post pics please, most probably fake/franken, there never were Breitlings with bridges marked by another company.

 

Here is the reason for his query, Fred.... https://www.watchuseek.com/f130/bre...ing-montbrillant-chronograph-1935-1939-venus-175-rare-vintage-watch-681620.html
Best,
Ron

 

most probably not, Ron ? OP talks about a "Breitling"-marked tricompax, which the other watch most clearly is not. also feel quite a bit uncomfortable with the watch linked to, would really like to see this that "confirmation by Breitling UK" and - at least - movement and inner caseback pics.

I personally have never seen or heard from reliable sources that Breitling used movements finished and marked by other manufacturers. examples of cobranding do occur, but on dials and with large resellers (Wakmann, Turler, UTI, LIP and others). There have been discussions whether Breitling did use the same cases w/ identical markings as other manufacturers, never any documented proof - but definitely never movements.

 

Thanks for the replies, here is the link to the photos:

Pictures by clk5002010 - Photobucket

 

That dials a redo and the movement is a Landeron 42 which was never used in a Breitling. Pretty clear it's meant to deceive. Steer clear.

 

You're right it is a Landeron movement, and as I've just heard back from my specialist who told me that Breitling did occasionally use Landeron movement of this calibre, he also said Turnheim manufactured for Breitling for a brief period of time in the 1940s, so he thinks this is original. Any thoughts on this?

 

Breitling may have used some Landeron movements very early on primarily in the late 1930's to early 1940's but only in unusual watches that they didn't normally market like a 3-pusher chrono. I think they would buy off the shelf movements to fill a perceived niche in their market offerings. This, however, did not last long and I don't believe this happened after 1944. There is usually one guiding rule to go by on the vintage Breitling's, if it says Breitling on the dial it would never say anything else on the movement. It's either Breitling or nothing on the bridge. Breitling's from 1940 on almost always have a six digit serial number on the outside or inside of the back cover. The fact that the watch says Turnheim inside would pretty much convince me it's not a Breitling. There have been other so called 'links' to Breitling like Mervos but nothing has ever come up to prove these associations.

 

would you be so kind and share your knowledge how you date a watch "precisely" to 1940/1941 ?

 

From what I know serials starting from 430000 dates to around the latter part of 1941, and round water resistant pushers marked with Breitling on dial (as opposed to dials marked Montbrillant or no name which started making round pushers in the late 1930s) didn't start production until 1940. So since this one has a 42XXXX serial and given its pushers and dial, it should be placed right in between those two years.

 

Regarding what I included in my description for the Montbrillant listing, I did consult with Breitling UK as to the provenance of the watch, who in turn contacted Breitling Switzerland and got their Swiss specialist to examine the watch. I also had estimates from two large auction houses on the value of the watch, so that's how I set the price at 2750 GBP. I have since sold the watch to a reputable vintage watch dealer, and passed along my above mentioned personal communications as proof of its provenance and value.

If you're enquiring about the Montbrillant with a view to buying it, I'm happy to ask the dealer who purchased it if he wishes to sell it currently, and if so, private message you with his name and details. You can then ask him about the contents of my personal communications, if he wishes to share it (which I'm sure he will with a potential buyer), since I don't think it would be right for me to divulge details about a particular watch which is no longer in my possession, and since my buyer had asked me for it during the sale I regard that information part of the sales agreement between me and him.