NEW RELEASE: BREITLING 765 AVI 1953 RE-EDITION: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PILOT’S WATCH?

roadwarrior

Grand Tyme Master
Founding Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2014
Messages
64,645
06_avi-ref.-765-1953-re-edition-and-avi-1953-edition-watches-01_copy_1987x1490-800x600.jpeg


Case Material: Steel, rose gold, or platinum

ARMAND CONDE-SEQUEIRA-ROSEN

FEBRUARY 18, 2020 full article link : https://www.watchchronicler.com/new-...-pilots-watch/

For what it was intended to do, the 1953 Breitling 765 AVI was a failure. However, it ended up spawning a series of hugely exciting chronographs used by the likes of movie stars and the bravest of pilot’s. Today, Georges Kern, the CEO of Breitling, announced the creation of a stunning reissue.
Breitling is a brand known for its aviation. Since the 1930s, Breitling have worked on military projects for particular applications including the ref. 637 stopwatch. In the past, these have created controversy as that very stopwatch inspired the 2018 Breitling Super 8 despite its original function to time the dropping of bombs.

86465179_4171015049590623_8431205258008461312_o.jpg




For what it was intended to do, the 1953 Breitling 765 AVI was a failure. However, it ended up spawning a series of hugely exciting chronographs used by the likes of movie stars and the bravest of pilot’s. Today, Georges Kern, the CEO of Breitling, announced the creation of a stunning reissue.
Breitling is a brand known for its aviation. Since the 1930s, Breitling have worked on military projects for particular applications including the ref. 637 stopwatch. In the past, these have created controversy as that very stopwatch inspired the 2018 Breitling Super 8 despite its original function to time the dropping of bombs.
10_original-co-pilot-ref.-765-avi-from-1953-2490x3456.png
Original Breitling Ref. 765 AVI from 1953 | Copyright: Breitling SAPIN IT
However, a far more celebrated creation from Breitling was one which failed at its intended role: the Breitling 765 AVI. Released in 1953, this pilot’s watch was very much a product of wartime equipment. Its case was large and bold with a 41 millimetre diameter and a lug width akin to a modern watch at 22 millimetres across. Inside, this watch housed the Venus cal. 178 which, based upon the Venus cal. 175 from the 1930s, was a very reliable column wheel chronograph movement. Interestingly, this movement has been replicated in the form of the infinitely more affordable and lower quality Seagull ST19 movement with a high-leverage seven-pillar column wheel (most have eight or nine pillars).

Many will look at these watches and, unsurprisingly, see the Breguet Type XX. This is no coincidence as these watches were offered to the French and Italian Airforces with both showing interest. Ultimately, however, the Breitling did not fit the bill as both went in other directions. Whilst the exact reasons are not known, the French Airforce’s decision has been put to the French identity of Breguet and other brands producing the Type XX and the absence of the flyback function on the Breitling 765 AVI.

ab0920131b1x1-aviator-8-ref-765-avi-1953-re-edition-three-quarter.png


Back in the 1950s, the original Co-Pilot Ref. 765 AVI starred next to another Breitling icon: the Navitimer. With its bold design, engraved rotating bezel and extra legible dial the 765 AVI instantaneously became the perfect companion to the Navitimer as the rugged and reliable pilots’ watch. Today, the AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition recreates to the very last detail one of the early executions of the Co-Pilot Ref. 765 AVI. Its all-black dial, protected by a highly-domed Hesalite crystal, has the same Arabic numerals as the original Co-Pilot from 1953, with tone-on-tone small seconds, 15-minute and 12-hour chronograph counters. The hand-applied Super-LumiNova color has been carefully chosen to recall the original luminescent material and gives the AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition an additional touch of vintage allure. The 41mm stainless steel case is also identical, and the bezel is secured by three screws that are placed in precisely the same positions as those on the watch from 1953. There are only two concessions to modernity that distinguish this new timepiece from its famous ancestor: the water resistance has been improved up to 3 bar (30 meters) and keen-eyed observers will see that “GENEVE” does not appear on the dial anymore. The AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition is powered by the in-house Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09, a hand-wound COSC-certified caliber based on the renowned Breitling Caliber 01 and developed specifically for historical re-editions. It is available on a black vintage-inspired leather strap with a pin buckle as a limited-edition of 1953 pieces, each of which is engraved “ONE OF 1953”.

ab0920131b1x1-aviator-8-ref-765-avi-1953-re-edition-rolled-up.png
ab0920131b1x1-aviator-8-ref-765-avi-1953-re-edition-back.png

A small detail but an important one for any watch enthusiast, the 15-minute counter of the AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition has the same signature luminescent indexes every three minutes as the original 765 AVI.

Back in the 1950s, they were of precious help for pilots in their final plane check, that should not exceed fifteen minutes.

breitling-765-1953-3.jpg

84745015_4133426356682826_7077416465204248576_o.jpg

Breitling 765 AVI 1953 Re-Edition is a modern engine, the same as used in the 806 re-edition. The calibre B09 is based on the well-known and widely-used B01 architecture but without the self-winding mechanism. Certified as a chronometer by the COSC, it is an integrated chronograph with column-wheel with vertical clutch, offering 1/4[SUP]th[/SUP] of a second precision. Beating at 4Hz, the power reserve is 70 hours when the movement is fully wound. The movement is hidden behind a solid steel back.


TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – BREITLING 765 AVI 1953 RE-EDITION

Case: 40mm diameter (case) and 41.1mm (bezel) x circa 13.95mm height - stainless steel or 18k rose gold or 950 platinum case, polished and brushed - bi-directional pilots bezel, 12-hour scale - hesalite crystal, domed - steel caseback - 30m water-resistant
Dial: Tri-compax chronograph layout, no date, white hands
Steel - Black grained dial with cream-coloured painted indexes and hands
rose gold - Black grained dial with cream-coloured painted indexes and hands
Platinum - Blue grained dial with cream-coloured painted indexes and hands
Movement: Breitling B09, in-house - COSC-certified chronometer - hand-wound integrated chronograph with column-wheel and vertical clutch - 30mm x 6.73mm - 47 jewels - 28,800 vibrations/hour - 70h power reserve - hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph with 15-minute and 12-hour counters
Strap: 22mm lug width - vintage-inspired leather strap (black or brown depending on the case material) and pin buckle matching the case
Availability: Limited edition
- 1,953 pieces in steel (available March 2020)
- 253 pieces in rose gold (available May 2020)
- 153 pieces in platinum (available June 2020)
References: Steel - AB0920131B1X1
Rose gold - RB0920131B1X1
Platinum - LB0920131C1X1
Price: Steel - CHF 7,900
Rose gold - CHF 21,000
Platinum - CHF 39,000
 
Handsome, and impressive!:dance2:Thanks Mike.:hat:
 
Beautiful watch! I wish is was a tad bigger than 40mm, but since it's out of my price range, it doesn't really matter. Classic look though!
 
Back
Top Bottom