Just Arrived: Breitling RCAF Mono Pusher

Hi

The latest edition to my collection just arrived. It's a Royal Canadian Air Force Military Issued Breitling mono pusher. It's really quite understated, unless you were looking on the crown, caseback or movement you would have no way of knowing that it was a Breitling or Military.

I had a chance to purchase this exact watch in 2014, but I had to take a pass as I had recently purchased a Zenith A3817. It was given the Hodinkee bump and then was quickly sold. I recently had an opportunity to acquire it again and couldn't resist it this second time around.

This is my first mono pusher, and I have to say it's a really interesting complication.

Here are a few really quick pics




I'm hoping to find a canvas strap in a military green / khaki (non nato). If you have any suggestion for a good strap maker who has a cool canvas strap or two please let me know

Similar to this one

Nice looking watch. Congrats!

Depending on lug width, strapcode, http://www.strapcode.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3170{65}857#.Vwh2oGopDbM

Thanks - I've purchased a few straps from Micah before for an old Panerai. One was his french canvas which may also be a good fit for this watch

Very cool. Nice pickup

More about the watch?

A beaut! Been seeing lots of rcaf watches on the forum lately

Our honorable member Captain Darren Crabb @RCAFBuster may help with some info. He has an overwhelming knowledge of Canadian military chronos and has written a book about them


From what I understand the Canadian Military issued these Breitlings along with Omega and Rodania watches to their pilots in the 60’s. The Omega's had a very low production run of lees than 100 and are the rarest. Breitling had 800 contracted and Rodania approximately 6-7000 contracted. As you would expect the price for these 3 vary and seem to have a direct correlation to the number produced. As previously mentioned it has a mono pusher, but it also has a hack second feature. The caliber is a manual wind 236 Valjoux, which is a Valjoux 23 modified into a mono pusher. The case size is 36.5 (not including the crown).

Here is a quote from an Article that appear in Hodinkee about these unsigned Military dials found here: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/in-depth-military-one-button-chronographs-with-unsigned-dial

“For years, Canada's Air Force (RCAF) and Department of Defense (DND) was in the habit of ordering single-button chronographs from Omega, Lemania (who made movements for others), and Breitling. They were given to pilots and army folk often. But, Canadians, being the reasonable, pragmatic bunch they are, realized that if the average serviceman knew that he had just been given, say, an Omega or Breitling chronograph (both well known and well respected luxury watchmakers at the time), they might be tempted to sell it. And, if a serviceman's friend, acquaintance, or schoolyard enemy saw a luxury watch like an Omega or Breitling on his wrist, he might be tempted to steal it.

So, both Omega and Breitling were in the practice of making these watches for the RCAF and DND with unsigned dials. This way, the average person (soldier or civilian) wouldn't really know what exactly they were looking at - they were designed to be high performance but under the radar. “

Here is a pic of the Valjoux 236 movement

Nicely done! Congratulations!

A very nice and interesting piece!
Congratulations
I discovered it through a Zodiac version of this models and I found it very interesting

Well done @Zuke Enjoy! And I'll be in next Tuesday to try it on! 👍

Thanks @Faz - I love how clean it looks, and the mono pusher is awesome!

Great looking Rodania BTW

New strap arrived - I think it works really well with this Military Issued Canadian beauty

Very nice match indeed
A wonderful piece you have Here 😀

Thank you @nicolas07

Awesome! But Looks better on the blue nato IMO.👍

Gorgeous Breitling. I have a Rodania RCAF as well and love it.