I've sold a few things lately, so the watch fund is replenished. I was thinking about a small trip down memory lane, and looked at old Breitling chronomat. Back in the late 80s and 90s, I remember drooling over Breitling ads, as I wanted to have a career in aviation. It did not happen, but Breitling does bring some memories to me, and the earlier models from the 1980s I find genuinely interesting. The blingy ones from the 1990s onwards, less so. I have a 1995 chronolog and my God, there are some things in there that are better left unseen. I played around for some days and it turns out that most of these chronomats are steel/gold. 1980s style, d'oh! I don't like it. So plain ones seem more uncommon, I have narrowed my search down to two 81950s and one 13047: 2.2keur after haggling but it is an early one, interesting. Pro seller, box and paper. Will have to find a better crystal. Maybe a little too close to a speedy dial (I have two of those) 1.5keur firm, looks nice but ebay seller has not much of a background. Will have to trust Paypal on this one. Cool handset, not sure if if like the steel hands though. 1.9keur firm, pilot bracelet, pro seller, box and paper. I will have to add a steel bracelet if I buy one without, it looks like this won't be cheap. I don't even know if the prices make sense... I have posted a thread on breitlingsource, but not many people are active over there. Any advice or comment on my selection, prices ... ?
Too bad I already sold my rouleaux bracelet, you could have been Jerry Seinfeld. If this helps, I sold a similar watch for $2k USD a couple of years ago with a pilot bracelet and a Breitling deployant thrown in.
Thanks, that's a data point for the price. It seems those Breitlings aren't much discussed on forums. So maybe the price of the all black / early logo is not too ludicrous.
Yes, great movement too but I fear that they might be too small for their sporty look. The chronomat case has a nice size, even if a bit thick like all 7750.
I got the third one after some negotiation, added a deployant / OEM shark lightly used (I'll keep the pilot for summer when it's hot). Twin references 81.950 and 13047 on the back, probably from around 1992-3. For some reason the warranty paper was not filled out. Lovely watch, and within my budget (less than 1.9keur all in). Not bad for a complete set, and I feel 15 again!
I got a speedy date 3511.50 a couple of months ago and it is a similar vibe, but more subdued without the iconic chronomat bezel and pushers. Does the breitling have a flat or dome sapphire. Surprised the omega has a domed sapphire from back in 1993.
It is domed, slightly. 1st version appeared in 1984. I considered this speedy too but I already have manual models. The chronomat is more original, the case feels completely new, not a reissue/reiterpretation of some earlier model.