The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Here's an interesting vintage piece I just picked up. I have seen many of these early watches that were imported around 1940 that were hand engraved inside to meet import requirements after they were manufactured so you can see inside the back cover it's engraved 'Breitling Watch Co Swiss'. There are also some service marks from 1945 and 1947. The movement bridge is also hand engraved '17 Seventeen jewels'. Also on the movement base plate it's engraved 'Breitling Watch Co.' I've attached a close example from page 45 top right corner of Richters book which indicates 1940. The watch surprised me a little after it arrived in that it's larger than I thought at 34mm without crown. The pushers are huge at 5mm in diameter which gave the impression the watch was smaller in sellers pics. Hands and case look correct, dial appears unmolested, and the serial number would correspond to around the 1940 timeframe. No ref number but not unusual for early pieces. The watches original owner was military hence the engraving on the back with his WW2 service number. I'll be researching that to see if I can find more specifics about his service. The Venus 170 movement is working and keeping time and the chrono function is working. Pushers are a little sticky and it could stand a fresh crystal so it'll be going off for a service. Bracelet is a Forstner Stainless Steel which is period correct and probably original to the watch.

Looks very good in those pictures Paul, and yet more evidence of the variety in markings on these early pieces. Congrats on the pickup.

nice, Paul ! congrats !