Vintage Breitling experts come in
Discussion
I was left this 1974 (I believe) breitling 815 which I think is referred to as a panda face?
I had a conversation a while back with a guy in the US who is supposedly through expert in restoration and servicing but lost all the contact details. I also seem to recall he had a massively long waiting list. Rather than have to ship it across the water are there are UK experts who would give a valuation and possibly quote for repair/service?
Ignore the terrible bracelet on it lol.
I had a conversation a while back with a guy in the US who is supposedly through expert in restoration and servicing but lost all the contact details. I also seem to recall he had a massively long waiting list. Rather than have to ship it across the water are there are UK experts who would give a valuation and possibly quote for repair/service?
Ignore the terrible bracelet on it lol.
That's lovely!
Value-wise I'd say £2k to £2.5k depending on condition. For servicing there are a few vintage specialists out there. Duncan at Genesis Watches and RyteTime may be able to help. Avoid Chealwatch. On PH, it is definitely worth asking Joe (Variomatic) or Eddie (ecain) as they have worked on many of our watches.
I can't quite see the condition of the dial but I'd guess it would have some patina - perhaps a few marks or stains. If so, you might struggle to improve the dial and replacements may be difficult to source. Personally, I would plump for a service, a light case polish and leave the hands and dial alone. Pop it on a decent leather strap with a Breitling buckle (plenty on eBay) and you'd have a lovely vintage chrono to wear. That's exactly what I did with my 1969 Breitling Chronomatic.
Value-wise I'd say £2k to £2.5k depending on condition. For servicing there are a few vintage specialists out there. Duncan at Genesis Watches and RyteTime may be able to help. Avoid Chealwatch. On PH, it is definitely worth asking Joe (Variomatic) or Eddie (ecain) as they have worked on many of our watches.
I can't quite see the condition of the dial but I'd guess it would have some patina - perhaps a few marks or stains. If so, you might struggle to improve the dial and replacements may be difficult to source. Personally, I would plump for a service, a light case polish and leave the hands and dial alone. Pop it on a decent leather strap with a Breitling buckle (plenty on eBay) and you'd have a lovely vintage chrono to wear. That's exactly what I did with my 1969 Breitling Chronomatic.
815 is also known as the long playing.
The man you want is S. Craig Bergsma - aka chronodeco (http://www.chronodeco.com). Based in the US, and regarded very highly as a vintage breitlng specialist, including on the breitlingsource vintage forum.
A new crystal, a service, a light polish, new strap with a breitling buckle, and it will look superb.
Parts are also easily available for the movement which is a valjoux 7736, although hands, dials, crowns and pushers not so easy to find and breitling do not sell them without one of their full vintage restorations (£££££). Thankfully yours seems all intact.
Drop him a mail - nice guy.
The man you want is S. Craig Bergsma - aka chronodeco (http://www.chronodeco.com). Based in the US, and regarded very highly as a vintage breitlng specialist, including on the breitlingsource vintage forum.
A new crystal, a service, a light polish, new strap with a breitling buckle, and it will look superb.
Parts are also easily available for the movement which is a valjoux 7736, although hands, dials, crowns and pushers not so easy to find and breitling do not sell them without one of their full vintage restorations (£££££). Thankfully yours seems all intact.
Drop him a mail - nice guy.
GCH said:
815 is also known as the long playing.
The man you want is S. Craig Bergsma - aka chronodeco (http://www.chronodeco.com). Based in the US, and regarded very highly as a vintage breitlng specialist, including on the breitlingsource vintage forum.
A new crystal, a service, a light polish, new strap with a breitling buckle, and it will look superb.
Parts are also easily available for the movement which is a valjoux 7736, although hands, dials, crowns and pushers not so easy to find and breitling do not sell them without one of their full vintage restorations (£££££). Thankfully yours seems all intact.
Drop him a mail - nice guy.
That's the guy thank you. My aunt gave me it when my uncle died but I was thinking of sorting it out for sale to give her the funds back as it would help her out and the watch hasn't been worn or been working for a long time.The man you want is S. Craig Bergsma - aka chronodeco (http://www.chronodeco.com). Based in the US, and regarded very highly as a vintage breitlng specialist, including on the breitlingsource vintage forum.
A new crystal, a service, a light polish, new strap with a breitling buckle, and it will look superb.
Parts are also easily available for the movement which is a valjoux 7736, although hands, dials, crowns and pushers not so easy to find and breitling do not sell them without one of their full vintage restorations (£££££). Thankfully yours seems all intact.
Drop him a mail - nice guy.
Don't let anyone touch the face or hands, you'll devalue the watch.
You need:
A service/repair. Any decent watchmaker can do this. As has already been said, it's a standard movement.
A new crystal. As above.
A polish. Not aggressive and if it were mine I'd ask about getting it replated. Eddie Cain can do that for you.
A new strap.
You don't need an expensive Breitling specialist.
You need:
A service/repair. Any decent watchmaker can do this. As has already been said, it's a standard movement.
A new crystal. As above.
A polish. Not aggressive and if it were mine I'd ask about getting it replated. Eddie Cain can do that for you.
A new strap.
You don't need an expensive Breitling specialist.
mikeveal said:
Don't let anyone touch the face or hands, you'll devalue the watch.
You need:
A service/repair. Any decent watchmaker can do this. As has already been said, it's a standard movement.
A new crystal. As above.
A polish. Not aggressive and if it were mine I'd ask about getting it replated. Eddie Cain can do that for you.
A new strap.
You don't need an expensive Breitling specialist.
who is Eddie Cain please?You need:
A service/repair. Any decent watchmaker can do this. As has already been said, it's a standard movement.
A new crystal. As above.
A polish. Not aggressive and if it were mine I'd ask about getting it replated. Eddie Cain can do that for you.
A new strap.
You don't need an expensive Breitling specialist.
mikeveal said:
Don't let anyone touch the face or hands, you'll devalue the watch.
You need:
A service/repair. Any decent watchmaker can do this. As has already been said, it's a standard movement.
A new crystal. As above.
A polish. Not aggressive and if it were mine I'd ask about getting it replated. Eddie Cain can do that for you.
A new strap.
You don't need an expensive Breitling specialist.
I'd agree, it does seem a bit extravagant to send it to an expert in the US for a freshen up.You need:
A service/repair. Any decent watchmaker can do this. As has already been said, it's a standard movement.
A new crystal. As above.
A polish. Not aggressive and if it were mine I'd ask about getting it replated. Eddie Cain can do that for you.
A new strap.
You don't need an expensive Breitling specialist.
I'm sure they'd do a great job, but it doesn't need a huge amount of work by the sound of it.
Mikeveal, why do you suggest replating? Do you think it was gold plated originally?
M
marcosgt said:
I'd agree, it does seem a bit extravagant to send it to an expert in the US for a freshen up.
Each to their own, but after having experienced breitling uk and their appalling service with regards to vintage pieces, I know who gets my trust & money for them now (and he is not expensive either).marcosgt said:
Mikeveal, why do you suggest replating? Do you think it was gold plated originally?
I clicked the image twice and eventually reached a version that nearly filled my monitor. It looks gold finish to me, but I'm very colour blind. Could just be the colour temp of the camera, could be my eyes. I assumed plated, which was a bit of a gamble.The case looks a bit scuffed up to me. if it were mine I'd ask for a gentle polish and then after that it would need a replate if it was indeed a plated watch. That case would be too tatty for me, others prefer the vintage worn look. Not casting nastersions OP, it's a nice watch.
200Plus Club said:
who is Eddie Cain please?
Welcome to one of the 'best kept secret' threads on PH:http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
GCH said:
marcosgt said:
I'd agree, it does seem a bit extravagant to send it to an expert in the US for a freshen up.
Each to their own, but after having experienced breitling uk and their appalling service with regards to vintage pieces, I know who gets my trust & money for them now (and he is not expensive either).Sending outside of the EU can be done, but you need to be careful with the customs form. It's a temporary export not an export (ie it's coming back). That declaration needs to be made on the way out and it needs to be marked as a return on the way back into the UK. The alternative is 20% import duty on the way into the UK and ???% on the way into the states. This is not difficult to avoid, but must be taken into account.
Seems a faff for something that doesn't need to go out of the country.
mikeveal said:
marcosgt said:
Mikeveal, why do you suggest replating? Do you think it was gold plated originally?
I clicked the image twice and eventually reached a version that nearly filled my monitor. It looks gold finish to me, but I'm very colour blind. Could just be the colour temp of the camera, could be my eyes. I assumed plated, which was a bit of a gamble.The case looks a bit scuffed up to me. if it were mine I'd ask for a gentle polish and then after that it would need a replate if it was indeed a plated watch. That case would be too tatty for me, others prefer the vintage worn look. Not casting nastersions OP, it's a nice watch.
200Plus Club said:
who is Eddie Cain please?
Welcome to one of the 'best kept secret' threads on PH:http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
GCH said:
815 is also known as the long playing.
The man you want is S. Craig Bergsma - aka chronodeco (http://www.chronodeco.com). Based in the US, and regarded very highly as a vintage breitlng specialist, including on the breitlingsource vintage forum.
A new crystal, a service, a light polish, new strap with a breitling buckle, and it will look superb.
Parts are also easily available for the movement which is a valjoux 7736, although hands, dials, crowns and pushers not so easy to find and breitling do not sell them without one of their full vintage restorations (£££££). Thankfully yours seems all intact.
Drop him a mail - nice guy.
Out of interest why are they called "long playing"?The man you want is S. Craig Bergsma - aka chronodeco (http://www.chronodeco.com). Based in the US, and regarded very highly as a vintage breitlng specialist, including on the breitlingsource vintage forum.
A new crystal, a service, a light polish, new strap with a breitling buckle, and it will look superb.
Parts are also easily available for the movement which is a valjoux 7736, although hands, dials, crowns and pushers not so easy to find and breitling do not sell them without one of their full vintage restorations (£££££). Thankfully yours seems all intact.
Drop him a mail - nice guy.
Ok bit of an update. Not only have I got this breitling but my aunt has also found out a vintage Seamaster which I'll post pics of separately.
Good news- the 815 is a lot better than I think I first thought and it does work which is a bonus. It's stainless cased, not gold/gilt, the discolouration in places is purely dirt. I suspect a good service and a glass and it will be good to go! (With nice strap)
Pics to follow
Good news- the 815 is a lot better than I think I first thought and it does work which is a bonus. It's stainless cased, not gold/gilt, the discolouration in places is purely dirt. I suspect a good service and a glass and it will be good to go! (With nice strap)
Pics to follow
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