The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello all!

New to forum here, so great to be with you. Looking to buy my first Breitling vintage, and wanted to get the forum's opinion. I'm looking at getting either a Top Time or 806 Navigator. There are a couple others I've looked at as well (Sprint and Co-Pilot Yachting) but have narrowed it down most likely to the Navigator and Top Time 810. I've seen a couple on eBay which to me look good and priced reasonably, but I am not very savvy when it comes to vintage Breitling. Any info would be much appreciated. Links included below.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Breitl ... 3094185357

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-BREITL ... 2223000092

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Breitl ... 2626296989

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Breitl ... 2899891885

Another note: I'm looking to stay under the $5K mark.

Thanks!
Scott

Bottom one (810 mark ii) has issues. Avoid.

Huge range in size, 38mm to 48mm.

Top 806 has the wrong crystal, and while the lug facets look sharp, the lower lugs look a bit thin from the sides.

Second 806 looks OK, but I'd want to see more pictures, especially since they are asking a premium price.

The 7652 looks OK, but it is a big watch compared to the others. Crown diameter seems too small.

I don’t know much about the 810, but it looks like the main hands are wrong.

Thanks for the quick responses! The top Navigator seller has offered it to me at $3500. Seems like this would be a good price. Are you saying the case may be a replacement on the top Navigator? Thanks!

Collectors value condition, authenticity and provenance. If you want to buy a cheap watch, go right ahead, but it is not necessarily what I would do.



No, I suggest there might be an issue with it having been refinished.

Don't want to buy a cheap watch, but do have a budget. If getting a good condition and original Navigator is not in the cards for $5K or under, I'd be open to suggestions for it is. Can you get a Top Time 810 for this budget? These Navigators seem to be ones you'd pass on, and if I want original and good condition to keep looking.

There is no set price for vintage watches, only what the market will pay. You might pay $6000 today and tomorrow someone lists one for $4000 or you find one for $10 at your local thrift store.

If you want a good one, focus on the things that are harder or expensive to fix. Buy a good case. Buy a good dial and slide rule. Buy good dial lume. You can easily replace a crystal and strap, and probably can easily (but expensively) replace hands, crowns and pushers, provided you have access to a good/sympathetic watchmaker.

Other than a potentially polished case and wrong crystal, does the top link Navigator look to be in good condition regardless of price?

It’s OK. The slide rule is discoloured for about half its circumference, but not as bad as some as I have seen. The dial looks good, but the lume plots are quite dirty, and lume may be partially missing at 4 o'clock. Hands are good, but the lume on the hour hand has gaps so may split out at some time. Interestingly, there is lume on the tip of the chrono second hand, which I have not seen before, but could be original or added later. I'm no expert on crowns and pushers, but they look OK too. It also looks like something (gasket, seal, etc) is hanging out under the bezel or there is an unusual gap at eight to seven o'clock. I make no comment on the movement. Finally, on closer inspection, the case looks better than I originally thought.

Can't say thank you enough for the advice and information, much appreciated!

Re the first Navitimer, You can get a crispy white NOS slide rule from a UK eBay seller - svwatch IIRC.

On the 810, crown is wrong too as well as the hands.

Do you mean the part I can find on eBay or the watch with a crispy slide rule on it?