Wanted Breitling Advice

[Andyb1375]

Recently my Aunt has passed away and one of the items left to my mother was:

BREITLING: A gentleman's stainless steel cased Breitling Cosmonaute Navitimer chronograph wristwatch, black Arabic numeral dial with three subsidiary dials, white hands having centre seconds, three outer tracks including a unidirectional bezel, case back stamped Breitling No 809. No strap with large scratch to glass.

My mother took it to a local auction house who gave an estimate of value as Btw £2000-£2500 and said a reserve should be £1800

No one in the family has any idea of watch values so kindly would like advice.

The watch was entered in auction last week but didnt reach reserve. I am not sure that this particular auction was the right one.

 

[Pukmeister]

Hopefully some of our forum watch buffs will be along shortly with the correct advice.

It sounds a bit of a lowball valuation to me for such a classic looking timepiece, especially a genuine Breitling and a mechanical chronograph at that. Is there anything to go with the watch like original papers, purchase invoice and service invoices or a box ?

Perhaps email a Breitling official UK dealer for a proper valuation ?

Check out the modern version:

Navitimer B12 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute - RB12302A1L1P1 | Breitling

Discover the Breitling Navitimer B12 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute in a combination of 18k red gold, a green dial and a alligator leather strap. Shop now!

www.breitling.com

 

[steve hughes]

Im no Breitling expert , but for comparisons of “ ranges” of watches I would look at
1) Chrono 24 for the most optimistic expectation , including the range of selling prices.
2) Ebay “SOLD” results. Quick view from this morning £2-3k.

I know you have found a number on the back , but I would do some research so you know exactly which model you have ( by looking on the above sites) so you can list it accurately. Reason being you could have been left a Rolex submariner , the prices of these are all dependant on the model type and years of manufacture.

Also watch buffs whilst liking patina and originality , like things like boxes papers etc. You mention a scratch on the glass and no strap , all of this needs to be taken into account by a prospective purchaser who will possibly want to factor in a full service £££.

The market for watches is like classic bikes , a bit subdued, but collectors and fans are out there you just need to find the right buyer.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I am no fan of Breitling or should I say the new Breitling
That looks to be of the old school variety when they were very good

My advice would be to date it as accurately as possible, as if it can be dated say back into the 70s or the 60s it would be a great birth year watch for someone, get a good strap on it and the glass replaced and possibly serviced but leave the rest of the Patina.

But that would be me as I would then keep it.

 

[RolexSub.]

Its a mid to late 60s 809.As mentioned boxes papers etc are nice to have,but if no longer in possession its irrelevant they've gone.
Remember too when watches from back then were bought they weren't vintage watches,they were new and so the thought of holding onto everything otherthan the watch was hardly if ever considered,that will still happen in most cases even today,but never with a collector or "nerd".(I have a friend who keeps everything for anything).
A vintage watch in absolutely mint condition will be very rare,and if found would be great,a watch with signs of wear,collectors/dealers like the word "Patina" as they can add a few more £s!.
Id keep that wear as is and service only.Period correct boxes etc are out there to try complete the set.Your average watch wearer will laugh at you for trying to get those items,the person wanting to find them will,and not rest until completed.Service & keep,or sell at a price to reflect the cost of that service for the buyer.I haven't looked at prices but my feeling is its a 2k watch as is with a swipe of the credit card for 800/900 for a service ,obviously depends who does that service,Breitling will be more than most independents you would think.This said could be more or less £s.
A nice watch,and that model was actually worn in space.

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[zoltan]

The watch was entered in auction last week but didnt reach reserve. I am not sure that this particular auction was the right one.

As a buyer from auction in the past I would look first at the condition and history. Even than you can get a dog.

Recently my Aunt has passed away and one of the items left to my mother was:

BREITLING: A gentleman's stainless steel cased Breitling Cosmonaute Navitimer chronograph wristwatch, black Arabic numeral dial with three subsidiary dials, white hands having centre seconds, three outer tracks including a unidirectional bezel, case back stamped Breitling No 809. No strap with large scratch to glass.

My mother took it to a local auction house who gave an estimate of value as Btw £2000-£2500 and said a reserve should be £1800

No one in the family has any idea of watch values so kindly would like advice.

The watch was entered in auction last week but didnt reach reserve. I am not sure that this particular auction was the right one.

This one is the closest that matches yours

Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute ref 809​

Interesting Fact “The “First Swiss wristwatch in space,” manufactured according to astronaut Scott Carpenter’s specifications. Breitling delivered the “astronaut-designed” prototype to Carpenter on May 18th, 1962. He then wore it as part of the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission on May 24th, 1962. “
On chrono24

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/breitling/ref-809.htm?__cf_chl_tk=0_8ZVqEgaua6oabT7BVl_VETa_xx8CZLlcswP418CN0-1758185604-1.0.1.1-Xb2t2NsiQs6lmtsZbNxMuQOEZ3h5VBY3awm05zNu7gc

1966 Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - Watches of Lancashire

The Breitling Navitimer is one of the most instantly recognisable watches on the market. The Breitling Navitimer 806 was introduced in 1952, designed

watchesoflancashire.com

Vintage Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute ref 809 | Vintage Portfolio

vintage-portfolio.com

This one had almost a full refurb but no service (odd), invoice shows £1158 in 2024.

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/breitling/navitimer-cosmonaute--id40804922.htm?searchHash=a3a7bdbc_vzn4kD&pos=2

Gives you an idea at least on the prices. From my experience until the watch repair man has a look at the watch is difficult to estimate the cost of repair especially for a complication watch like yours.

 

[craigholt]

Assuming the paragraph is the auction advert, it's the wrong auction.

Scratch on glass reads very amateurish, as it is likely plexiglass (yes glass, but plastic), no dating, no model number (yes, they state 809 on case back).

I'd say in the right hands it's worth a touch more than they are saying, but dependant upon condition, could be less - as per the previous post - a service isn't cheap.

 

[Andyb1375]

Assuming the paragraph is the auction advert, it's the wrong auction.

Scratch on glass reads very amateurish, as it is likely plexiglass (yes glass, but plastic), no dating, no model number (yes, they state 809 on case back).

I'd say in the right hands it's worth a touch more than they are saying, but dependant upon condition, could be less - as per the previous post - a service isn't cheap.

Yes the right up was from the Auction house that made me think its not the Right place..

 

[RolexSub.]

At auction your hoping 2 people are there in person who like it,and want it,and bid against each other.
And then hoping someone has seen the online auction too.
Dealers will do what dealers do and tell you the worst and down value it.Once the dealer has given a derisory sum,will then go on to tell every Man and his dog its the very best watch ever made and defend his pricing,and tell you its been serviced!,thats when they hope after the 3/6 month guarantee it doesn't stop.
Look for exact watch in like for like condition and get it on here.Let a potential buyer discuss further and more importantly decide how "they" want to go.
Your aim is to get what your happy with,the buyer has the same.
Just don't get fixated on a much better condition Breitling 809 and compare values.

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[DING-DONG]

I have one !!

The 809 was the first Swiss watch to enter space.

The 809 has great history path and the reasons why it was 24th hr watch, because there’s no day or night in space, it was made specifically for Scott to orbit the earth and only when he crashed down in the Atlantic the watch was damaged due to water ingress and was never used again for this purpose.

Breitling have a vintage in-house section that these watches get sent to, they will advise what they recommend so that you do not devalue the watch.

If you take it into goldsmiths and pay the £40 to send/return it to Breitling, breitling will provide a free no obligation quote and advise accordingly.

I talk from experience, i found my dads 809 in a show box under his bed after my dad had a stroke in 2013, the shoe box was full of watches Rolex’s and all sorts but the 809 stood out, it was well worn and battle scarred, he had owned it from the 60’s so was his everyday watch something about it felt different, so i offered to buy it from my father whom rejected, instead he gave it me and said i could look after it but insisted it was his watch, i had it sent off to brietling and the service bill and replacement leather strap came to £2400 it was sympathetically serviced and still had the marks where my dad had remove the back with a knife, it came back with a valuation of £9k some of the early ones had different script on the face mine being one of them, no sure if this was done purposely or by fault but it makes it slightly rarer.

Anyways on its return I gave it my Dad back and he admired it said it looks lovely and passed it back and said you look after it for me, when he passed 3 yrs ago he left me the shoe box, I wear it occasionally and always brings a tear to my eye thinking about my dad.

Same with his shoe box, all his watches are still in the shoe box and me and the lad often sit there and go through them all.

I would never sell it regardless how much it’s worth, it’s irrelevant tho it’s a lovely thing to have.

 

[RolexSub.]

So you now have something to at least potentially use as a price guide,others do also!!.

The £ signs will have the Sharks circling with mention of the 9k valuation,not a real World selling price tbh......imo only,we all one of these.
The £2400 service will put some off.....not all.
Taking into account the £2400 potential cost to service at Breitling and a purchase price of £2000 or thereabouts imo will be in the ball park actual price to buy at,no more than 5k.
If serviced you can then search far and wide for same to compare prices,A Breitling serviced watch which I would prefer if looking at 2 would trump any non Breitling serviced watch if pricing was close.
A collector/repairer would be the best guy for this to see a good investment......if parts are easily sourced.

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[tis eye]

The hammer price at £1,400.00 likely isn't bad considering the potential service and repairs costs, it's a punt for online bidders who haven't actually seen the watch in most cases. The auction house itself may or may not be the right one, but a lot of bidders use online auction sites such as Easy Live or The Sale Room, so the location isn't always important, also anyone that knows what they are looking for won't read too much into the description from the auction house either, I spend hours looking at watches on auction sites and the description often isn't relevant if you know what you want (it was working but might not when you get it...). They have a good track record for vintage watch and clock sales, so I don't think it was the wrong place, it's having the right people on the day willing to take a punt, so I'd say try in again in the future - irrespective of auction house, at that level, for many it's viewed on Easy Live or The Sale Room - and those sites may be the best chances of actually finding a buyer over someone in the room on the day in my opinion.

My wife took a punt (unbeknown to me at the time) on a Breitling CHRONOMAT B1305012/C301 on a Pilot 300A Bracelet at an auction as a surprise for me around 5 years ago, she paid £600 plus fees, it was a good buy... some time later the hand fell off the bottom dial, it had a broken pivot /wheel, it was back to Breitling for a repair, that cost me £1,200.00... I couldn't find an indie with the parts and all said the same thing - send it back to Breitling. I still have a superb watch at £1,800 which is about the right value, but luckily my wife got a great deal buying it at £600 in the first place. Bear that in mind too, if the punter that buys it cant find an indie to fix it, they have no choice but to send it to Breitling at a premium, that said the service from Breitling was absolutely faultless. GLWS

 

[Andyb1375]

Thanks guys for some really good and genuine advice. i would love to keep it but sadly i am i no position to do that as need to get the funds to my mother.

I think that i will try the next watch auction a punt.

i have since discovered that there is a Breitling outlet in Norwich who can probably send it off for a repair valuation