The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi Everyone,

Not sure this is the most appropriate place to put this one, so will be guided by the moderators. From my reading, I hope I am not transgressing any rules.

This is a watch I designed and built at home. I call it the F3. It’s for my Great Nephew’s 21st Birthday and was a good opportunity to try out some techniques I have developed and some ideas on putting a simple centre second watch together. My purpose is to get to the level of a chronograph next, using a simple ETA 7750 movement. For now though, this is at the limit of my abilities and equipment.

Don’t laugh too hard when you take a look at the pics below, as its only my third attempt to build a watch.

Essentially, it’s an ETA 2824-2 movement with a sterile face and luminous hand. The black Bregeut second hand with luminous dot is totally weird on a black background, when it is moving (looks like a planet moving across the heavens). But that’s something I would change next time (Black hands on a black face-Oh dear). Pics are a bit deceptive, as the case is very deep at about 16mm. An issue of fitting the rotating bezel mechanicals over the case mule was the cause. The watch is about 42mm wide x 48mm long.

The case was machined on a small hobby lathe, the dynamic case shape took a bit of figuring but was achieved similar to machining cam lobes (with an independent 4 jaw chuck). The bezel rotates and has been machined to fit a homage submariner chapter ring.

The protected crown is a screw in arrangement and a first for me. Not shown here for upload reasons is the case back. It has a small exhibition window, which is OK, but could have been bigger. I restricted the size of the glass, but could have been a little more daring.

Not very clear here is the machined through lugs to accept spring bars. I can’t machine inside the lugs, as that’s a stage too far for me and my modest equipment and budget. So its machined from the outside.

Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy my first real watch creation. I appreciate your expert comments.

Jim

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Jim

"You have Control".

Im definately no expert, but that is a super nice looking watch. If you were to sell something like this particular watch, what do you think your askig price would be?

I would like to see the back side of the watch and the movement if possible. Congrats on a nice looking watch!

Very cool. Your great nephew should be thrilled to have something that took so much thought and time.

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Steelfish GMT LE (white)

very unique. great job by the way. i think that your nephew will love it!

nothing better than custom made

dude that is awesome... that's probably way more than what any of us can do.

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

great work.

Very impressive!

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For more information on identifying Breitling replicas, please visit my web site
http://f4buz.com/watches/breitling/fakes/fakes.html

Nice. As some of the older members know I have had a project on the go for a while for a small production run piece, but you have got further than me! I really like it and you were smart to do the case yourself, I am having real trouble finding someone to do cases for me at realistic costs. Great job!

That is very impressive. Great looking piece and just great work overall. I'd be honored to wear a a creation such as that.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

Very impressive!! I like how the crown is protected by the case it self instead of crown guards.

I'd love to see more photos.

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Regards,

Peter

BREITLING for Bentley Motors T & Mark VI, Aerospace
ROLEX Submariner Ceramic116610LN
OMEGA Plantet Ocean 8500 42mm Orange arabics
OCEAN7 LM-3

Wow! Great gesture and thanks for sharing.

Great job! Bezel looks cool. Congrats on a superb gift, awesome .

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

Superb job. There's a HUGE amount to like about that watch! I especially love the case - very retro and right up my street. Great job!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Awesome. Simply awesome.

I can really get behind that! Very cool retro look, and I love the cushion case.

Did you order the individual parts as a kit or separately? I would love to see some pics of the other watches you did. Very cool hobby