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Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collecting
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Author:  WatchFred [ Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:05 am ]
Post subject:  Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collecting
Rare as it is, the 24h Unitime AVI ref. 1765 was manufactured in two slightly different sizes; like every collector (addict, really) I am hoarding all kinds of rare parts; dials, hands, bezels, cases, crowns, pushers, crystals, movement parts - among them a nice bezel for the Unitime.

I was able to pick up a very nice Unitime AVI from 1969, missing a bezel; was shocked to find out my spare was slightly too small - and did not fit; desperately contacted many of my addict friends, but no luck. Was close to try to refinish a SuperOcean 2005 bezel, but very nervous about spoiling a beautiful piece.

Then another bezel became available, grabbed it - landed this morning; a perfect fit.

Frustration, patience, persistence, luck, joy - the life of a vintage collector. :P

The rather nice Unitime AVI - and the nice, but wrong SOC bezel.
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And the rather nice Unitime AVI today. Joy.
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Author:  Roffensian [ Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
:shock:

OK, this is the only response that I could possibly have.....

:superbow:

Great piece Fred, absolutely magnificent.
Author:  Watch nut [ Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
Beautiful watch Fred
Author:  jlee5050 [ Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
Speechless... :drool:
Author:  superavenger13 [ Fri Mar 08, 2013 11:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
Roffensian wrote:
:shock:

OK, this is the only response that I could possibly have.....

:superbow:

Great piece Fred, absolutely magnificent.


:yeahthat
Author:  WatchFred [ Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
thanks, all. collecting vintage watches is one if the nicest hobbies you can imagine,
joy definitely winning over frustration.

it is, frankly, shocking to see what treasure trove of iconic designs Breitling is sitting on, just to launch 49mm DLC behemoth.

Roffensian wrote:
:shock:

OK, this is the only response that I could possibly have.....

:superbow:

Great piece Fred, absolutely magnificent.

thx, Roff, not a Bettlach though, sorry :oops:
Author:  Roffensian [ Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
WatchFred wrote:
thx, Roff, not a Bettlach though, sorry :oops:


No one's perfect :wink:
Author:  omi [ Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
superavenger13 wrote:
Roffensian wrote:
:shock:

OK, this is the only response that I could possibly have.....

:superbow:

Great piece Fred, absolutely magnificent.


:yeahthat


Have to agree
Author:  TomP [ Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
Wow. Fantastic.
Author:  Scott [ Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
And, quite notably, JLC and Longines are universally praised and, in the case of JLC, are able to sell new pieces like this for significant dollars.
Author:  Damnfoolman [ Sat Mar 09, 2013 10:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
Oh Fred.

That's just beautiful.

Quite wonderful

I'm very envious.

Enjoy it Sir.

D
Author:  WatchFred [ Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
the joys of collecting vintage Breitlings were almost perfect, but ......

to show how crazy a collector can be, I was still not totally happy with that beautiful bezel; great patina, but the rest of the Unitime 1765, especially dial and hands, was in close to NOS condition, so it wasn't the perfect fit yet - the search continued, not frustrated or desperate any more, but still not completely satisfied.

then a UK seller listed a bezel in the perfect condition, negotiated a BIN, could not reach an agreement, the bezel sold well above $200, I was too cheap to bid so high, although some AVI bezels recently reached prices above $500 - hated myself afterwards. Then the seller relisted the bezel, buyer had not paid; went for a relative song - and here it is in Vienna.

sorry for the long blah, probably extremely boring & strange for anybody who has not hunted for watch parts, but thought I'd share some pics of the current and final condition of the Unitime:

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Author:  Roffensian [ Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
I so hate you! :wink:
Author:  WatchFred [ Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
;)
Author:  jlee5050 [ Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Breitling Unitime AVI: frustrations and joys of collect
Man that watch itself looks like it hasn't seen the time of day.

Could be a little off topic but when Old World was selling their NOS pieces back in the day was this model among the discovered treasure?
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