The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I bought this set last week - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 730wt_1149. Watch price guides published in the 1980s are a real LOL now. Found some interesting pics with the Montbrillant and Breitling names on the same page together. No details but fun to look at with lots of vintage watch pics you will not likely find anywhere else. I will post some scan later. Does anyone else have these?

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S. Craig Bergsma

never saw these, thanks for the info!

Just looking at some these early larger 2 register ones from the 1930s, spacing of the sub registers and pushers I think the movements are most likely Landeron cal 2 or cal 3....

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S. Craig Bergsma

some outrageous models I have not seen anywhere....

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S. Craig Bergsma

looks like a very interesting set of books !

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

Craig is servicing a 1934-35 vintage MONTBRILLANT single pusher with a Landeron cal3 movement for me now. There is very little written in the literature about these watches. Craigs comment after examining the watch is quote: "I have no doubt that it is original-all of the signatures look authentic".


"It was around 1935, it seems, appear the first markings on the dials and movements. You can find the brand "Breitling" but also the brand "Montbrillant". It also seems that there was within the company Breitling some hesitation as to what to call the company. Montbrillant the word is regularly used since installation in La Chaux de Fonds. From 1934 to 1936 he even supplant the Breitling name in numerous commercials. But in 1937 the brand Breitling resume definitely over, although occasionally one can find the brand Montbrillant until 1939. It should be noted that only one advertisement in 1935, shows a dial chronograph wristwatch where the word appears Montbrillant. All others, both in 1935 than 1936, show dials unsigned."
This webpage and image on page 25 (right side) shows the first 'Montbrillant' model in 1936: http://www.breitlingsource.com/download ... itling.pdf

Here is a quick picture of the dial and the movement. I will post more when it returns.

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

Thanks for posting Craig. Need to pickup a copy.

Definitely some interesting pieces.





Not sure I remember ever seeing a 18k ref 765. 1992 prices.

. . . and I hope we're not getting in the habit of posting copyrighted information.

Demesy was at least honest in saying that the prices in the books are what he would pay for the watches. There were separate lists sold showing prices for sellers (like pawn brokers) to use for sales. Since they were cutting images out of catalogs and such, they didn't have much of an idea what materials were used, so there are plenty of errors, but they did use a good collection of catalogs, even if the dating is not very clear.