Unexpected Incoming Breitling Rattrapante - Split Seconds Chrono

[karasus]

I wasn't expecting to pick up a Breitling Navitimer but I am glad I did and have a fun story tell too.

I was with a friend visiting a local multi brand Authorized Dealer that was closing to check if anything was on discount. At first we were shown only a few really shitty watches that nobody wanted at any discount price. I mentioned to the dealer that I was considering a Navitimer and if they were also on discount. I was shown a 48mm Navitimer 1 B04 GMT on discount, awesome watch but it simply didn't fit my 6.5 inch wrist.

I told the the dealer that I would most likely go for a vintage watch since the new Navitimers are huge. He then proceeded to tell me how expensive repairs are on vintage, how they are not as reliable to current models etc etc etc. Then he tells me how they have a vintage Breitling model out in the back, that was not up for the current closure sale and the revision cost for the watch was over 4'000 dollars by Breitling.

That made me go WTF , ETAs or Venus movements used in earlier Breitlings don't cost that much to service, even a whole rework would be maximum 2k. I asked him if I could have a look at the watch, he went to the back and took it and then I noticed something odd.

First the watch had 3 chrono pushers at 2-4-10 o'clock, had three subdails all at the bottom, and a date window between 4 and 5 o'clock. No ETA or Venus movement has that dial configuration with that pusher configuration. When I picked up the watch, could hear/feel a rotor whirl so it was an automatic. The watch was thin, definitely less than 15mm but a bit more than 10mm and 38-40mm large. I ran the chrono pushed the 2 O'clock pusher then after a few seconds activated the 10 O'Clock pusher to see if I was ; OMG it was a rattrapante splits seconds chrono. When the watch passed the minute mark, the minutes jumped...

It was a bit puzzling, it clearly wasn't a manual wound Venus and was not an ETA. The dealer had no idea about the reference or when it was made what was the movement. However the dial layout, thinness of the chronograph, jumping minutes, and chronograph beat reminded me of another watch I own an AP Royal Oak Chrono which uses the F.Piguet 1185 Chronograph Movement that AP then decorates in house.

The F.Piguet 1185 isn't a splits seconds chrono but F.Piguet is the only manufacturer is one of the only movement makers to make high end ultra thin chronographs. They hold the record for the thinnest automatic movement and are the chronograph movement supplier to two of the three Holy Trinity, for the VC overseas chrono and AP royal oak chrono. If it was an F.Piguet movement in a Breitling Navitimer, then the dealer had no idea what he was offering. Just the assembled movement itself without the rest of the watch was worth 3'000 dollars. I look at the caseback, the watch is has the following numbers engraved: 32/100.

Then it all made sense, the costly service bill for replacing the parts, the dial layout, the watch dimensions, chronograph functions/behaviour, and finally the engraving. Based upon the dial and chronograph behaviour I was almost sure that it was an F.Piguet movement, but the engraving told me the final piece of the story. At some point Breitling must have issued a special edition to try and compete on the very high end with AP and VC. They bought a few of the high end F.Piguet movements and cased them in Navitimers hoping to appeal to the same buyer of a high end AP chrono or Overseas. It probably didn't work and the watch reference was forgotten over time.

If that was the case then this watch was special, I asked if they would sell and their best price. The dealer after some talking/convincing gave me a price. The owner's wife (not the dealer who was an employee) walked over, she didn't seem happy. It was "her" watch that she put in the back to keep once the sale would be done. She didn't seem happy I was buying "her" watch, I asked her if she knew the reference she didn't seem to know, but she thought the watch was nice and had already ordered a custom croco strap sized to her wrist. She was quite hostile, and wanted to get rid of me told me that it was the only strap available and that it was a women's size. Luckily I have thin wrists so it fit perfectly. I told the dealer that the price was ok with me and bought it. Then I was promptly kicked out by the owner's wife.

I went home and did a lot of research... After a few hours, I found the reference: H34030. It was a limited edition 100 piece run of the Navitimer made in 1996. It had the F.Piguet 1186 Rattrapante splits seconds movement, the world's first automatic split seconds movement and to date the thinnest automatic split seconds movement. It is an integrated vertical clutch column wheel chronograph, with an F.Piguet developed rattrapante modification.

Two other Breitlings used this movement: 25 pieces special edition 69 Avenger and a 1 year(1997-1998) run of the Navitimer Rattrapante. I wouldn't expect more than 300 pieces from Breitiling with the F.Piguet movements were ever produced. That is considering that the movement is high end, expensive to get for the manufacturer, and costly for Breitling if you don't put it into a watch that sells over 20k. I checked the recent auction prices for the piece which were very few, but they were are about 30-50% higher than what I paid for at the dealer.

Its a typical story of getting a bit of luck, having the right knowledge about watches, and looking at pieces that are not part of the trend (Stainless Steel Sports). Despite being a fraction of the price of its White Gold Royal Oak Chrono brother, its one of the pieces that is up there in terms of complication, value and looks.

Finally even though it is made of yellow gold, its surprisingly not flashy and almost looks toned down due to the large crystal/dial to case ratio. Fits not too large or small at 38.5mm and is just a looker :)