Steve,
Fascinating story, always makes a watch more enjoyable when there is a rich history behind it. Thanks for sharing.
I didn't even know the basic history behind Breitling, being so wrapped up in Heuers.

No need to apologise for 'going on', we're all watch-nuts here and love reading about this kind of thing!

Stewart

: Hi Stewart!
: This Breitling SuperOcean Chrono-Matic 2105 dates from 1969
: according to the serial number (1316XXX) reference list in Benno
: Richter's book, "Breitling, The History of a Great . . .
: .". That book shows a couple b/w pics (pages 46 & 48)
: of it. Apparently this particular model never made it into any
: Breitling catalogs (at least I can't find any) but there is also
: a nice color pic in last year's deluxe "Breitling, The
: Book", on page 205. This is one of the "Fried
: Egg" series Breitlings as Alex (Ape) and others like to
: refer to them (and other models with the same case). The case is
: a big for its time 47.88mm (without crown) and it contains a
: Caliber 12 movement. I do love this watch and it keeps excellent
: time.

: I bought mine NOS in 2007 from a Chicago dealer (Old World
: Jewelers). This dealer/retailer bought a large inventory of late
: 1960's to 1970's various NOS Breitlings that had been in a
: Zurich bank vault from approximately 1979 to 1996. When Willy
: Breitling closed down his company in 1979 (due to the
: "quartz crisis" and his subsequent death) he put
: approximately 3000 NOS watches (various models including
: different Chrono-Matics, Cosmonauts, Trans-Oceans, Pupitre's,
: Datora's) away in storage rather than allow them to be auctioned
: for a pittance (this info comes from issue #37 of IW Magazine).
: The new Breitling owners (Schneider family) apparently did not
: want them when they acquired the Breitling name and company in
: 1979. However, a Mr. Joseph Iten acquired 1500 of the watches in
: 1996, while an unnamed German collector bought the other 1500 or
: so assorted watches. Old World bought Mr. Iten's share of
: watches at a subsequent auction in 1999 (give or take a year)
: following Mr. Iten's death. A few years later it was reported
: (March 2003 IW Magazine) that Old World bought the other 1500
: watches from the German collector/source. I first saw the
: SuperOcean and other NOS Breitlings in Old World Jeweler's full
: page color ad in the 2003 edition of "Wristwatch
: Annual". I should have bought one then since the price at
: that time was $1495! Fortunately, when I finally decide to buy
: one in 2007, they still had a few of the SuperOceans left at
: $1795, later increased to $1995 and lastly at $2495 when they
: sold out of that model. Anyhow, sorry to go on and on! I think
: it's a fascinating story and enjoy relaying it to others. The
: Chicago retailer still has a few other NOS Breitlings left but
: no more #2105 SuperOceans. There is one now on e-bay but the
: buyer wants a (perhaps) unrealistic $4250. I'm glad you like
: mine Stewart, giving me this excuse to ramble on and on, LOL!
: Cheers,
: Steve

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