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PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 8:06 pm 
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Hello,
I have been looking quite a bit on the site and I am pretty sure I have this narrowed down. However, some recent info on the site has made me step back a moment. I have an old Navi II and would like to go with a different bracelet for it. From earlier readings, I believe the choices are:

- old navi/cosmonaute, which will be a 5 link with curved end pieces. I currently have a Pilot with UTC for the watch as well, but I would like a bracelet for this one with no UTC for another option.

- 423a which has straight end pieces at 22lug, 18 clasp. However, I am not positive if this bracelet has the cursive Breitling on the clasp or the regular script.

- 440a which has straight end pieces at 22lug, 18 clasp. Same question as above on the clasp script.

The most recent which I am trying to verify is will the 431a fit the old Navi II. I have found some postings that seem to indicate it will fit, but then a couple others seem to say that the end pieces on the 431a are different and will not fit the old Navi II case. I may be reading the postings incorrectly, however.

Any assistance would be appreciated and thanks in advance!
:lingsrock:

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 3:59 am 
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431A won't fit.
First three mentioned bracelets will fit.
I think (didn't measure) that bracelets are 22/20mm, 22/18mm was mark for straps.
423A has cursive "B" script and 440A has normal script with raised wings logo on the safety clasp.


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:31 am 
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bnewbie wrote:
431A won't fit.
First three mentioned bracelets will fit.
I think (didn't measure) that bracelets are 22/20mm, 22/18mm was mark for straps.
423A has cursive "B" script and 440A has normal script with raised wings logo on the safety clasp.
Hi, bnewbie. No, the pre-2003 22mm bracelets do indeed taper to 18mm. I have had the 8 segment Old Nav/Cosmo bracelet and the 7 segment 423A and both are 22-18. Also 22-18 are the 350A Pilot bracelets for the Crosswind as well as the 358A UTC specific Pilot bracelet for the Crosswind. (both manufactured through 2004) The B-1's 874A Fighter bracelet and its 877A UTC specific Fighter bracelet are also 22-18 even though they were manufactured through 2006. The first 22-20 Pilot bracelet was the 357A for the Evo (359A UTC specific) and the first 22-20 Navi (7 segment) bracelet was the 431A IIRC followed by the 440A raised logo version. The 22-18 423A was still specified for the flyback Cossie (A22322) at least through 2007 as well. (latest sales handbook I have available here) Of course you already know the 22 mm straps decreased the taper in 2003 going from 22-18mm with small stitching to 22-20 with larger stitching. The length specs remained the same for regular, long, and short straps however. In years past, BUSA always provided either a full bracelet polish or a new calf strap depending on how they received a watch for a full service visit. (on bracelet or strap) They even exchanged the tang/buckle or deployant clasp for the larger one during the visit as well. Just a little service history info for you. Hope this helps...
Best,
Ron

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:35 am 
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Hi Ron,
thanks for clarification and informative post. :)
(I'm sure you meant 5 links segment for Old Nav/Cosmo.)


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:34 am 
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bnewbie wrote:
431A won't fit.
First three mentioned bracelets will fit.
I think (didn't measure) that bracelets are 22/20mm, 22/18mm was mark for straps.
423A has cursive "B" script and 440A has normal script with raised wings logo on the safety clasp.


Thank you very much for the information. I do apppreciate it very much. I believe the 423a is the choice for me as it has the cursive script, so I will have to keep my eyes open for that one. I see a 433a available for sale right now, but I am guessing that the end links on the 433a won't fit, correct?

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:26 am 
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omi wrote:
I am guessing that the end links on the 433a won't fit, correct?

Correct, it is for Chrono-Matic.


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:37 am 
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bnewbie wrote:
Hi Ron,
thanks for clarification and informative post. :)
(I'm sure you meant 5 links segment for Old Nav/Cosmo.)
Oops! Typo! :oops: Yes, FIVE!!! :D
Best,
Ron

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:31 pm 
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bnewbie wrote:
omi wrote:
I am guessing that the end links on the 433a won't fit, correct?

Correct, it is for Chrono-Matic.

Many thanks!

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PostPosted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:00 am 
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A new question that I cannot answer. I see a 423a bracelet out there for sale, however it has curved ends inks vs. straight. I did see a photo on Breitlingsource showing a 423a with curved end links as well. However, I was under the impression that the 423a needs to have straight end links for fitting to the Old Navitimer II. Does that sound correct?

Thanks!

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PostPosted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:13 am 
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omi wrote:
A new question that I cannot answer. I see a 423a bracelet out there for sale, however it has curved ends inks vs. straight. I did see a photo on Breitlingsource showing a 423a with curved end links as well. However, I was under the impression that the 423a needs to have straight end links for fitting to the Old Navitimer II. Does that sound correct?

Thanks!

The 423A does indeed have curved end links and it does indeed fit the Old Nav, the Old Navi II (and their contemoporaries, the Cosmonaute and the later caliber 22 flyback Cossie as well). Here are detail photos of mine before I sold it a few years ago...

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Notice that it is full length and biased correctly for wrist ergonomics. When new it is balanced 5N/5S (full links, not counting end links) and 3 of those full links are removable in order to fit and balance the bracelet correctly. YOu'll also note the manufacture date of my bracelet was the third week of 2002. This was the last year the 423A was manufactured, the first year being 1997.
Hope this helps.. :)
Best,
Ron

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PostPosted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:43 am 
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Thanks! That is a huge help as I thought the one I see had different end links attached to it. I have asked the seller to send a close up shot of the interior of the bracelet so that I can see the manuf date and the model number to verify. So I surmise that either the curved end links or straight links will both work on this bracelet.

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PostPosted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:05 am 
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O2AFAC67 wrote:
... YOu'll also note the manufacture date of my bracelet was the third week of 2002. This was the last year the 423A was manufactured, the first year being 1997.
Hope this helps.. :)
Best,
Ron


Interestingly enough, I picked one up directly from Breitling around 6 months ago.
It has a date code 0800 which would imply that it was a 12 yo NOS.
No wonder I got a significant discount on it ;-)

omi, I fully understand why you prefer the 423 with the italic/cursive font. It is my favorite bracelet as well.

Pictured here on these watches:

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PostPosted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:48 am 
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Outstanding photos! Every time I see that bracelet, I like it more and more. Breitling direct may still have these? Would BUK or BUS be a better choice? I did not think they would still have these available and my only option was the secondary market.

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PostPosted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 1:38 pm 
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Unlikely to have them, but worth asking.


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PostPosted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:41 pm 
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I am hearing about one from 03. Could they still have one with that code on it? Or if 2002 was the last year, I assume it means that the 03 is still correct, but for a different watch that was still manufactured after 02.

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