I thought I was just buying a cool Navitimer 1806, but the more research I do, the more I think I screwed up.

The serial on the case back dates to the end of 1968. The bezel is all black. The hands are black toward the center, white on the outside. All the markings of a pre-serie watch... except one. The date in the middle is red, not black. Which is because the movement is a cal 12, not a cal 11. Evidently, the movement has been swapped with a later Breitling movement, which works, but is technically incorrect for a pre-serie watch.

How would something like this typically affect the value?

The date in the middle is red, not black. Which is because the movement is a cal 12, not a cal 11.

So just to clarify, do all Cal 11s have black writing on the date wheel and all red date wheels are Cal 12? In the past I've seen movements marked Cal 11 with red date wheels. Should i assume those watches have been tampered with or were Breitling not especially fussy at that time?

I'm pretty new to this, so I'm not sure. I'm simply referencing some information I read about early Navitimer 1806s.

Finally picked up the watch this morning and was able to snap a few crumby pictures. There's no "-" in chronomatic, and the serial on the back of the case is 125XXXX. The cal 12 movement is definitely a replacement. There's a marking on the inside of the case that say "91 New Movement." I love how the dial looks, however I've purchased some original replacement hands. I'll probably have it serviced as well.

Derek, this is the first known Version of the 1806 dial, maybe the real "pre-series". The dials had no "-" in CHRONOMATIC and also a metalframe around the date-window. Hands are correct for this dial, serial is also correct. All you need is a cal11 to make it authentic again - should be no big problem

Ralph

Navitimer 1806 CHRONO-MATIC. The Serial Number on case back 1253949 date to 68-69. Movement is cal. 11.2 with blacke date and a metallframe arround the date-window. Bezel hour and minute hand renewed probably.