The Breitling Watch Source Forums

And some Top Times seem to never go away! http://www.ebay.com/itm/BREITLING-VINTA ... 115wt_1362

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S. Craig Bergsma

You sir, have the eyes of an eagle

Yes it is - found a picture of the caseback and it is indeed a 765.

If you are talking about top times that never go away.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-V188-BREIT ... 257f888c4b

I made him an offer on this about 3 years ago - a reasonable one considering the condition and the parts needed.
Still for sale!

THAT is an incorrect dial.

Hello,
this is one 810 more: or rose http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=4&u=18837222

nice, looks like a "normal"" Gen.2 1967/1968 GP panda - or is it solid gold - that would be a true surprise ?

I recently acquired a Breitling Top-Time reference 810 very similar to the variation shown in the original post on the top left. I'm curious to learn more about this particular variation and whether this was an original option. It has the Venus 178 movement signed by Breitling, the case is yellow-gold plated, and it has the same panda dial.

welcome to breitlingsource !
there is little more I can tell you about this watch - yes, it was an original option, your watch looks to be a correct Gen. 1 transitional Top Time ref. 810, production date probably between 1966 and 1967 (dial already Gen. 2), if you know the serial no. we can date it to a specific year; congratulations !

Fred - could you show a gen 1 and gen 2 case side by side so we can see the differences? Ive looked back at your 810 photo and I think the differences must be subtle. What are the gen 2 casebacks so hard to remove?

not subtle at all; gen.1 are "toploaders"; gen.2 have a removable (pressure) caseback; not meant to be removed/reassembled without specific tools (better leave that to a pro, you'll have a hard time to close your watch again!); lugs are totally different.

gen.1/gen.2

Thanks Fred. Helps explain why I can't get the back off mine!

Thank you very much for the reply! What do you mean by "toploader" for the gen 1 case? And where would I find the serial number? Thanks again.

Justin

case is a monobloc, movement only accessible when the crystal is taken off and then dial and movement are removed - hence "toploader", no caseback
serial number is under the movement

I see, thank you! The odd part about it is that the case is not monobloc and it has a removable caseback. The watchmaker had a hard time removing the back, but he did and it looked like he used a tool to snap it back on. The movement is the 178 signed by Breitling. The other odd thing is that the caseback says "810-24" on it. I'm not sure if the original caseback was damaged at some point and replaced, but the case is for sure not a toploader. I also don't know if the "810" caseback was interchangeable with the "810-24" caseback or if this is a "810-24" case altogether.