The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have my fathers Wakmann chronograph. It stopped working sometime in 1975. My pop told me that it just quit running right on his wrist with no misadventure whatsoever.

I understand that this is actually a Brietling watch. I am hoping to get this watch repaired and to use it myself as a remembrance of my pop. I know nothing of Swiss watches and am at a loss on how to go about getting it fixed. I have been looking for any local watchmakers here in Indianapolis Indiana, But have found nothing.

I don't want to ship it in the mail where I run the risk of loosing it. I am wary of someone switching it out for some knock-off. I would rather have my pop's busted watch than a running replica in my old case.

I might be just fooling myself, in that It's possible/likely that this watch is well above my pay grade anyway. I am seeing prices online for Swiss watch servicing that is more than the price of a very nice watch brand new. Can someone give me some idea of how much it cost for the care and feeding of a Swiss watch?

I have had this watch since my father died almost 18 years ago. I always intended to get it fixed, I am sort of trying to finish all of my old projects, and the time for this one has come. Please advise!

First would be to upload some photos of the watch, front and back for us to look at and we can go from there much better.

Wayne

I don't have a digital camera handy, but it is exactly like this random image I found on the 'net;

http://shard1.1stdibs.us.com/archivesE/ ... 0165_1.jpg

Just about ever cellphone today has a camera that will take good enough images that you will need to take. PM member Craig at ChronoDeco and ask him for information about his restoration services. He is our in house restoration man and no on comes more recommended than he.

Wayne

your father's watch is a triple date chronograph, produced by Charles Gigandet and marketed by Wakmann under their own brand, the Gigandet brand and also as a Vulcain - it has no connection to Breitling besides the fact that Wakmann was the US distributor for Breitling watches too, although many sellers try to call it a Wakmann Breitling to raise value.

The movement in this watch is a Valjoux R730, quite valuable and relatively complicated, so it needs a competent watchmaker to service or repair it; I'm afraid it will not be easy to find such a person in Indianapolis. The risk of somebody swapping the movements on that watch is minimal, it actually is among the cheapest watches with this particular movement - and I have sent hundreds of watches by mail, across continents, nothing like you describe has ever happened to me.

To give you a rough indication of costs involved - very rough, of course, as I don't know the condition of your watch: realistic value of a nice and fully functioning Wakmann triple date chronograph is between $1k and $1.2k, service costs should be approximately 30-35% of that amount.

As suggested above - contact forum member chronodeco by pm, he'll tell you more.

Chronodeco is as best as they come. You will not be disappointed with his work. He is super honest and fair. My self and many other members use him all the time. I always insure the watch for it's value and have never lost a watch in the mail. Pull up Chronodeco's name on this site and you will find great testimonies to his work!!!!! Your father watch deserves the best.

Here are two of my Wakmanns Tripple date he serviced:

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

Thanks everybody for your responses!. Not a breitling? I was going by information I found all over the net. This is unfortunate because those other companies are long out of business. I was hoping that parts would be available since Breitling is still around. It's actual pedigree means nothing to me aside from availibility of parts and service. If it were a Timex it would still be my pop's watch, That's where the true value lies. Is there a different forum where my watch is in discussion? I chose here because I thought it was a Breitling,

This watch is exactly the same as rick is wearing, the black one. Yes I will PM chronodeco for advise. Mine is in excellent condition....... Aside from the fact that it's busted. The little push-pins on the left, on the 9:00 side appear to be frozen as if they are jammed. Does this tell anybody anything? Perhaps pop tried to advance it while it was in it's transitional process? You know, changing date or month ?

A I said before I know absolutely NOTHING about Swiss watches. I hope to ask for your indulgence just a bit more. Please understand that I am not trolling or disparaging fine watches. I am just a simple humble man and I have some questions that will help me decide what to do with my pop's watch. First, why are these watches so valuable? WatchFred Is giving a rough estimate of this watch's value at up to $1,200. Repair, if possible could be around $420. (thanks fred, for the input) Further, I see online that these watches should be serviced every 4 to 5 years. As a matter of fact, I remember when my father bought this Wakmann and he was so happy. I also remember when it went out. I was only a child but I remember thinking that it didn't run long for a hot-rod watch. That value/maintenance ratio doesn't sound very good to me. I wouldn't buy a Timex for $40 if I knew it would only run 5 years. What then makes my watch worth $1,200? (besides it being pop's watch)

Is this watch degrading in some manner by being left so long in it's current state? if I were to have chronodeco fix it for me, would I then be committed to sending it out every 5 years at the rate of $420 just to maintain it's $1,200 value? Is this watch durable enough to wear daily, or just a fragile collector's piece?

Again please understand that I am not being critical or disparaging of Swiss watches or their collectors. I am just weighing the real-world practicality of investing in this timepiece. I so much desire to have this fixed and to wear it every day like my dad did. On the other hand, when it quit running, he threw it on top of the high-boy where it stayed until he died. Maybe father knew best.....

Any opinions or thoughts of wisdom?

It's a fine vintage watch that deserves to be serviced. Definitely email chronodeco. Walkmann watches are starting to gain in value and who knows where it could go. if you get it serviced you could wear it proudly and daily and have the great satisfaction of owning a great family heirloom.

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

I will try to break this down for you by question.
1. Parts is not an issue for getting this watch fixed. As stated by Fred, all is true about the relationship between Breitling and Gigandet.
2. As for how the watch came to be in the current state it is today, we would only be making a guess just as you are. It is what it is. It happens.
3. As far as pricing goes, we don't talk about that. We let the watchmaker do that. He will give you a estimate to FIX the watch. This is a much different price than to SERVICE the watch in the interval of 4-5 years. Craig can address this with you.
4. Welcome to the world of manual complication watches. Like your car engine, these are tiny machines that are running at very tight tolerances at up to 18000 beats per minute. And like your car engine they need a tuneup and cleaning every so many years to replace worn out parts and to replace oils, clean and adjust to keep them in tip top shape. Your dad's watch was like wearing a Rolls Royce car engine on the wrist. You have to look at it just like that, not as a Timex but as machine. The is what it really is.

Wayne

I totally agree with Wayne. And by the way welcome to BS!

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

interesting question - it only tells time and date, any Swatch or Timex can do that. But, as I wrote above, the Wakmann is among the cheapest watches that use this particular movement, as no relevant collector market has yet developed.

Here's the basically identical watch, same or very similar movement, different dial, different branding, sold for around $640,000 hammer price, so above $750k after fees .....

http://blogs.christies.com/longitude/br ... -analysis/





no, it isn't degrading further. and it's good for everyday use as long as you remember it isn't really waterproof.

$640,000!!!!!! Yow! Mama! Ok, are you saying that the Rolex could possibly have the very same Valjoux R730 movement as my Wakmann? Is there any coincidence that the stem of my watch has a crown on it too? It's not the Rolex crown but it is a crown nonetheless.

That's all very funny, but not as funny as this; I have around here SOMEWHERE a Honeycomb cereal watch...... It is a plastic quartz watch that came in a box of cereal. It is also said to be the very same quartz movement as in a certain Rolex watch.

Nice iconic triple date you have from your dad, cherish it. Unfortunately yes, similar movements but different prices across brands, these usually came with Valjoux or Venus movements back in the day. Here's my Breitling example of essentially the same triple date watch which again costs a fraction of what the Rolex one costs, though I personally feel it's more beautiful than the Rolex triple date. I guess brand value and beauty are in the eye of the beholder and consequently, the market value certain watch brands command!

I doubt the cereal box watch has a Rolex movement in it.
The guys are correct. You own a little mechanical marvel. Get it fixed while parts are available. If you don't want to pay to service it, don't wear it. Store it in a dry environment with instructions on how to work it, and you're good.