The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi,

I'm planning on purchasing this watch, but i'd like some opinions of people with more knowledge about navitimer 806's than i have.

Is this an all original and in good condition breitling navitimer 806?

Looks good and original
Hands need to be relumed though

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

Thanks for your reply.

i will definitely not relume the hands. that's really devaluating a vintage piece.

Not at all. You have no lume at all now. You can add some vintage shade lume to match the watch. It can always be removed later if you want, and then it's exactly as it is today. Totally reversible.

thanks for your reply. but i rather have no lume than patina painted lume

As a vintage collector ! Just my opinion, get the hands relumed , it will look 100% better when done by a proper master restorer

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

I was just wondering .
The hands on my early model Colt have the same problem. The watch is now at Horological Services getting the issue addressed. I thought the previous owner had it removed for aesthetic reasons. Does the luminous material on the hands simply degrade over time?
Thanks.

SugeLucky, I understand where you are coming from, you want to keep the watch it it's "natural" state, which is a matter of personal preference for sure. One thing to keep in mind, is that the "natural state" of the watch was changed when whoever serviced the watch poked out and then cleaned the degrading lume off the hands and dial. So adding patinated lume back on to the hands would not compromise your ideals with the watch. Just my two cents! But of course, above all else, do what makes you happy.

Capeangler, yes lume can degrade over time, and flake off, causing damage to the dial and/or movement.

A lot of collectors get really worked up over the lume issue. Imagine completely restoring a vintage car and leaving the old blotchy, chipped and cracked paint on it (patina?) or leaving the paint off intirely because new paint would not be original? Get over it!

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S. Craig Bergsma

Tell us how you really feel, Craig. it Really depends on the piece, car, etc... Example, my home has developed a lovely patina, and I have made the choice to leave it as is.

Lol, ok you guys have a point.

Still i'd rather have it without lume than relumed. But it looks like that's just me

I by the way bought this watch today, or actually won it in an ebay auction for 1450 euro. That's very cheap i think?

The gold ones go for less than the steel but that is a very decent price indeed.

I just got a message from the seller that he tried the watch today before posting. he told me the chronograph hand/second hand is blocked, so he went to his watchmaker and the watchmaker says that there is a bit of rust in the minute wheel counter blocking the chronograph hand. this can be fixed for 100 euros according to the watchmaker.

Will this be a reoccuring problem and should i walk away from this watch or is it indeed an easy fix?

No such thing as an "easy fix" 99% of the time. Here's a question, what's the most you're willing to spend to make it right, if need be?