An unexpected arrival - Breitling 7806 Navitimer

https://i.imgur.com/T8tEt8i.jpeg

My partner is American, and her father passed away last week. Don't be too sad - he was a difficult man, by all accounts. A cop, before he moved to embassy security, and moved around the world with that job, and his family. My partner was there when he died, and helped his widow to sort out some of his effects, and those effects included two watches. This is one of them.

https://i.imgur.com/HMulquT.jpeg

It's a 7806 Navitimer, a model introduced in 1972. Head only - no b&p, no strap - just an unrealistic insurance valuation. If I can persuade his widow of its true value, I might keep it. Otherwise, she's welcome to try to sell it herself.

Original crown, which is nice.

https://i.imgur.com/xL8P2Id.jpeg

It has a connection to the Kingdom of Jordan, and I've asked an Arabic friend what this says.

https://i.imgur.com/q5Ivyv3.jpeg

Keeps better time than some of my more modern watches.

https://i.imgur.com/yaa0ts9.jpeg

Looks great. Decent size too.

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Thats lovely, cant beat an old navi.

Walter, 'watchfred' would give you an honest appraisal if you get on the breitlingsorce forum.
Lovely Navi'.


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Love the Val 7740 movement that this Navi runs.
It is effectively a modular movement, with the Cal 12 chrono module behind a base movement.
What makes the 7740 watches (and this plus the Excelsior Park Monte Carlo are the best) look epic is how the running seconds (at 6) sub-dial is much closer to the central pinion than the chrono sub-dials at 3 and 6, because the running seconds come from the base movement and not the chrono module. The resultant proportions of the dial are lovely, imho.
Lovely, lovely watch, if I were to look for a Navi, this would be the one. Is that the Kingdom of Saud crown on the back?

edit, sorry, didn't see the Jordan reference above, ignore my question.

All the old Navis are nice, but for me it has to be the small subdials. Anyway, good luck getting hold of it, notwithstanding the circumstances.

Lovely watch.

The writing on the case back appears to translate to Al-Hussein Bin Talal. That and the motif makes it way more interesting, hopefully:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussein_of_Jordan
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5dcc2ebfb8.jpg

King Hussein of Jordan.

Pretty sure I've heard mention (probably on BreitlingSource) of Bs given out as presents by King Hussein (and later) of Jordan. Googling generates lots of leads, eg

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/breitling...id32826299.htm
https://www.watches.co.uk/watch/248f...jordan-7806-3/
https://www.watchesofespionage.com/b...-of-timepieces
https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/a...tling.4280722/
https://breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/v...hp?f=1&t=29890

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Originally Posted by Tom-P

Pretty sure I've heard mention (probably on BreitlingSource) of Bs given out as presents by King Hussein (and later) of Jordan. Googling generates lots of leads, eg

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/breitling...id32826299.htm
https://www.watches.co.uk/watch/248f...jordan-7806-3/
https://www.watchesofespionage.com/b...-of-timepieces
https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/a...tling.4280722/
https://breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/v...hp?f=1&t=29890

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That sounds about right Tom.

That’s looks like it has a proper story behind it. Persuade her she needs to keep it in the family as a memento. She might regret selling it once it’s gone, and something like that would be irreplaceable.

Can't beat a classic Navitimer in my eyes.

I don't wear my 809 Cosmonaute much these days, but sometimes I just get it out and look at it :biggrin:

I often wish, now, I'd bought a standard Navitimer (and/or an earlier, all black Cosmonaute) at the same time as the prices now are far above what I paid for mine, but at the time it seemed a LOT of money to spend on a watch (how little I knew :winkskull:)

M

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nealywheelie

Walter, 'watchfred' would give you an honest appraisal if you get on the breitlingsorce forum.
Lovely Navi'.


Sent from my SM-A515F using Tapatalk

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Thank you for that - I'll have a look today. And the Davids/Daves of the forum are coming up trumps - interesting about the movement, sweets. And j111dja, you're spot on with the engraving - I've checked with my Egyptian friend!

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Originally Posted by snowman

Can't beat a classic Navitimer in my eyes.

I don't wear my 809 Cosmonaute much these days, but sometimes I just get it out and look at it :biggrin:

I often wish, now, I'd bought a standard Navitimer (and/or an earlier, all black Cosmonaute) at the same time as the prices now are far above what I paid for mine, but at the time it seemed a LOT of money to spend on a watch (how little I knew :winkskull:)

M

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I'm the same - I really should sell my 809 it as it never gets worn and it's too good to just hang around my watch box

Quick update. The watch will stay, and thanks to the SC, it's on a Breitling strap and deployant. Now to break the strap in!

https://i.imgur.com/I6Y1qwD.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/q51CSSV.jpg

I will take it when you flip it:-)

Lovely...

But a blue strap on a black dialed watch!?!? :disturbed:

Maybe a black OEM croc (or brown) would suite more? What a lovely Navi though. Don’t make them like that now (sigh).

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Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

Quick update. The watch will stay, and thanks to the SC, it's on a Breitling strap and deployant. Now to break the strap in!

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Glad to hear it. There is something about Twinjet Navitimers that really sets my tail wagging.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by earlofsodbury

Lovely...

But a blue strap on a black dialed watch!?!? :disturbed:

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:). We take what the SC gods throw at us!

I'll keep looking for others...

Oof, nice.
7740 so a pretty rare one too!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

:). We take what the SC gods throw at us!

I'll keep looking for others...

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Fair enough. A watch like that deserves the best :encouragement:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

:). We take what the SC gods throw at us!

I'll keep looking for others...

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I think I have a non branded black shark skin that fits the Breitling deployant if you want? That would look nice on that watch IMO. Happy to throw it in the post to you.

Yep I do
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5de8ed7662.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...746b9c7aca.jpg

Tried it on one of my 903s but I can’t get on with the clasp.
So it’s pretty much un worn.

That's very kind of you. Looks like on of the Bob's straps I used to get on eBay, years ago - I'll drop you a PM!

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Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

That's very kind of you. Looks like on of the Bob's straps I used to get on eBay, years ago - I'll drop you a PM!

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All packed up and ready to go, just need to find some stamps!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by earlofsodbury

Lovely...

But a blue strap on a black dialed watch!?!? :disturbed:

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Going against the grain, I really like black dials on navy or tan straps!

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Originally Posted by verv

Going against the grain, I really like black dials on navy or tan straps!

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With you with the tan on the right watch :encouragement: It's all subjective of course!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by verv

Going against the grain, I really like black dials on navy or tan straps!

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And earlofsodbury, agreed.

While I am indebted to Sinnlover, there may be one of these on the horizon, some time soon.

https://i.imgur.com/VFcFuGo.png

I wish I had a Breitling strap and/or signed buckle that fitted the 22mm lugs of my 0816 Twinjet.

https://i.imgur.com/VvWl0VW.jpg?1

That is exactly what I'd be looking for as the quintessential Breitling; such a stunning dial

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

While I am indebted to Sinnlover, there may be one of these on the horizon, some time soon.

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Now that's lovely - as indeed is the sharkskin: look forward to seeing them in-situ in due course :encouragement:

Courtesy of Sinnlover, a new strap!

There - happy, everyone? (I know I am!)

https://i.imgur.com/PncsjvF.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/q7eRFYk.jpeg

That's much better.

Suits it very well.

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Yep, that's much nicer, and the texture suits it well :encouragement:

I'm often uninspired by vintage watches, but this one is just lovely, the aging adds to the overall visual impact beautifully.

Enjoy!

Nice, I do like it. Personally I would have gone for a nice dark brown crocodile with an off-white stitch, but it ain't my watch (which is also be be regretted, it's lovely).

That black strap works very well, great match.

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Looks great with the new strap. Are you keeping it now or will it be going back?

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Originally Posted by sweets

Nice, I do like it. Personally I would have gone for a nice dark brown crocodile with an off-white stitch, but it ain't my watch (which is also be be regretted, it's lovely).

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Ditto, but black.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bambam

Looks great with the new strap. Are you keeping it now or will it be going back?

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Keeping it, but it will probably need a service. Any suggestions for a trustworthy watchmaker who can look after an old lady? (The watch is the old lady, just to be clear.)

If I put an ice cube on the acrylic, there is a noticeable fogging within 30 seconds.

https://i.imgur.com/AOFnDLt.jpeg

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Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

If I put an ice cube on the acrylic, there is a noticeable fogging within 30 seconds.

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Have you tried not putting an ice cube on the crystal?

Insane piece of history right there in that watch

Sure I have a vintage Breitling green croc on buckle 20mm taper to 18 I think

Let me have a rummage later and post a pic

Al

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Carlton-Browne

Have you tried not putting an ice cube on the crystal?

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And not wear the watch on my ice-bathing YouTube channel? Madness.

I noticed the fog when I wore the watch in the rain, and it did the same thing. Watches aren't meant to do that, are they? A service is needed, I think!

Old Navitimers are known for this.
They were not very waterproof when new, they are even less so now, even after a service. They leak like a sieve but there are lots of holes in the case.
I never wear my older Sinn 903 (Navitimer case) out in the rain just in case.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sinnlover

Old Navitimers are known for this.
They were not very waterproof when new, they are even less so now, even after a service. They leak like a sieve but there are lots of holes in the case.

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+1

Then given its accuracy (only +10spd), I might wait for a bit before servicing it.

I always thought that "30m" on the back of old chronographs was the distance that one should keep them from water.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

I always thought that "30m" on the back of old chronographs was the distance that one should keep them from water.

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Cheers, actually lold at that

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

I always thought that "30m" on the back of old chronographs was the distance that one should keep them from water.

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:biggrin-new:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Qatar-wol

Then given its accuracy (only +10spd), I might wait for a bit before servicing it.

I always thought that "30m" on the back of old chronographs was the distance that one should keep them from water.

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Good point!

I'd ping Paul Walker @walkerwek1958 while he's still in the game, apparently he's a bit of a Valjoux whisperer and extremely reasonably priced.

He's done a few full services for me and I've been very happy with his work.

Look very cool indeed on that sharkskin strap. What about a Rallye?

Too soon?