Vintage watch help

I’m sure Obtuse will have better info but if you need any real restoration work, especially in the bracelet, there’s no one better than Michael Young at Classic Watch Repair.

The Watch Doctor

I'm a Breitling guy. If you send that watch to Breitling USA they can possibly fix it and service it. If not they will send it to Grenchen. And it's worth a bit but not rolex type money. Not close. I would guess 2 to 3 grand. The service will be around 1k.

The band isn't original. It's a cheap Speidel band. It is a 18k gold case though.

Dumb question........ do you know how a manual wind watch works?

This watch looks absolutely superb on a quality strap. It's worth servicing and wearing

Do you know to turn the big dial forward 20 times to see if it's running?

That's correct. It's a good movement

If you can't turn it away from you it needs servicing. The fact that hands work and you can turn 1 direction bodes well for you. Expect your watch to be gone for 4 to 6 months

Thanks for info guys. Would you suggest sending to Breitling considering the age?

That is a Triple 7. They were made from the 40s up into at least the 60s. It is a very nice watch and Breitling was one of the premier chronograph makers of the time, right up there with Patek and while collectible it is not worth near vintage Patek money mainly because the manufacturers went two different directions.

One thing about it is at ~37mm it is a modern sized watch and doesn't look small on the wrist like some vintage watches do.

It has a Venus 75 movement, which is an excellent column wheel chronograph movement. As an aside the movement IP and machinery to make the Venus 75 was sold to the Chinese manufacture Tiangin (later renamed Seagull in the 70's) in the early 60s and was used in their 1963 Pilot's Chronograph. It is the most famous Chinese watch, at least outside China. Seagull still makes their version today: ST1901 and still makes copies of the 1963.

Not being a Breitling guy I will defer to Broke as to where to send it for service. I would have the case LIGHTLY polished by someone sympathetic to vintage gold cases. I would want to bring back the luster of the gold but no taket away the wabi-sabi (wear) that your GF put on it. This is something to discuss with the watchmaker and make your desires crystal clear.

I would take it off the Twist-o-Flex bracelet because it is out of place unless you just want to keep it for nostalgia. I would dress it down and put it on a simple light to medium brown calf or Horween strap or if you want to dress it up a medium brown or black croc strap.


That is an excellent watch and an incredible heirloom. Out of the dozens of similar posts I see on watch forums each year maybe 1 out of 50 is a watch that actually makes financial sense to service, lightly restore, keep, and above all wear.


Also as Broke mentioned it is a manual wind movement so it has to be wound to run.

That gold case and lightly patinaed dial are going to look incredible when you get it serviced. I'm jealous.

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My FIL left us a Patek which I’m pretty sure is from the1950s.

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I am manifesting it to be a 1463. The Tasti Tondi is my favorite PP of the era.