The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello All,

I just came across this site and decided to join. I have just acquired a ref 806 Navitimer. It has a small chunk missing from the crystal and has a couple of scratches. Any suggestions on how to make the crystal look close to new?

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Breitling Superocean Steelfish Ref A17309
Breitling Wings Automatic Ref A10350
Breitling AOPA Navitimer Ref 806
Omega Speedmaster Ref 3510.50.00
U-Boat Classico 45 AS Ref 5565

Here are some pics

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Breitling Superocean Steelfish Ref A17309
Breitling Wings Automatic Ref A10350
Breitling AOPA Navitimer Ref 806
Omega Speedmaster Ref 3510.50.00
U-Boat Classico 45 AS Ref 5565

Welcome to the forum!

My best suggestion would be to take it to your AD/service center and let them replace the crystal. Alternatively, Roffensian and Paul are vintage experts and may have some other channels for that job. I bet it's not long till either of them see this topic.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

If the scratches are not too deep, You can just polish them out. Swatch used to sell a paste for crystal polishing, that was quite good. I don't know, if its still on the market. Name was "Polywatch" or something similar.

BG
Thomas

Welcome aboard.

I would recommend replacing the crystal.

~Brian

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Breitling Super Avenger
Fortis Flieger Chronograph
Rolex Submariner Date

would replacing the crystal decrease the value???

_________________
Breitling Superocean Steelfish Ref A17309
Breitling Wings Automatic Ref A10350
Breitling AOPA Navitimer Ref 806
Omega Speedmaster Ref 3510.50.00
U-Boat Classico 45 AS Ref 5565

I don't see why it would. You could always ask to keep the original.

~Brian

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Breitling Super Avenger
Fortis Flieger Chronograph
Rolex Submariner Date

No, not when the original is in that state... And as Brian says, you can always keep the original if you sometime want to sell it.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

Definitely needs replacing - polishing would help the swirls, but obviously wouldn't do much for the 'missing bits'.

Every purchaser is different in terms of what is important to them, but I can't believe that anyone would consider the watch less valuable if you replaced the crystal, but definitely take it to a service centre and definitely keep the paperwork as part of the provenance of the watch.

The 806 is a great looking watch, and crystla aside it looks like the face has survived well (or has an older restoration).

Make sure that you address the crystal as soon as you can - you don't want the hands and face exposed any longer than necessary.

Thanks for your input. Now here is the problem. There is no AD in Winnipeg. I am going to Montreal in April. Who would you suggest I go to? Should I call ahead and order a crystal?

_________________
Breitling Superocean Steelfish Ref A17309
Breitling Wings Automatic Ref A10350
Breitling AOPA Navitimer Ref 806
Omega Speedmaster Ref 3510.50.00
U-Boat Classico 45 AS Ref 5565

Call your nearest AD and talk to them about your watch and what you want to do. They'll most likely not do anything themselves but send it to a Service center. So, I'd ask what the best way to proceed would be. Sending them the watch, or sending it directly to the Service center? Don't wait till April. If you send it in soon and you're a bit lucky, you might pick it up in April instead of leaving it.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

Agreed. No self respecting AD will want to touch this themselves - it will need a proper service and that means a service centre. The AD will either ask you to ship the watch to them or arrange for you to send straight to the service centre. You won't find anyone prepared to sell you a crystal - they keep parts for their own repairs.

Even though you don't have a local AD they will still be your fastest bet - Mark Heist (the only Breitling authorised vintage service specialist in North America) has a backlog of over a year.

Any info on the service center for Canada?

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Breitling Superocean Steelfish Ref A17309
Breitling Wings Automatic Ref A10350
Breitling AOPA Navitimer Ref 806
Omega Speedmaster Ref 3510.50.00
U-Boat Classico 45 AS Ref 5565

Try getting it polished out first... you have nothing to lose do you?
ive had worse than that polished out of similar plexglass/acrylic crystals before...

That won't do much for the bits that are missing!!!

The authorised service centre for Canada is Grigoros Canada in Toronto. They are also the distributor, and the parent company of La Swiss - the largest AD chain in Canada. Your best bet is to call an AD and make arrangements through them.