Just because: The Breitling Navitimer 806
By The Prodigal Fool, published on 14 February 2010
Just because we were clearing through some old photos today and chanced upon this little shot, we thought we’d salute one of favourite vintage watches: the Breitling Navitimer 806.
And when we say “one of our favourites” we mean it literally. About five years ago we picked this example up from an eBay seller. We paid far more for it than we’d consider spending on eBay today and far less than we’ve seen 806s being advertised for now. So, a lucky purchase.
In an upcoming series of watch posts, we’ll be delving a little deeper into why certain watches make it into the Prodigal watch collection while others don’t. Stay tuned. In the meantime, if you’re interested in the legendary 806, check out the web’s most exhaustive reference site on the subject: Jean-Michel’s superb Navitimer.net
Just because: The Breitling Navitimer 806
Just because we were clearing through some old photos today and chanced upon this little shot, we thought we’d salute one of favourite vintage watches: the Breitling Navitimer 806. And when we say “one of our favourites” we mean it literally. About five years ago we picked this example up from an eBay seller. We [...]
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6 Responses to “Just because: The Breitling Navitimer 806”
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I suggest you get back to paying over the odds for clapped-out old Rollers, Straight-Six, since your knowledge of vintage Breitlings leaves a lot to be desired. The lugs are supposed to be polished, not matte.
Eh, but I’m embarrassed to say that the rest of the story is pretty much as it happened.
Oh well, you live and learn. If only I’d had the good sense to listen to the guys at Somlo Antiques. They really do know what they’re talking about…
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Straight-Six
22 February 2010
Oooops! My bad….and yours too, old friend!
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Just to close the loop on this little tale. Today I got the 806 back from the chaps at The Swiss Watch Company. They spend the last couple of weeks polishing the lugs back to their former glory. Although they were concerned about even attempting the job at first (they warned it might damage the perfect fit that the bezel currently enjoys), in the end it all worked out well. Bezel still turns exactly as it should and the lugs now shine exactly as they should. Joy.
And now, to Paris for our ‘amis’ at ABP to fit it with a worthy strap… -
[...] from our significant other as we pontificate at length on the various attributes of a vintage Breitling 806, Rolex 6536/1 or why the Explorer and Explorer II are the only two watches worth a shit in the [...]
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Breitling, old friend, welcome back: The Navitimer Calibre 01 Limited Edition « The Prodigal Guide
12 October 2010
[...] 0 We’d all but given up on Breitling. And that wasn’t an easy thing to do. A brand with this sort of heritage and that many classic models to its name is not an easy friend to walk away from. And to make thing even harder, we’d formed something of an emotional attachment to the brand. You see, The Prodigal Fool’s first quality watch, a Chronomat, hailed from Breitling’s workshops, as did one of his very favourite watches from his current collection: a vintage Navitimer 806. [...]
Straight-Six
19 February 2010
There’s an interesting anecdote that goes with this story, and one that rightly serves as a stark warning for how invaluable it is to know your vintage pieces before you buy them…
So, the chuffed Fool took his 806 it to get serviced at a leading Breitling specialist. Upon returning to pick up the splendid chap he noticed that the lugs were matte, not polished. Armed and brandishing his newfound vintage watch expertise he insisted the specialist polish the lugs to ensure the 806 was an original as possible. The store-owner responded that 806s indeed had matte lugs. The Prodigal Fool tore into him and insisted he polish the damned things. The specialist elegantly acquiesced and did as he was told.
It didn’t take long for The Prodigal Fool to discover that the lugs on an 806 are indeed matte. Not polished…
Oh dear, eh?