Any Navitimer experts about please?

[andy97]

I have seen this on the bay and would like an opinion from someone with knowledge please.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Breitling-Old-Navitimer...

I am interested but nervous about buying from eBay at that sort of price. I have bought a couple of watches from eBay in the past, but we were talking about £500-700, this is clearly substantially more.
Difficult to tell much from the advert,I know, so it’s a question of trust and recognising that it’s a risk.
What do people think? It looks in nice condition in the photos but I guess that does meant much!

[Prestjoh]

Can’t help with the authenticity but I would be asking about service history as it states it’s a 2001 watch.

[andy97]

Prestjoh said:

Can’t help with the authenticity but I would be asking about service history as it states it’s a 2001 watch.

Thanks, agreed, I have already sent a message asking about proof of service history.

[andy97]

Had a reply from seller - not been serviced.
Supposed to have been in their family from new.

[bristolbaron]

I think you’re good to go. I was slightly put off by the dial lettering in image 9, but it seems to be reflection of light and poor image quality. There’s nothing else that gives cause for concern.

Everything is period correct - box/paperwork etc too. I’m guessing it has been back to Breitling at some point due to the service case. I’d ask for a photo of the stamped/dated warrantee page if I were buying it. If you can post that here that’d be helpful.

[hp7]

How about a new Sinn 903 for the same price?

[romeodelta]

Looks legit to me, but maybe a trusted dealer or ESCROW service on something like Chrono24 will give you an additional level of comfort?

[andy97]

hp7 said:

How about a new Sinn 903 for the same price?

Not for me, thanks. I do know the history between Sinn and Breitling but I still think that I would feel that I was getting a homage and I don’t want that.

[andy97]

romeodelta said:

Looks legit to me, but maybe a trusted dealer or ESCROW service on something like Chrono24 will give you an additional level of comfort?

Yes, and I did miss out on similar watch from a dealer via Chrono24 about a month ago but, understandably, dealer prices are usually more, unless buying from abroad, and I don’t really want to do that either!! I have to be prepared to take a risk if I am buying via eBay, and I understand that.

[GC8]

andy97 said:

Not for me, thanks. I do know the history between Sinn and Breitling but I still think that I would feel that I was getting a homage and I don’t want that.

The ‘history’ is that Breitling completely ceased to exist with Sinn and O&W buying everything apart from the name.

Sicura later bought this, in an envelope, and used it. Real Breitling has gone.

[GC8]

So a Sinn is far more of Leon & Willy Breitling than a Sicura-Breitling is.

[hp7]

The size and lack of WR has always put me off. The Sinn at 41mm and with 100m of WR is tempting. Love the brand - already have the 144, 857 and 2 556.

[andy97]

bristolbaron said:

I think you’re good to go. I was slightly put off by the dial lettering in image 9, but it seems to be reflection of light and poor image quality. There’s nothing else that gives cause for concern.

Everything is period correct - box/paperwork etc too. I’m guessing it has been back to Breitling at some point due to the service case. I’d ask for a photo of the stamped/dated warrantee page if I were buying it. If you can post that here that’d be helpful.

The seller has checked whether it has been serviced with his family in whose ownership it has been since new, and it appears never to have been serviced.

A photo of the signed/ dated warranty is attached.

[bristolbaron]

andy97 said:

The seller has checked whether it has been serviced with his family in whose ownership it has been since new, and it appears never to have been serviced.

A photo of the signed/ dated warranty is attached.

I’d buy it with confidence. I was selling Breitling around this era and everything checks out, the paperwork backing that up too. The likelyhood of a replica, with genuine Watches of Switzerland paperwork with the correct model and serial number it just too slim. Of course if it hasn’t been serviced in nearly 20 years, that’s another factor, there could be room for negotiation but the price also seems reasonable.

[andy97]

Thank you for your help. Thats great. I am also looking at this,
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/breitling/breitling-nav...
No papers, no service history and more expensive but from a dealer. I like the cream face!

[andy97]

I have agreed to buy the A13322 with an agreed small discount; thanks again for all the advice.