The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi,
I just picked up a lovely PVD 1806 Navitimer.
PVD coating is mint and it falls within the 1974 serial number range.
Does anyone know how rare these are - numbers, years?
I've seen brochure refs designating it 1806-M but that's about it - not many photos or refs anywhere else.
Also, I'm pretty sure the box it came in is much older - very shallow, square, 'Navitimer' on top.
Does anyone know which box would be correct for this model?
Thanks in advance for any info,
AndyO...

congrats; very, very nice.
we do not have any production quantity data for vintage Breitlings, but the 1806-M is very, very rare - especially in this condition.

grabbed a pic of the web for u that shows the possible "correct" boxes, thread located here: http://forums.watchuseek.com/f15/its-of ... 51516.html

the "big case" pieces often came in the yellow cardboard box that shows a pic of the 1806, but also in the larger (much rarer) "VCR cassette" boxes shown on the left with that ref. 806. the box you have is a mid 60s ref. 806 Navitimer box from Europe, US boxes were different.

Condition of that piece really is incredible - congrats on a wonderful pickup.

Hi, thanks for the reply.
I wonder what the -M was for...Military perhaps(?)

Thanks for the box info also.
There is a price type sticker on the side '781-2' which I guess refers to a model number.
I've done a search but the nearest i can find is a 'Premier' which I don't think is correct either as it says 'Navitimer' on the box

So, the hunt is on for the correct box and an 806 for the box I have, or maybe I should just trade boxes if I can

Cheers,
AndyO...

nope, the -M was for all the PVD versions
good luck in your hunt for the correct boxes, this can be quite expensive.

781 would be a 1940s Premier, bicompax; not the ideal fit ?

Holy schnapps that is beautiful.

Never seen that before.

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

right, understood - all PVD models had a suffix '-M'.
i'll take some pics of the box and post a WTT message - maybe someone wants to trade
thanks for the info,
AndyO...

In the past I only met 1 in poor condition , never a mint one like yours . Close to NOS for sure it is really a very nice grab, congrats !

here are a couple more pics.
it really is a beautiful watch.
Cheers,
AndyO...

there, it's not perfect - a few light scratches to the steel case back
i've currently got it on a nice 70's corfam strap which suits it well.


a nice head on shot, sadly not taken by me.

outstanding, truly outstanding

Is anybody knowing why "chrono-matic" is missing on the dials of some 1806?

I have a similar dial in a normal 1806 steel-version (1969, near mint).

Looks like using one "standard" batch of dials for 1806 ( automatic - cal 11 or 12) and 7806-S ( manual V7740) ?
The Breitling pride for 1969 was the launch of the Chrono-Matic range - genral use of the automatic micro'rotor cal 11 and the production figures were at their maximum .
In facts I guess that many watches remained unfinished - just see the NOS "case only" sets of this period for sale on eBay in the last 10 years and you will doubt on realness of production figures. SN were engraved on caseback by the case subcontractors ,and not at final assembly step ...
In 1973 then 1974 the production figures were low and the end was not so far . It is a reasonable hypothesis that any savings were welcome.
It is not based on historical datas , just my conviction .

Yeah, I noticed the dial text also.
Using online searches I've found only a handful of samples of the 1806-M; 2 with 'Chrono-matic' on the dial and 4 without.
As an 'Heuer' fan the parallels of the 2 manufacturers in the mid-70's are very interesting.
Around that time Heuer experimented with PVD producing the now very rare PVD Monaco - 74033N.
It was however powered by the aforementioned V/J 7740.
It's thought as few as 200 samples of this one were produced and less than 30 are currently known.
It would be interesting to know roughly how many 1806-M are out there today.
Cheers,
AndyO...

I've always thought the large hole Tropic straps are a perfect match for the big case watches since they actually came with them. Still can find them on ebay.

http://www.breitlingsource.com/books_70s.shtml

Thanks for all the comments and especially to Michael for doing me a nice trade for the right box
Also swapped to a 22mm black Swiss Tropic as per the brochure.
Cheers,
AndyO...