The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hello everyone.


I read the interesting article with interviews of Rene and Fred on Fratello Watches. And they recommended to ask here to get a watch verified. I have bought this watch and wanted to be sure.

Can any one please help with telling me if this dial is in original condition?







For me the numbers on the dial, chapter ring etc looks crisp and fine. But i've been wondering about the "B" in the logo "Breitling", which has been difficult for me to say if that is correct for this dial. And what makes it complicated is, that Breitling made a lot of different logo variations.

I found one other via a Google search that has a similar logo:




If any knowledgeable vintage Breitling collector can confirm, i will appreciate it.

The watch has a 6-digit serial number on the caseback.

Thanks all!

Doesn’t look like an original dial to me. Just my option but sorry.

Thanks mate. Can you please explain?

Logo isn’t centred on the dial, printing quality is poor, dial surface is bumpy from being sprayed with paint.

I contacted Fred regarding this. And he told me that

“imperfectly centered isn't atypical, this was the period when Breitling started adding the script logo to the dials (many were still "sterile"), so it was done in a searate process”

So a lot of these early models have that logo placement.

Also he looked at his clams and sent me pictures. He concluded that he leans towards original branding on this and it is an early 1940’s model.

Very good to know and get peace in mind.

I really appreciate Fred’s work. He does an amazing job for the Breitling vintage watch community.

Take whatever opinion suits you or makes you happy.

Here is another clamshell - you can see a proper smooth, glossy dial that doesn't look like it was applied with a paint roller.

On yours, you can also see a ding/dent just to the left of the number 1 that has been painted over.
Overall quality of the print is poor - look at the various number 5s along the inner telemetry ring - smeared print and variation in the printing. Breitling did a good job on dials.

Yeah but the argument about the dial not being centred can’t be correct. First of all there are tons of them with atypical logo placement in the early era. Secondly it would look off if it was indeed centred on the dial instead of between the 11 and 1, like in this rendering:

pic share link

Also he has compared the dial to the clams he has in his collection. And compared typography and thickness with the logos on his watches. With all due respect I have more reason to believe his in depth analysis. Thanks for your time.

still a redial. Real Breitling dials have quality printing.

Will check that upon arrival. Because in the other pictures it looks totally smeared but in this you can see a little deifinition:



So will have to check how it looks when I receive it. Will cancel the order and return the watch if it indeed is a restored dial. As I specifically has asked the dealer about this and I have the right to return the item within 14 days.