The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I picked this up a few weeks ago and it arrived today

had a funny feeling which wont go away and our most respected Cadette expert cant (wont) verify it either and his fence is tipping to franken at best

I am sending it back to the seller through ebay/paypal but wanted to share the somewhat blurry pics (my appologies for the pic quality so everyone can make their own mind up

looks great !



but whats this ?



I have never seen or read about a ref 7188 ?



inside caseback stamping a bit too uniform as well




bridge marking almost certainly a later addition



for the rest movement looks period correct



and I do not believe the dial is a reprint

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

the "later addition" of the bridge stamping is bothering too, by late 1948 I'd expect the movement to be signed, but typically not mixing script dial and capitals bridge.

I think the Valjoux movement is too early for the watch. Most likely would have been a Venus 175 like everything else from that period with two sub registers. Could also be a case of someone engraving the wrong numbers on the back or using a different back on an 1100 series chrono from later on.

is it a 7730, not a Venus 188 ? your eyes are better than mine, Paul !

the V188 was launched around that time, so theoretically possible.

I just assumed Valjoux but I think either is too early for 1948 and I thought not used until the 1950's with the 1100 series watches.

had edited my post above while u were replying, as far as I know the Venus 188 was launched in 1948, so it COULD be theoretically possible to have a very early example here, but adding that to all the other inconsistencies ......

Any known case of wrong stamping on Cadette series , 7 in place of 1? Assuming that 7188 is for a 1188 , let me add that a Cadette 1188 would have a 45' counter, and not 30' .
Better often worst than good ! Probably a good base spoiled by later " improvements" => only good for parts now .