The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi you all Breitling fellows,
Do you think this one genuine or redial?
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/BREITLING-18K-0- ... 4d116bb9fe
IMHO this 18K - 178 is pretty good looking, but the - quite unusual - black and white dial looks too nice to be honest.
SN 717705 indicates it as a 1947 model, end of commercial life for the 178 launched in 1941 .
Set of hands 100% correct ... The chrono bridge of the clean Venus 170 is engraved , probably legit in 1947... Case and caseback in NOS condition, maybe too ... but over all I stay doubtfull about the dial, such one never seen before on 178.

redial, logo off.

Bridge engraving is also wrong.

You are right, presence of an engraved bridge in 1947 is not shoking but this engraving is not period correct . Expected as a value added factor in the revamping operation?

The cynic in me says an attempt to make a movement from something else a Breitling movement.

Now super cynic : imagine a 14K case for 178, unused .... yes very late SN for a 178 . Not so hard to recycle a V170 and reprint a dial . In such hypothesis where did they find the correct hands set?
But...it is just a very pessimistic scenario . Everybody knows that ALL ebay sellers are close to perfect , aren't they?

FYI - I have seen that style signature on the V170 chrono bridge several times before. It is legit. However, I do not have a timeline as to when it was used.

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S. Craig Bergsma