The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello,

I need some expertise on a Breitling watch, my first Vintage Chrono.
As I found a good example in mint condition I would like to ask several questions to be sure it is not a fake.
First to tell that it´s a Breitling Cosmonaute Chrono-Matic Ref. 1809
Here are my questions:
1. As I have seen many Cosmonate Ref.1809 with red date, the watch I would like to buy has black although it tends to gray.
Is that normal of should all Comsonatue 1809 be with red date?
2. Any hints about discovering a fake, it looks real although but I am not 100% sure.
Would be thankful about any help.

Cheers,

Gandolf 03

Nice watch!

The black date is not a problem. Red date is definitely the most common, but the first versions had black dates and there were some later black dates as well. If you have a serial number we can put a precise date on it.

Fake isn't really an issue with watches of this vintage, more of a problem is the assembly of a watch from constituent parts - i.e. take a case, face and movement from different watches and recreate. If you can post pictures we can take a better look.

Little known fact - the 1809 was the first automatic chrono - which really annoyed Zenith. Zenith produced a watch called the El Primero (The First) which was supposed to be the first auto chrono - but the 1809 got to market a few weeks earlier - just a useless fact!