#BreitlingSquad

Super ocean.

Beautiful.

For many years, I would have easily qualified for membership in the squad. My first "prestige" watch was an ref. 81610 Old Navitimer that I bought new in 1988, spending pretty much all my savings for it.


Then, for my business school graduation, my dad gave me his early Aerospace.


These two watches were my daily wearers for many years, and I must admit that I was a bit of a Breitling fanboy for a while.

Then in 2004, my dad passed away, and I inherited his watch collection. It had a couple of peculiar Breitling models, which I didn't really like. I ended up selling them pretty quickly.



But there was also a gem, a watch I had been very fond of, to the point of borrowing it sometimes.


Over time, I grew tired of my first two Breitling models. The Old Navitimer was too blingy, and the Aerospace was a bit too puny for my massive wrist. So they ended up being sold. But the Cosmonaute was here to stay. Or so I thought.

A few years later, I ran into a financial rough spot with a long period of unemployment. My watch collection had to go, and while I did my best to delay the inevitable, all the timepieces I had sworn myself never to sell were gone. And so was the Cosmonaute.

I have already told on this forum the story of my birth year Speedy, and how I managed to get it back after almost a decade. Well, I'm very pleased to announce that I have just managed to do the same thing with my dad's Cosmonaute. I just got it back today!


So I guess I qualify again for BreitlingSquad membership now. 😀

My current Breitling collection:

A recent arrival 769 Chronomat and a 747 clamshell..


And a small steel chrono..

After a day since being reunited with my watch, I am still over the Moon. I had forgotten how much, despite its questionable legibility, this dial is hypnotic. It is truly a beautiful watch!

Congrats and T4S this great story!

I was in Zurich for the 2022 Cosmonaute Event and saw so many awesome versions off this very special piece!

Congrats once again and enjoy your father's Cosmonaute once more 👍

1960 Breitling Navitimer (Mk2.2) - Ref. 806 - Powered by a Breilting signed Venus 178 movement with AOPA dial. Interesting factoid about these early Mk2.2 watches, some carry a serial number that begins with an "8". This would be impossible, dating the watch to 1951/52, and there was no Navitimer branded in 1952 (1st batch was 1954). Venus cal. 178 became "standard" in 1955 as did serials on AOPA dialed pieces. This error is a well known "mis-stamp" of the serial, and should have started with a "9", properly dating the piece to 1960, consistent with its attributes and movement.

Very early 1969 Breitling Chronomatic Ref.2110 - cal.11

Fabulous thread!
Just one breitling for me atm, but hope this is enough to join the squad
Original 1955 765 avi (not the re-edition)

if you’re going to have “just 1” then that’s really not a bad option!

T4S! Both are great references and yeah, I have to be "in the zone" to wear my 47mm Panerai so I can appreciate the 1806 is not a daily wearer 😁

How did you manage to "date" your 806 😕 I had to ball-park my Twin Jet and finally decided to go with '67.

T4S once more & post more pics when you have time & mood 😉

a very nice piece, T4S 👍

P.s. 48mm ...well you know that saying,
"Go big or go home!" 😁😉