Breitling
1937 Breitling Military Chronograph 'Monopoussoir' - Gilt dial - Staybrite Steel
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A Fine, large and rare chronograph in great original condition.
WHY IS THIS WATCH SPECIAL
Breitling watches are known as 'Tool watches' for pilots and military use.
This chronograph dates to 1937, and it has a beautiful very well preserved overall aesthetic. It's large 37mm case (Without the crown) is rare by itself, usually watches were much smaller in these years.
THE STORY
With a history spanning over 135 years, Breitling has built a reputation for its precise chronometers and pilot watches. Their rugged and technically focused designs have withstood the test of time. As a result, they’ve created some of the most highly coveted watches in the industry. Breitling has modest roots in the mountains of Switzerland but is now a force in the luxury watch world. We take a look at Breitling’s history & iconic models.
Leon Breitling established his namesake brand in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland in 1884. The business started as a modest workshop. They specialized in chronographs and other precision watches for sports, science, and industrial purposes. After just a few short years, Breitling started to take off and outgrew its small studio. In 1892, they relocated to La Chaux de Fonds, which was the center of watchmaking at the time.
The brand’s revered founder passed away a little over a decade later. This left the business in the hands of his son, Gaston. He took note of the evolution and expansion of aviation in WWI and the need for precision tools for pilots. Soon, Gaston shifted the brand’s focus to creating pilot watches, and his work quickly paid off. In 1915, Breitling introduced its first chronograph wristwatch. The first Breitling watch was an immediate success, and Gaston continued to hone the brand’s efforts on developing pilot watches. In 1923, he released another development: the first independent chronograph push piece. This advancement separated the stop and start functions. Ultimately, it proved to be particularly useful in calculating flight times as well as timing sports competitions.
By 1932, Gaston was ready to retire but wanted to ensure the brand remained in the family. Soon, his son, Willy, took his place at the head of the company. He helped Breitling secure partnerships with both the British Royal Airforce and the United States Army. In addition, he continued to further the work of his father and grandfather by focusing on innovating the chronograph function.
In 1969, Breitling made its next groundbreaking horological advancement. They participated in a top-secret endeavor called Project 99 along with their three of their cohorts, Heuer, Burne, and Dubois-Depraz. Together, they developed the world’s first self-winding chronograph movement. This was a monumental feat not only for the brands but also for the watchmaking industry as a whole.
Just about fifteen years later in 1984, Breitling solidified its place in watchmaking history. That year, they debuted their signature chronograph: the Chronimat. The introduction of the Chronomat marked the resurgence of the mechanical chronograph following the quartz crisisof the 1970s. The model features an iconic bezel design and rider tabs. To this day, the Chronomat is one of the brand’s most highly sought after watches.
THE DATA
- Maker: Breitling
- Model: Chronographe 'Monopoussoir' Gilt dial
- Case N°: 2932XX
- Year: 1937
- Material: Stainless steel (Acier staybrite)
- Dimentions (WxHxT): 37x44x14mm
- Caliber: Manually wound
- Bracelet/Strap: Genuine leather
- Lug width: 20mm
- Box/Papers: N/A
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
This chronograph is in very well preserved condition, unpolished, all the angles are sharp. The original 'Gilt' dial is in great condition. All parts are original and untouched. It has an elegant and sporty presence on the wrist an can be worn daily.
1966 Breitling Unitime 'First batch' aka ''No serial' - FULL SET - Ref. 1765
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A very rare and mint legendary chronograph with its original papers and box.
WHY IS THIS WATCH SPECIAL
The Breitling 'Unitime' is one of the most iconic and sought-after wristwatch.
And this mint example comes with its original guarantee and owner's manual !
This chronograph dates to 1966, and it has a beautiful overall aesthetic. It even comes with its original papers and box which is extremely rare. The movement features a "WOG" engraving, indicating it was destined for the U.S. market. WOG was the U.S. import mark for Breitling and Wakmann Watch Co., the U.S. importer for Breitling at the time.
A batch of this early Untime 1765 reference was not engraved with a serial number. It was not polished off. This is confirmed information. There is no indication why these left the factory without a serial number but they are known by collectors as 'No serial' Unitime.
THE STORY
For many aviators, a watch made by Breitling is an indispensable piece of gear. In fact, the manufacture from St. Imier can be said to have created the genre of aviators’ chronographs—even the chronograph as we know it. The brand made its name early on for the production of chronograph pocket watches, introduced the first wrist chronograph in 1915, and changed the face of horology forever by adding a second pusher to a wrist chronograph in 1934.That move was an absolute game-changer, and before long air forces such as the RAF were commissioning Breitling chronographs for their pilots.
While the Navitimer—with its slide rule and its association with astronaut Scott Carpenter—is perhaps the best-known of Breitling’s aviator’s chronographs, the Reference 765 and its successor, the Reference 1765, is in our opinion the most wearable.
Simply put, it’s just plain sexy, in the way that only military or military-inspired chronographs can be.
Like the Breguet Type 20 or the Zenith A. Cairelli, the Reference 765 or AVI was designed for helicopter pilots. Eager to secure a contract with the French army, Breitling rolled out the AVI in 1953. Unlike the dial of the Navitimer, which is jam-packed with information, the dial of the AVI is uncluttered, with only the information that you absolutely need—hours, minutes, and counters for running seconds, hours, and 30 minutes.
All evenly-spaced, the hour markers and the hands coated in luminescent material, the chronograph registers a stark white against the black of the dial, and all surmounted by a rotating steel bezel.
Unfortunately, the AVI’s lack of a flyback function meant that it was passed over in favor of the Type 20, which is now ranked as perhaps one of the finest military chronographs in existence.
Breitling adapted it for civilian use as the Co-Pilot, and it was worn to perfection by Raquel Welch in the 1967 film Fathom. Breitling ads promoted the watch’s appearance on film, stating that someone or something—either the watch or the woman—“[steals] the scenes, in film and real life.” (Nina who?)
Sometime in the late 1960s, the Reference 1765 was introduced, larger than the Reference 765 and without the catchy name.
And around the same time, Breitling introduced this watch—the Reference 1765 Unitime.
When it was released, 24-hour dials were a relatively new invention conceived by Glycine for their Airman. However, unlike the Airman, the Unitime has the addition of a chronograph complication. It’s a rare bird, with production numbers only around 1000.
THE DATA
- Maker:Breitling
- Model: Unitime 'First batch' aka ''No serial'
- Reference: 1765
- Case N°: No serial (As it should be)
- Year: 1966
- Material: Stainless steel
- Dimentions (WxHxT): 41x48x13mm
- Caliber: Manually wound Breitling (Base: Venus 178)
- Bracelet/Strap: NATO nylon long strap
- Lug width: 22mm
- Box/Papers: Original Breitling guarantee + Original owner's manual + Original 1966 box
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
This chronograph is in extremely very well preserved condition, unpolished, all the angles are very sharp. The bezel is not loose, the crystal is original ,as all the rest. The 1966 dial as the hands looks like new ! This is a true time capsule with it's original papers and box, a collector's dream...
It has an elegant, virile and sporty presence on the wrist an can be worn daily.
1967 Breitling Chronomat - FULL SET - Ref. 808
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A Fine and Legendary chronograph with all its original papers.
WHY IS THIS WATCH SPECIAL
The Chronomat was the first chronograph to feature a slide-rule. This model is considered as a milestone in the chronograph history. The Chronomat was, with the Navitimer, considered by the pilots as the the first choice but was especially made for engineers, mathematicians and those who made it their task to solve problems. It is a legendary watch, a must have for any watch collector, especially with all the original papers, a nice touch is the 1967 advertisement.
This is one amazingly attractive chronograph.
THE STORY
The Breitling Chronomat 808 introduced a major change versus its 769 predecessor along with more subtle updates. Gone were the rectangular pushers in favor of round pump pushers. Big dagger hands replaced earlier needles. Additonally, a larger signed crown joined the fray to help the Chronomat fit in with other Breitlings of the era. Dial-wise, applied baton hour markers replaced former versions often found with Arabic numerals. The Venus 175 remained in place ad the Brevet (patent number) moved from the dial to the snap-back case back.
THE DATA
- Maker:Breitling
- Model: Chronomat
- Reference: 808
- Case N°: 1075XXX
- Year: 1967
- Material: Stainless steel
- Dimentions (WxHxT): 37x44x12mm
- Caliber: Manually wound Breitling (Base: Venus 175 TJ)
- Bracelet/Strap: Genuine leather + Breitling pinbuckle
- Lug width: 18mm
- Box/Papers: Breitling box + Original Breitling guarantee + Owner manual + Original 1967 advert.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
This chronograph is in very well preserved condition, the bezel is not loose as it might be on the vast majority of the Chronomat from this era. The extremely rare full set makes this legendary watch a rare and very appealing timepiece. All parts are original and untouched. It has an elegant and sporty presence on the wrist an can be worn daily.
1967 Breitling Superocéan Oversized 43mm 'Slow Motion' MK1 + Papers - Ref. 2005
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A Fine and Rare chronograph with its original papers.
WHY IS THIS WATCH SPECIAL
When launched in 1964, this new SuperOcean chronograph (Ref. 2005) impresses customers with its technical complexity elegantly balanced by its clean dial design without any sub-dials and a bold 43mm stainless steel case, with the main purpose being to ensure the highest legibility possible.
The Superocéan 'Slow Motion' ref. 2005 is one of the most iconic and sought-after Breitling watches ever, and this example comes with its original papers guarantee and leaflet, which is extremely rare.
This chronograph dates to 1967, and it has a beautiful overall aesthetic. The movement features a "WOG" engraving, indicating it was destined for the U.S. market. WOG was the U.S. import mark for Breitling and Wakmann Watch Co., the U.S. importer for Breitling at the time.
THE STORY
Building on the success of the first SuperOcean chronograph (Ref. 807), Willy Breitling wishes to advance the technical side of its divers’ watch and offer a new chronograph that enables easy and safe reading of the diving duration, even at the deepest depths of the ocean.
As a minute recorder is too small and not easy to read when under the surface of the water, Willy Breitling decides to use the main chronograph hand to indicate the diving duration. For this, Breitling develops a unique chronograph caliber, called “Slow Motion” that enables the chronograph hand to make one revolution per hour instead of one per minute. The wearer can therefore directly read the diving duration with the chronograph hand and the minute track on the dial without having to look for the minute recorder. However, this makes it nearly impossible to tell at a glance if the chronograph is running or not as the chronograph hand moves too slowly. This can be critical during a dive!
Willy Breitling finds a technical solution to this issue and develops a running indicator, located at 6 o’clock. When the chronograph is launched, this running indicator turns to a yellow disc – it becomes black with a small yellow dot when the chronograph is on hold and returns to an all-black circle when the chronograph is reset and stopped. With this smart technical feature, there is no longer a risk of forgetting that the chronograph is not running under the water.
THE DATA
- Maker: Breitling
- Model: Superocéan 'Slow Motion'
- Reference: 2005
- Case N°: 10767XX
- Year: 1967
- Material: Stainless steel
- Dimentions (WxHxT): 43x48x15mm
- Caliber: Manually wound Breitling (Modified Venus 188)
- Bracelet/Strap: Genuine leather
- Lug width: 22mm
- Box/Papers: Breitling box + Original 1967 Breitling guarantee.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
This chronograph is in very well preserved condition, unpolished, all the angles remained sharp. The matching original guarantee and leaflet makes this legendary watch a rare and very appealing timepiece. All parts are original and untouched, the original lume is complete. It has a virile and sporty presence on the wrist an can be worn daily. This impressive timepiece will, for sure, draw attention from all the watch collectors who appreciate design and rarity !
1979 Breitling - Sicura 'Formula One' Mechanical Chronograph 'New Old Stock'
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WHY IS THIS WATCH SPECIAL
This stunning model was manufactured for a very short period, between 1978 and 1980, its exceptionally preserved NEW condition makes it truly a high desirable watch.
THE STORY
Sicura was owned by Ernest Schneider who owned Breitling aswell and managed both brands simultaneously on the same production line. In the eighties, when Breitling experienced a fabulous success, he decided to invest himself exclusively in the Breitling revival.
THE DATA
- Maker: Sicura
- Model: 'Formula One'
- Reference: N/A
- Case N°: N/A
- Year: 1979
- Material: Metal/Steel
- Dimentions (WxHxT): 41x43x13mm
- Caliber: Sicura mechanical
- Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel
- Lug width: 19mm
- Box/Papers: N/A
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
This watch is new, we found it when we moved our storage facility. All parts are original and untouched. It has a nice and sporty presence on the wrist an can be worn daily.
1967 Breitling Navitimer 'Twin Jet' - FULL SET - Ref. 806
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A Fine and Legendary chronograph with all its original papers.
WHY IS THIS WATCH SPECIAL
The Navitimer ref. 806 is one of the most iconic and sought-after Breitling watches ever, and this example comes with its original guarantee, leaflet and advertising.
This chronograph dates to 1967, and it has a beautiful overall aesthetic. It even comes with its original papers, which is very rare. The movement features a "WOG" engraving, indicating it was destined for the U.S. market. WOG was the U.S. import mark for Breitling and Wakmann Watch Co., the U.S. importer for Breitling at the time.
THE STORY
Breitling released the Navitimer in 1954 in conjunction with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). This is why early Navitimers feature the AOPA wing logo on the dial. Breitling has constantly upgraded and updated its Navitimer over the years, resulting in many different aesthetic and variations.
The Navitimer's defining characteristics are the chronograph function and the slide rule bezel. Early Navitimers had all-black dials with a beaded texture on the bezel, but in the 1960s, Breitling released a "reverse-panda" dial with white sub-dials and a white bezel on the edge of the dial. The texture around the bezel was also updated to a more serrated execution. Additionally, Breitling changed the logo on the dial to the "Twin Jet" style, which is what you'll find on this model.
THE DATA
- Maker:Breitling
- Model: Navitimer 'Twin Jet'
- Reference: 806
- Case N°: 10873XX
- Year: 1967
- Material: Stainless steel
- Dimentions (WxHxT): 41x47x13mm
- Caliber: Manually wound Breitling (Base: Venus 178)
- Bracelet/Strap: Genuine leather
- Lug width: 22mm
- Box/Papers: Breitling box + Original Breitling guarantee + Leaflet + Original 1967 advert.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
This chronograph is in very well preserved condition, unpolished, all the angles are sharp. The bezel is not loose as it might be on the vast majority of the Navitimers from this era. The extremely rare full set makes this legendary watch a rare and very appealing timepiece. All parts are original and untouched. It has an elegant and sporty presence on the wrist an can be worn daily.
