The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello all,

I have a 765 AVI that my father gave to me and needs some attention.




I am in contact with Mr. Heist, he lives just north on me in PA, I am in VA.

What I'd like to do is get the right wrist strap that was original on this 765 AVI. Are there any preferred sites to look at? Did the strap come in black and or brown?

Also after looking in this forum and a search on 765 AVI, I notice the AVI may be above the 765 or below it. Does that have any significance?

Thank you ...

welcome
great and rare watch you have there

by looking at the pics yours will probably have a case that was made in 1959 or later and the watch was most likely assembled by Breitling between 1959-1962. To make absolutely sure how old it is I would need better and more in focus pics of the bezel .

On 1953 case the AVI is typically stamped above the 765 , on some 1959 and later models the 765 is stamped below the AVI , but not on all of them

A period correct strap would be a lizard strap , a well known seller on Ebay (Bill Shaine or Billshaine) sells period correct lizard straps for these but any well made black or brown leather strap would look great on your watch (IMO)

Great watch and I am sure Mark Heist will do a great job restoring it , he's currently got one of my all black 765 AVI's as well


(edited)

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

Curious, why your 765 not gone to Craig, Rene?

Beautiful watch and a great reminder of your father!

spares (dial and hands) availability

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

Cool Rene, didn't know he has a stash of spares too, do post pics when done!

I was surprised as well but Theresa Heist confirmed they had an all black replacement dial and the correct hands . From what i saw in other restorations they do have spares available for a lot of models.

The all black 765 dial however is , as far as i know, a dial that was reproduced by breitling to service these watches , it is not a NOS dial from the 50ies or 60ies. Much like the service dials that are used for the navitimers ref 806.

But a service replacement dial is better than the dial that is currently on the watch and i will post before and after pics when the watch is returned to me in about 6 months

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

I was surprised as well but Theresa Heist confirmed they had an all black replacement dial and the correct hands . From what i saw in other restorations they do have spares available for a lot of models.

The all black 765 dial however is , as far as i know, a dial that was reproduced by breitling to service these watches , it is not a NOS dial from the 50ies or 60ies. Much like the service dials that are used for the navitimers ref 806.

But a service replacement dial is better than the dial that is currently on the watch and i will post before and after pics when the watch is returned to me in about 6 months[/quote]


Al the best Rene, can't wait to see the end result. Maybe he has some NOS dials too if you ask nicely;)