The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi people,

Anyone know much about the Breitling 174? Looks like a really nice time piece but how does it rank in terms of collectability and "sought afterness"?

Can an expert take a look at these pics and comment on authenticity?

Thanks in advance people.

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1966 Breitling Navitimer 806
2006 Breitling Navitimer Heritage

The problem with these Venus 17x series watches is that the early ones are overshadowed by the Chronomat and the later ones are overshadowed by the Navitimer. As a result they aren't particularly valuable as vintage Breitlings go, but I think that they are nice pieces.

That said, I would leave this one alone.

I really want to say that there's an awful lot wrong with it, but I can't give you too much tangibly wrong. Definitely the crown is wrong - shouldn't have a Breitling logo, and I think that at least the running seconds hand is wrong - I'm not convinced about the others, but can't categorically dismiss them. The movement is a Venus 170 as it should be, and it looks right, although the case looks way too big. I don't have a 174 to compare with, but don't believe that the case is that big relative to the movement.

The fact that the movement is unmarked isn't an issue on a watch this old, but of course that makes it easy to replace as well. I'm nervous of the caseback but can't find a comparison right now (still looking).

There's nothing absolutely awful about it, I just don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling from it.

Hi.

Thanks for thw feedback.

Its funny. I said to my wife that I really like the look of the watch but that I didnt know if this was a middle of the range, bottom of the range or top of the range piece. Her comment was that I should not query the collectability of it and that watches of this age are a bit like art. Her suggestion was that if I like it, forget the collectability.

I do however hear what you are saying and if the crown and case are not either original or even correct, that is a problem for me. Where can one better research the 174?

Thanks very much for the info...

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1966 Breitling Navitimer 806
2006 Breitling Navitimer Heritage

There aren't too many references for these older pieces. Benno Richter's book, now in it's 3rd edition is the best, other than that it's things like catalogues from the period. There is a good Israeli site - www.clubbreitlingisrael.com that has quite a lot of older pieces - model reference is here - http://www.clubbreitlingisrael.co.il/24739/Model-By-Ref

But unless you speak hebrew it's really only a picture reference.