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Breitling was Not Earlier Than Heuer
In Response To: Last puzzle piece for breitling auto series: found !!!!! ()

Alex:

you can be very proud of this rare one, but I believe that it is a mistake to suggest that this Breitling (or any Breitling) is earlier than the first Heuers. This was a joint venture led by Heuer and Breitling; the first 100 prototypes were developed together (in Fall 1968), as a group and were shared between the four brands (Heuer, Breitling, Hamilton-Buren and Dubois-Depraz). The press conferences at which the Cal 11 models were first shown to the world were held jointly and simultaneously (in March 1969). I believe that production and retail sales were also within the same timeframe, in mid-to-late 1969.

So Breitling could have chosen to start with serial number 000001 if they had wanted to do so, but this will not support any claim that Breitling was earlier than Heuer. Even Breitling has never made this claim.

Jeff

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

: So here it is: the very first fried egg.

:
:

: In Heuer terms this watch is as scare as a chronomatic. This
: version carries a cal 11 and a serial number, which goes back to
: mid 1968. reading Jeff's posts about the March 9 2009 40 years
: celebration this one was defenitelly earlier from the serial
: number starting with 125xxxxx and showing also the correct model
: number 7651. I do own three black and white vintage catalogs
: were this watch is displayed. Also the catalog of Jeff from
: chronosport guys shows this watch on page 28: however a 1969-70
: catalog and with a different tachy ring: they made two versions
: with two different tachy rings. Both I can see in my catlaog.s

: As said I know two of them so far: one is in a collection I know,
: second I missed 1 year ago for 5000 euro, NOS conditions. The
: one here is in outstanding cons: only the right tachy hand needs
: to be exchanged. even the full letters on the back can be eaisly
: identified and everything looks like the boy was long time in
: the drawer.

: Main different is the dial with arros at 3/6/9 and a very very
: different optics in the right tachy ring with squared bars.
: Furthermore the date dial has black numbers with the first
: series. as in the catalogs. later breiting changed to red while
: heuer stood black...

: Enjoy.... may be I will make a picture soon with its chronomatic
: siffert brother.

: Can we explain the 1968 cal 11 movement here Jeff: is this first
: non-commercial series..how can we distinguish?

: Alex

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