The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi guys,

I desperately need your help here in identifying this vintage Datora? Please see the pictures below. Does it look original and unrestored?

reprinted dial

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

Thanks for the response, Dracha! Could you be more specific on what makes you reach that conclusion? Or it's just plain obvious?

I haven't researched these properly and they are very often faked - but this actually looks good to me?

logo is a bit fat, but I lack confirmed good examples of this reference for comparison; overall I see no refinishing indications on the - sadly bad - pictures, the minute tracks isn't as clearly defined as I'd expect, but that may be the picture gain.

Renè, share your thoughts ?

markings and serial check out correctly, case is 1951; watch seems fairly priced.

Fred - I think the logo is off. So I’m with Rene on a redial.

Hey Dave, thanks for your input! Looks like the logo is at least suspicious. Could you be more specific as why you think the logo is off? Any comparing pictures would be greatly appreciated!

As Fred says these are not well documented and everything else about the watch looks right but the logo is clearly off to me. I will post an image of one that looks correct later when I have time (not mine but one recently shared on some Facebook groups).

What you also have to take into account with these type of Datora is the fact a LOT of other brands basically made a very similar watch. So even if the case and movement are correct it is very easy for someone to reprint on a generic dial. We see this all the time with many different watches. Breitling on this particular dial clearly tilted downward from left to right, not square to the dial.
But more importantly... if Fred and Rene question it, it’s probably incorrect!! It would be a shame to spend, over spend, on it just to find out later they are right and your floating down Crap Creek paddleless.

Wayne

Posting for David.... here is the image he was referencing.

Wayne is having pic upload issues, so here's his post for David.
logo is clearly different - but we have no serial number to date this one, I hate to jump to conclusions without evaluating more examples, as we see massive logo differences on the script logo over the years....

so: I'm on the fence, undecided

and here's another logo variation on a 140/20:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=55333

These are for me a “buyer beware” watch. Soooooo many fakes out there. I hate when a watch makes me wonder if it’s coorect! These typically always do!

Thank you so much Wayne for posting pictures and sharing your thoughts! I'm actually in the search of my first vintage watch and I really dig the look of this watch. It's also small in size, which is definitely important for my thin wrist. After the first response from Rene, I was quite disappointed to hear it'a a reprinted dial, but the "not so sure" response from Fred gave me some hope. Then you guys chimed in and now the consensus seems to be "avoid".

sorry Fred I should thank you for the pictures and thoughts:)

The used script is 100% exactly the same as used on several other reprints (remember we discussed one with a logo like this in Zurich where the dial had a mix of 40ies, 50ies & 60ies fonts ?, that one had the same script Breitling) , from late 30ies to mid 50ies (mostly) dressier watches / chrono's
I suspect the reprinting was done by a single restorer , havent figured out where he resides

just remembered something , this is the logo Breitling used in the 90ies for the re-issues , slight more tilted / leaning
I suspect someone took that script logo and recreated/reused it for their reprints

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