The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi all I am in need of a bezel insert for a chronomat restoration project , I read in a past posting that a member had figured out how to fabricate them and might have made a spare . Can anyone direct me to how to contact them or any other possible source for a 769 bezel insert thanks to all that are responsible for this site ! What a great resource. Tony

Hi Tony,

As pointed out to me recently on this forum, getting hold of an authentic bezel insert may not be as difficult as first thought. Just when I was pointing out the probable difficulty, a kind member showed me one on that well known on-line store at the same time. Amazing to think some are still around. There is one there now.

As it’s probably a ‘counter C scale’ you are after, you won’t be able to tell if it’s accurate until you match up the D scale on the watch face to check calculations. That’s both good and not so good in my view. As the scale purchased may not be matched to your watch (manufacturing tolerances, etc) it will hardly notice in that regard, and if you don’t use it for calculations, then it hardly matters. The watch looks complete but may appear to have a different patina. Thats something you will have difficulty getting around when repalcing an older scale. If it were a Navi, etc then you would be taking a larger gamble on it matching, as both log scales are in the same direction. Even the quality scales on-line are still a bit of a gamble regarding this as any inaccuracy will stand out.

Have you thought of sending your current scale off to a refinisher to have it worked on? Just a thought, as there are businesses that can do that for you. There are threads here that discuss this very point.

Best of Luck and I hope it works out fine for you.

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".

Jim is probably referring to 806 bezel inserts, those are around, though most are incorrectly refinished pieces, just a few of those on offer are authentic and correct.

there is ONE original 808 insert on offer (nice, but expensive) on ebay - but none for the 769 for a very long time. One COULD pop up tomorrow, but chances are slim, normally you'd have to try and grab a donor with an acceptable insert.

Refinishers are the only other viable option, Causemann in Germany has an acceptable bicolor die, by far the best I have seen, assume the Heists could have an insert manufactured, but they would only do that during a full restauration.

Jim, you keep talking about gifted refinishers, but have yet to mention a name and examples of their work ?

My apologies Fred. I steer clear of that in case I infringe Forum Rules. If its OK to do so, then I will do that in the future.

Yes, the EBay reference was for an 808 or 769. I will defer to you if this one fits Tony's watch,but even so, it is marked as a telemetre scvale, which it is not really. Its an inverted single decade Log C scale.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Breitling-wa ... 3cd60116a3

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".

unsure if it would fit a 769 as claimed by the seller actually, let me check

edit: wrong for the 769, arrow between 2 and 2.5 missing; at a closer look seems refinished and not "nice" as I thought, the "Telemetre" font seems off.

769:


808:

Forum rules are posted as a sticky at the top of every section of the forum.

you wrote about a guy in Australia iirc, quite a long tiome ago, any info/examples; would be nice to learn more, Jim ?

sorry for taking this a bit off topic, but the OP will probably be interested too ?

Already underway, as I thought of this after the last post. I will get you some details, if I am permitted. I did not realise there was so much interest in this person! Let me speak to someone integral in this and see if the gentleman concerned would like to be named. My personal view, and you good people may not agree, but I thought the work he did on a Vintage Breitling some time ago was brilliant, especially as it had been at the bottom of a swimming pool. Before and after pics blew me away.

Back to the bezel. Would seem to be an 808 bezel only. Telemetre scale has to be read inside the log scale. Somewhat difficult clarity.

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".

Thanks for the input , I have been trying to find out if in fact , the bezel size is the same for the 808 and the 769 , if so I could have it redone . I was able to find reference to the 769 dial size , on the source but not the bezel insert measurement , the one that is listed for sale is 30mmx34,5 mm any thoughts ? thanks again Tony

would not buy this and have it refinished, too expensive, either take it as is or have a refinisher fab a ring, that is the easy part. will pop off the bezel of a 769 tomorrow and post the info.

not only is the bezel insert different, we are mixing up two different ebay listings !

that Aussie listing that I thought was nice, IS nice & correct for an 808 ! :
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Breitling-wa ... 4175a94ed7

Jim posted a link to the dialfactory ring, that claims to be for 769 & 808:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261293522297?ss ... 1438.l2649

irl dimensions for sliderule bezel inserts, adding the Navitimers while I'm at it:
Chronomat 769 - 34/29mm
Chronomat 808 - 34.5/30mm
Navitimer 806/7806/8806 - 38/33mm

Heck. Didn't even see that one on my radar listing. Probably as it was listed for an 808 and I am looking primarily at 769.

Oh well, no go.

_________________
Jim

"You have Control".

here is an example of a Causemann refinishing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321212949035

not totally correct, but good. and the market seems to like it, sold @ $2.8k
seller typically has nicely restored pieces, but never discloses, claims this one was "rarely worn" in original condition .....

Amazing that the Causmann went for 2.8 and this one went for 2.4k. I don't understand this "market"....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200965480263?ss ... 1423.l2649

David