AOPA Incabloc Datora 785?

cruvon · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:06 am

Roffensian wrote:

Suspect that the France is just the case, although have seen a lot of 'French' Wakmanns. This seems to be in very nice condition, agree on the sentiments of early 60s - couldn't be much earlier than that with the Incabloc dial. Great piece!

Roff, I too noticed that though the case says made in France, it still has an English weekday/month date wheel. Maybe these were manufactured in France for export markets? Did Wakmann have a French factory?

cruvon · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:08 am

WatchFred wrote:

nice piece, very nice.

before the pictures loaded I feared it would either be another mid 60s Breitling 785 fake, but there is no Breitling claim or incorrectly added signatures, "just" a beautiful watch - as Paul said, "Datora" was a Breitling trademark.

had expected to see a Charles Gigandet marking inside the caseback like the widely available triple date chronographs we see w/ Wakmann, Gigandet and Vulcain branding, but this shows "made in France" only and no maker's mark, looks quite a bit earlier than the "normal" Wakmann Valjoux 730, still has a R72C, so would think it to be early 1960s - have read claims that Yema and Dodane were working for Wakmann, but did not find any documentation for this. love the hands on this one.

Fred, what's the story about Yema and Dodane, were they French working for Wakmann in France?

Bullfrog · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:10 am

It's a great watch - I love it !!!

WatchFred · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:13 am

has been claimed, San. Many of the Wakmann branded pieces were "Made in France", have read claims that Yema and Dodane were among the manufacturers, did not find documentation for this, though their work for Heuer is documented.

Yema has quite a large following among vintage collectors with their RallyGraph, sometimes you see those rebranded as Breitlings; Dodane manufactured Type 21 Pilot Watches for the French Airforce, got the contract after Breguet, beautiful and highly collectable Flyback Chronochraphs.

cruvon · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:20 am

WatchFred wrote:

has been claimed, San. Many of the Wakmann branded pieces were "Made in France", have read claims that Yema and Dodane were among the manufacturers, did not find documentation for this, though their work for Heuer is documented.

Yema has quite a large following among vintage collectors with their RallyGraph, sometimes you see those rebranded as Breitlings; Dodane manufactured Type 21 Pilot Watches for the French Airforce, got the contract after Breguet, beautiful and highly collectable Flyback Chronochraphs.

Thanks Fred, is one of the most beautiful dial combinations I have seen from Wakmann, surely had some outside design influence on this one and as you mentioned, possibly Yema and Dodane. The only remaining question is why haven't we seen a similar dial combination before? Possibly a prototype or manufactured in very small numbers? The dial surely looks very well made and professional so definitely doesn't look like a redone dial.

Roffensian · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:23 am

Not everything uncommon has to be a "prototype" (unless you are a certain fraudulent European pseudo-expert), it's just a less common piece.

cruvon · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:26 am

Nanuq wrote:

vintage wrote:

Looks like a Wakmann to me so technically it's neither a Datora or 785.

Interesting, I found another thread here with more details; apparently the movement was sourced from Breitling to be assembled in the USA.

http://www.breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/v ... php?t=5407

Nanuq, any known history on your watch that you can share with us?

WatchFred · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:43 am

movements were not sourced from Breitling, there is no indication that Breitling used Valjoux R72C or R730 in the 1960s - and no reasons for Gigandet and others to source them from Breitling, Valjoux was happy to supply them (Wakmann/Gigandet must have been among their largest customers of that era, judging by the jumbers available in the market today).

Waynepjr1 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:10 am

Roffensian wrote:

Suspect that the France is just the case, although have seen a lot of 'French' Wakmanns. This seems to be in very nice condition, agree on the sentiments of early 60s - couldn't be much earlier than that with the Incabloc dial. Great piece!

Maybe Roff can answer this one. I have and am still baffled as to why Wakmann just seems to get overlooked by so many Breitling collectors. These pieces can found still in pristine condition at prices far below Breitling prices while still being the same quality piece. They could be today's sleeper collectible I feel.

Wayne

WatchFred · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:55 am

saw a similar piece on ebay about half a year ago, could even be the one, OP might tell us, dial is very similar to the early Gigandet pieces, maybe it has been designed and assembled by Gigandet with a case from France, as Roff says. Not a prototype, but an early - and very nice - example of what became a rather common watch.

cruvon · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:04 am

WatchFred wrote:

saw a similar piece on ebay about half a year ago, could even be the one, OP might tell us, dial is very similar to the early Gigandet pieces, maybe it has been designed and assembled by Gigandet with a case from France, as Roff says. Not a prototype, but an early - and very nice - example of what became a rather common watch.

So these beauties might have been mass produced but not in great numbers Fred? If so, am sure some more will surface and will add to the authenticity of this piece, I hope more do turn up, would love to add one to my collection!

Nanuq · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:09 am

cruvon wrote:

Nanuq, any known history on your watch that you can share with us?

Yes, my late closest friend gave it to me. He got it from his uncle, who was an airlines pilot for decades.

I got a couple other very interesting pieces from him too. But they're not Breitling, etc. ;-)

Roffensian · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 2:58 pm

Wakmanns are priced below Breitlings simply because the name doesn't resonate with collectors. Some are lower quality than Breitling, but the better ones are comparable.

cruvon · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 3:41 pm

Nanuq wrote:

cruvon wrote:

Nanuq, any known history on your watch that you can share with us?

Yes, my late closest friend gave it to me. He got it from his uncle, who was an airlines pilot for decades.

I got a couple other very interesting pieces from him too. But they're not Breitling, etc. ;-)

Very kind of your friend and a great reminder of him. Curious to know what other interesting pieces you got from him.

Nanuq · **Posted:** Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:07 pm

Since this is a Breitling forum, I better keep the pics of the other beauties on the VRF.

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