The Breitling Watch Source Forums

...because it makes me wonder how it can be a reference 765 and only 38mm in diameter. The reference 765 was the AVI and the Copilot (765CP) but both are 40mm in diameter. I just don't think Breitling would use the same reference number for two different size cases. I know I've seen this AOPA version before but I think as a Top Time and had a reference 810 case. If anyone has a link to another one of these with a ref 765 back on it I'd be interested in seeing it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1960s-Breitling-Steel-AOPA-Ref-765-not-AVI-Navitimer_W0QQitemZ140363032576QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWristwatches?hash=item20ae49e800

The 765 goes back to the Forties and this style of watch with this ref
pre-dates the AVI and the Co-Pilot.

it seems to designate a pilot watch, perhaps a true "tool" watch in their range.

Have a look at this article.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=112

I have seen several over the years and it was the first Breitling I bought,
all the ones I've seen have a similar case to mine, it's nice and chunky wth a screwback and a stepped case.

Well that certainly looks like the same case. Does the movement on your watch say Wakmann or Breitling on the bridge? The one on ebay shows from the serial number it was from 1965 yet Breitling was making the AVI and Copilot both in 1965 as reference 765 & 765CP. I had both actually from 1965. Seems a little odd that Breitling would have two different size cases designated 765 at the same time. Maybe I'm missing something here.

765 has certainly been around since the 40s, but I am not aware of a 38mm, non AVI / Copilot 765 in the 1960s.

The 765 appears in the 1946 catalogue.


There seem to be two versions listed in this catalogue, this one is at the end of the aircraft clocks section,
it is grouped with a bomb timer and classic pilots "tool" watches. It is clearly aimed at military and professional users.


The catalogue states that you can request "Temp. and vibrations tests on demand".
To my eye this has the same distinctive stepped bezel as the later cases.

Richter (on page 119) shows advertising which he states is from 1958. This shows now both the AVI and the 765.
The 765 is listed as being 38mm in size.
Richter also gives two refs for the 765 in appendix, a Premier and an AVI (we know that a CP also exists later on), these are certainly different sized cases
sharing the 765 ref.

(I've carried on in a new post because I can only post 5 pics a post!)

On page 43 Richter shows the Breitling/Wakmann marked white version of my 765.

This is different to the Forties and Fifties version of the 765 - although again the case has the stepped bezel.

The Breitling vintage collection has one which it lists as:
Item #23, ref. #765, circa 1966, manual wind Venus 176, stainless steel, tachymeter scale, 3-register chronographhttp://people.timezone.com/breitling/bfaq/Vintage_Collection.html

The double marked Breitling/Wakmann is a pretty rare watch, but is a genuine variation.

So now we are in the Sixties with a 765 ref and a smaller case. It would seem that there are two different ranges of watches here which date back to
the Forties (at least) and continue into the Sixties. The smaller cased ref 765 only, and the larger 765AVI and 765CP.

Why they chose to use the same ref for two cases sizes I can't say, however if I was to to take a guess and looking at its lineage it would be something
to do with it being designated a pilots "tool"watch with a higher tolerance and standard than maybe other watches in their range.

My watch is fully signed Breitling on the case and Breitling on the movement, which is the Venus 178.

This watch in ebay is not the 1940ies 765, but its the first and rarest modell of the Top Time series.
And its not expensise for this rarity, I sold one last year for 3500,- Euro and one this year for 4500,- euro.

Look here: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=12569

Here the Benno Richter watch:



chance I could buy the entire collection Benno Richter 2 or 3 years ago

He still can't sell it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110474075702&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

The market is clearly providing their opinion of this watch!

At time the market is real difficult, special in USA, some people have not the money, others dont recognize the value and rarity. this is a good opportunity for the few well-informed buyers, who can now snap up such rarities for little money.

But too bad he has a reserve price on it... which means he won't let go for a certain price

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