The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi all. I got this watch as a gift from my father. It is aged late 50's, early 60's (I'm not sure 100%).
What your opinion about its authenticity ? Original or fake ?
My father says that it was a prize of a contest, but his memory sometimes fades

If needed I can add further pictures (photos)

A photo of the movement and the inside of the caseback would be very helpful. A watchmaker should be able to help you out with that fairly easily.

Read that request as a good sign - this is the first 799 moonphase that we have seen here in a long time where I haven't automatically yelled fake!

The PT on the back is odd though - does that have anything to do with your father?

Which tool I can use to open the caseback ?

If my memory serves my right you need a 'watch makers knife' to open the back
but If I were you i'd let a watchmaker open it as this watch is potentially *very* valuable
As Roff said , we've seen many attempts to make fakes of this model as they are very rare , but this one seems to be the genuine article complete with box.
do you have any other papers with it ?

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Just take it to a watchmaker, otherwise you are risking damage and you do not want to damage this if it's correct.

I succeed in removing the caseback with a suitable blade without damages; I will post some pictures of the inside in the afternoon. There is no sheet of paper inside the box. Thanks to all for the useful advices.

you're a *much* braver man than me !

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Yeah, one slip could have cost hundred of dollars - or more!

Looking forward to those pics. Wonder if it's a genuine.

New pictures

congrats , absolutely genuine , I am jealous !
i'd find a good insurance for it as well

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Which are the details that would confirm that the watch is really original and genuine ? I am still skeptical

I base my judgement mostly what is absent

absent are bridge markings , which is consistent with pieces from this era. And noone tried to give the watch more credibility by adding marking that should not be there

absent are markings that the movement has been tampered with , screws that hold the movement are untampered with and are both equal and original

inside (and outside) of the caseback do not contain any info that points to any other brand or references to other Breitling watches so it did not start its life as a non-moonphase watch and was later converted to a moonphase watch
movement has a great patina that is consistent with the age and rest of the watch

and there's no sign that this movement , case , dial etc do not belong together or show any sign of tampering
the only bonus I can think of is if there was any sales slip , dealer invoice or something else with is , but as you said you didnt have any other papers I can let that 'slide' as it doesnt take away from the watch itself , which I believe is all original

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Agree with all of that. This looks to be completely original and it's very nice to see a 'survivor' in such untouched condition.

However it needs strong and professional servicing, I suppose. The glass is seriously scratched and has a deep crack (did you see it in my pictures ?)