The Breitling Watch Source Forums

My husbands father, who recently passed away, left him his watch that has been sitting in a safe deposit box for who knows how long. As his dads death is still too fresh and it is still in the box, I was hoping to have the watch restored to it's original state for his birthday. Before I proceed with that, I was hoping to find out some information on the watch so I am not going into this blindly. Like I would if I was taking my car to the mechanics

Year the watch was made? Ball park value of it fully restored? (so that I don't spend more on the restoration that what it would be worth). The watch's value is in it's sentiment in this case, not the dollar value. Anything else I should know/be aware of?

It doesn't appear to be functional just now, but I am able to wind it...if that helps.



A million thank yous!

First of all, welcome to breitlingsource.

It is a very, very beautiful heirloom, a Premier ref. 788, in 18k gold, manufactured in 1946 if I interpret the number correctly (looks like 667*** ?), quite early and quite rare, a waterproof (not that you should ever test that) 18k chronograph.

Cosmetically it seems in outstanding condition, please do not try to make it run by continuing to wind it, it most definitely needs a complete service and some repairs, but parts for the movement (Venus 178) are quite readily available, so this should not be a problem.

My suggestion would be to contact member chronodeco by pm, he services my watches and the watches of many other members and does an outstanding job, alternatively you could contact the Heists in Philadelphia.

DEFINITELY worth restoring, costs will be a fraction of the watches value - hard to give you a valuation figure, in stores and ebay BIN the asking prices would be well above $3,000, sometimes $5,000 and more, an auction for a similar piece some months ago ended around $2,500 iirc.

Beautiful piece, congrats again !

Agree with everything that Fred said, and cannot speak highly enough about Craig's / chronodeco's work.

I can only echo what Fred & Roff have already said , and I am sorry to hear about your loss and hope this watch will be used to remember and honor your father in-law (and keep it in the family as a beautiful heirloom)

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

Congrats, great find, am sure your husband will be happy with your decision to restore it for him!

just correcting an "iirc" claim I made, checked my records, the auction for the 18k ref. 788 (in incomparably worse condition) ended slightly below $3,300, not the $2,500 I remembered, that was a different watch.

Here was a mint condition rare black dial 18k one with B&P for USD 3050

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/230814727915 ... 1423.l2649

Ref 788 should be a Venus 152 movement.

Wow...thank you all so much for the great feedback!

I will never touch the wind dial again

There is a place in Toronto that services them, and due to the geographical proximity to me, I think I am going to start with them so I can take it in and talk to them about it first hand. I do thank you for the suggestions on other avenues though and may go that route if I don't feel comfortable going with the one close by.

Next decision....finding a band

Thanks again!

Thank you. Like I said, this watch's value is truly in the sentiment. I'd just like to ensure the restoration brings it back to as close to it's original glory as possible. It will most certainly be passed down to our son, when that time comes. I do believe the watched belonged to my father in law's father originally, as my father in law was born in 1935....doubtful that an 11 year old would have own one. But trying to determine the history on it might prove to be tricky.

one last question....

I am assuming that the 788 refers to a model number? What is the 667110?

and Venus 152 movement? Am I right in guessing this is in reference to the mechanics on the inside?

Is this important for me to know when discussing with a potential servicer?

Ok - so that was more than one question. Once again, appreciate the insight. Thank you.

Please don't use anyone in Toronto - there is no one there that I would trust half as much as chronodeco (Craig) and the watch deserves to be looked after properly.

667110 is the serial number, dating the watch to 1946. Venus 152 is the mechanics, and any watchmaker worth their salt will be able to recognise that, they need to be the expert, not you

really? I got their name from the Breitling Website as an authorized servicer. No good?

Watch Service of Canada on Hayden Street - oh good Lord no, never in a million years.

They are fine for modern pieces, but the current Breitling is a totally different company from the one that made your husband's piece and those people wouldn't have the faintest idea what to do with it.

+1, I would recommend you aquaint yourself with the vintage collecting world first before choosing a watchmaker besides the ones recommended here. In the vintage collecting world maintaining the originality of a watch is key and as soon as a watch is relumed, dial redone, over polished or a host of other things done for it to loose it's originality it suffers a drop in it's collectible and hence market value. So do tread with caution while choosing a repairer and go by advice veteran collectors here dispense. Even if you choose a recommended repairer you need to make a host of decisions to do with originality based on the condition report of your watch so do ask here before giving your approval for any major repairs even if deemed essential because sometimes it's best left the way it is. The safest thing to do is to ask for a movement only service.