The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I recently received an 18K Breitling Duograph ref 764 for restoration. The movement is the rare Venus cal 179. The dial appears to be original and not in great shape but I told the owner not to have it refinished and he has agreed. This dial is different than any other Breitling dial I have ever seen and all of the markers are applied. It is missing the 6 and while I have some other dials from this era with similar 6's, they are not applied and it would be a fair amount of work to mill off the back side of one of these number so it could be used on this dial. It is a long shot I know but I thought I would ask. I will post more pics of this watch later when I get started on it.

_________________
S. Craig Bergsma

Craig Can you take a dental impression of one of the 6's you have with crown and bridge impression material. Then send it to a dental lab. They can make a wax pattern of the 6 and cast it in gold or technique metal. It will turn out identical just not sure of the color it needs to be.

_________________
"A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure."

sounds like a great idea & worth a try.
if you do not have an "applied 6" dial I'd be able to help w/ a loaner (not a Duograph, though, sadly) ?

Craig I can mail you a mixing gun and a tube of impression material If you want to give it a try. The impression material is accurate to 10 microns. If you spread it on a dollar bill it will actually pick up the imprint of the ink.

_________________
"A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure."

Rick - I might take you up on this offer. The original makers are rose gold (I assume plated but I will do an acid test on the back side to see). The dial on the right (originally for Landeron) looks to have the closest style marker and it is the correct size and looks like the correct font. What are the other metal options to cast it in besides gold? Thanks, Craig

_________________
S. Craig Bergsma

Craig I talked with the lab I use [Schrimshire Dental Lab ] in Alabama. They cast in many metals precious and non precious.
You can call them and talk to Doug in the casting dept. Their # is 800-633-2912. You also could pour it acrylic or epoxy by your self by placing the wax pattern of the 6 in dental stone then dissolving out he wax with boiling water, then pouring the acrylic into the mold that remains. The only problem would be painting it or plating it. Keep me informed if I can help!

_________________
"A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure."