Breitling Reference 808 Chronomat A gold plated and stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with rotating inner slide rule bezel, Circa 1960
Breitling
Reference 808 Chronomat
A gold plated and stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with rotating inner slide rule bezel, Circa 1960
Dial: silvered
Caliber: cal. Venus 175 mechanical, 17 jewels
Case: gold plated, stainless steel snap-on case back
Case number: 929'518
Size: 37 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: service papers by Breitling Vintage restorersBreitling Breitling Reference 808 Chronomat A gold plated and stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with rotating inner slide rule bezel, Circa 1960
Reference 808 Chronomat A gold plated and stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with rotating inner slide rule bezel, Circa 1960
Estimate:
3,000 - 5,000 USD Lot sold:
4,788
USD Breitling
Reference 808 Chronomat
A gold plated and stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with rotating inner slide rule bezel, Circa 1960
Dial: silvered
Caliber: cal. Venus 175 mechanical, 17 jewels
Case: gold plated, stainless steel snap-on case back
Case number: 929'518
Size: 37 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: service papers by Breitling Vintage restorers Condition report
Case: The case is in overall very good condition with some superficial wear throughout. The gold plating mostly in tact with an area of loss on the left side case band and the top of the bottom left lug. The lugs retain strong proportions. Service crystal. The beads on the bezel are very attractive. The slide rule bezel is slightly loose which is not uncommon for these models. Overall, this is a very attractive example of this reference. Please note the strap and buckle are generic and not signed Breitling.
Dial: The dial is in overall very good condition with some losses to the outer perimeter.
Movement: A service was completed by Mark Heist, a vintage Breitling restorer, in December 2020. Chronograph function operating. The movement is running at time of cataloging, however it was not tested for the accuracy of time or duration of the power reserve and may need service at the buyer's discretion. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The online condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance purposes only. The images of the lot also form part of the online condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Any reference to condition in the online condition report does not amount to a full description of condition. The online condition report may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the online condition report of the lot or shown in the online images of the lot (for example, the online condition report may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome). Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. The online condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation but rather the online condition report is a statement of subjective, qualified opinion (for example, information regarding colour, clarity and weight of gemstones are statements of opinion only and not statements of fact). Please also note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and wrist bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. In addition, certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot (for example, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades). For these reasons, the online condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. Prospective buyers should also refer to the Buying at Auction guide which includes important notices concerning the type of property in this sale. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species. Please be advised that wristbands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE. The integrated slide-rule function has been an iconic design of Breitling’s aviation watches since approximately 1942. Although best known as part of the Navitimer, it was actually the Chronomat that featured the first application of the calculating device.
The name "Chronomat" comes from the combination of the two words: chronograph (chrono) and mathematics (mat). The slide rule, at its simplest, is basically a mini-calculator on the watch, allowing the wearer to quickly go through various calculations by simply turning the bezel. The slide rule can determine anything from simple multiplication and division to measuring the distance of a climb or descent, both of which are very useful for a pilot. As seen in this example, the Chronomat models from the 1960s and before had a caseback engraved with "CHRONOMAT + 217012," indicating the patent number for the slide-rule design.
