentley built and I would like to get him a Breitling to wear when he drives it (which isn't very often). Could you tell me what watches were produced then and what you would expect a Bentley owner of the day would have worn. Any and all help will be hugely appreciated with this. I would like to get it to him for fathers day if at all possible.

My thanks in advance,

Breitling started offering Bently branded watches 10 years ago. Breitling in early seventies will now be more of a collectors choice than a convenient watch to wear. Good luck.

I find my 1970s watches more "convenient" than the ones built in the last ten years. What do mean "convenient"? Otherwise, check out the scanned catalogs in the publications area of this website. There are many styles, sizes, and functions to choose from. The 1969 catalog is the auto-centric one.

Here's the link to the 69 catalogue - http://www.breitlingsource.com/books_1969.shtml

I think that it's a great idea.

Just sold this ref 9121 from 1972 yesterday.

Water resistance, time accuracy, service interval and availability of parts...

No problemo. Taking your points in turn:

Water resistance: I have never experienced (inflicted) water damage with any of my watches. I do not shower or swim with even modern chronographs (I guess my newest is a fifteen year old Sinn or Fortis). I wash dishes, hands, water plants and routine stuff without difficulty. Which is not to say I haven't bought some projects with horrible water damage to the movement. Most of the time, it's my wife's watches that show some water leakage. I do have a Marathon SAR for snorkelling, etc. Get a watch for water if you want to wear a watch in water. And that ain't a chronograph from any era.

time accuracy, If you really require accurate timekeeping, get a quartz chronograph/timer. I have lot's of vintage pieces that keep excellent time. It's not a good question for me, since I change watches very frequently - sometimes several times a day (hey, I just strapped on a Chronomat) - which doesn't give me a great chance to catch subtle slips in accuracy. I only notice when it's a minute or so an hour. [As an aside, my 1966 Ingenieur blows me away for its timekeeping, and I've never had it serviced.] Any watch accuracy is only as good as it's last timing and the last time I set it, but I have no difficulty swapping watches and getting to meetings on time. Things can go wrong (chronograph hands can foul), but as I read the forums, my vintage watches seem trouble free compared to the repairs and foilbles of the modern pieces. Old time is mature and strong. New time is weak and puny.

service interval, I service my watches when there is something about them I can't live with, either mechanically or cosmetically. A good Heist service lasts for years and years and years. If a modern watch really needs to be serviced every few years then I pity the fools that buy them. [Read that with a "Mr. T." voice in your head.] I have a few pieces that pose unfixable problems, but they've had a hard life and I sympathize with them. Comfort them and take them for long, quiet walks along the shore. They'll never be right.

and availability of parts, Really? I guess you don't collect watches. It might be hard to find some parts for the older time-only pieces (but I don't know why a Breitling collector would not focus on chronographs). Thanks to eBay and the supply houses, it's not a problem finding parts for any but the very unusual pieces. Let me know if there's a part you need.

Edit: I missed a major point, since I had my beloved 1940s/1950s chronographs in mind while writing above. The Breitling watches from the 1970s meet all the modern requirements for time keeping, water tightness, servicing, etc. The caliber 11-15 parts are not widely available, but they are there. It's an obsolete movement, probably more for production costs, but all of but one of mine continue to function perfectly. [I have one 1806 with a bad wheel for the hour register, and I'll get around to it one of these days.]

thanks, Bill. that sums it up quite nicely.

A man who needs to spend more time here (in between long quiet wals on the beach)

I'm with Bill too. I wear my vintage Breitlings exactly as i wear my modern ones.

As to the OP, i can imagine a Bentley driver of the period wearing a nice Chrono- matic or Navitimer. Maybe even a Top- Time (altho from memory the Top Time was aimed at the younger market back then). There's so much choice I'd find him something he likes in good condition and go for it rather then trying to seek a specific "Bentley- ish"watch.