The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi,here we go again... just had this 1968 806 coming in;

I need to replace sub dail hands and restore main hands...however...

I noticed that the numbers on the dail as well as the Navitimer script and sub dails have turned a bit yellowish and I wanted to ask if someone could please tell me if this is normal or not and if so why this could have happened?

The small hand shows the same discolouring....

Thanks in advance; not the best pic but it does show what I mean cheers

patina, "aging by time" comes in many different colours , no telling what this watch went through to get this particular colour of patina

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

+1, that's beautiful patina on the numbers that collectors love!

+2. I would leave this one aujntouched. Looks great just as it is. Lovely watch.

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Jim

"You have Control".

Just for reassurance, here's mine with number patination, something that money can't buy and only time can perfect!

Thanks for the nice comments, good to know that all is fine after the last one I bought was incorrect and I had to send it back to the seller.....any suggestions on the hands? Should I replace the subdail hands for originals and color match 2nd hand?

And thanks for 809 pic!

Thanks again

For sure do get the hands back to the originals. Check if Craig (Chronodeco) here who many here have used as a watchmaker has the spares. The only negative on your watch is that the lume on the dial has gone black/very dark, but you wouldn't want to retouch that to keep originality. But that poses a slight issue with matching the lume on hands with the dial, can be a tricky decision. For the vintage look I would like if the other hands looked like the yellowish shade of the hour hand but others here will chime in.

. . . that Horological Services in Pennsylvania has the best access to original parts and, in my experience, does the best restorations to original condition. The work is also guaranteed.

I agree, I'll just see how it pans out and what s available hands wise ; maybe best just to colourmatch hands to colour of small hand and leave them''open'' , no lume ,( looks ok on my old Speedmaster)

This 806 has got a Breitling strap and buckle but will put it on an old black lizard strap .cheers

Thanks will check it out