SELLING YOUR PREOWNED BREITLING

Breitling's name is synonymous with watch making excellence. Breitling has quite simply cornered the aviation watch market becoming the choice for accurate timekeeping of pilots around the globe. With expansions in dive watches and rugged sport watches Breitlings are a sought after timepieces world wide. Breitlings have become valuable commodities and if you are trying to sell your Breitling the wealth of information out there can be daunting. But like just about every industry one can exist in, knowledge is power. There are a few things everyone should know before they sell their Breitling.

Research the Breitling Model

Research, research, and research, are the three most important rules when selling any luxury timepiece and this is especially the case with a brand like Breitling who has been in existence since 1884. Many Breitlings do not have the model series or name listed on the dial. Research is the key for Breitling Models. You can post pictures on forums or simply go to an authorized Breitling dealer to find out the actual model, or just do some old fashioned research by compare and contrast on the internet.

Dating your Breitling’s year of manufacture is a little easier. Many serial number reference guides exist to date your Breitling and the manufacture itself started to date their watches between the lugs at the 6 o’clock position. Breitling Serial numbers can also be found on the back of the case. Breitling models have a code engraved into the case at the 6 o’clock position between te lugs that hold the bracelet. The first 4 digits of this code relate to the week and year the watch was manufactured. For example say the the code is 0910. The first two digits are the week number, and the others are the year. Deciphering the code tells us that the watch was made in Week 9 of 2010. Week 9 is the first week of March as the weeks are numbered from the start of the year.

It is not always easy, but with a little deductive reasoning, trial and error, and your friend the internet, determining the model name and serial number of your particular Breitling should not be too difficult. Do not open your watch to find the model number or serial number as you can often do more harm than good.

Once you know the model, research again. Is your particular model still being manufactured? What does it sell for on average in the pre-owned market? Research price points for the most recent 10 watches of that model sold. Next observe your watch with an eye for detail. Is it working? What condition are the Dial, Bracelet, and Bezel in? Are there scuffs, scratches, or dents? Are there engravings? Is it an automatic, manual, or quartz movement? Try to know your watch as much and with as much detail as you can. Again, do not open the watch, leave that to professionals.

How Will You Sell your Breitling

How will you sell your Breitling with all your new found knowledge? EBay charges many fees and there are countless horror stories. Many buyers will not purchase from sellers on EBay without established reputations. These reputations can take years. Although it can be done, EBay is time consuming and there is a risk financially. Craigslist is the same but can also have risk physically as you are meeting strangers and exchanging valuable items with no protection. Your best answer is most likely a reputable dealer online or locally. Again when deciding on which online or local buyer to use, research is key.

Who Will Buy Your Breitling

Investigating and researching the company you will be negotiating with is arguably the most essential part of the entire process in selling your Breitling. Is the business you have chosen a creditable buyer? Do they have a strong relationship locally? Is the buyer a established name nationally? It is very important to research past customer experience. All accomplished buyers should have client reviews and past testimonials relating to customer experience and satisfaction. These reviews are essential for any established watch buyer. One or two client reviews are not hard to fake, hundreds of client reviews are extremely hard to fake. Not only are good reviews difficult to manufacture but hiding negative information is almost impossible. Many of the most established buyers have third party companies handle their reviews which will guarantee no duplicity.

One factor that is extremely important and often overlooked is experience. Make sure the company you sell to have been in existence for more than a few years. Many online and local companies are here today and gone tomorrow. Does the business they have a master watchmaker? The best companies online and locally will have a master watchmaker on staff. This is a fact many first time sellers overlook and is the difference between a true professional and someone trying to make a quick buck in the industry. Most importantly try to limit your choices to those that deal with watches and watches only. Jewelry stores are often the worst place to go, simply because their focus is jewelry not watches. Watches are an ancillary product to them.

Become an Informed Consumer

Whatever domain you find yourself conducting business in, especially those dealing with valuable assets, it is imperative to be an informed consumer. A competent knowledge base will instill confidence in all of your future interactions with your present and future luxury watches. If you are still unsure about a certain aspect of the process, or there are questions you have that were not addressed, maybe you still feel a bit overwhelmed, feel free to contact us. We are here to help you. Even if you do not sell to us or buy from us, we want your undertaking with our company and watches in general to be an outstanding experience.

The following Breitling check lists contain a searchable Breitling serial number and model list, as well as a helpful observation checklist to be applied to your specific timepiece. We hope these tools will be useful as a good start to knowing your timepiece. Using these lists will give you a strong foundation in any future transactions you will experience with your Omega. We at Swiss Watch Expo hope we have shared some advice and experience that you have and will find helpful. If you have any trouble at any time, feel free to call or email with any questions or concerns. We look forward to speaking with you soon and wish you the best of luck.

Breitling Checklist:

• Identify Model name – The name of the Breitling model examples: Bentley, Navitimer, Aerospace, Cosmonaut, Cockpit, etc...
• Identify model number and serial number. You can find both items on your original Breitling paperwork, warranty card, or watch appraisal.
• Identify Serial number. Serial number determines Model. Serial numbers on many Breitlings can be found on the case back.
• Identify the material of the case, bezel and the bracelet. Most common material are: stainless steel, steel and 14K gold, steel and 18K gold, 9K gold, 14K gold or 18K gold (white, yellow or rose), and platinum.
• Identify characteristics of the dial or face of the Breitling – The two most important aspects of any Breitling dial are the color of the dial and style or type of hour markers. Typical or most common examples of hour Breitling markers are: Arabic numerals, roman numerals, index markers, luminous index markers, arrowhead, diamond markers etc...
• Identify the type of crystal. Common Breitling crystals are Sapphire, Mineral and Acrylic.
• Does your Breitling have the date?
• Determine the condition of the dial, bezel, case, and crystal – are there scuffs, scratches, or dents?
• Identify the Condition of the Breitling Bracelet – This is known as stretch. Hold the watch by the case. A perfect bracelet will be perpendicular to the ground. The more the bracelet bends towards ground the worse the bracelet. Stretch in a bracelet cannot be repaired

Breitling Models

• 6.75
• 6.75 Speed
• Academy
• Aerospace (01-04)
• Aerospace (85-95)
• Aerospace (96-00)
• Aerospace (Current)
• Aerospace Avantage
• Airwolf
• Airwolf Raven
• Antares
• Antares Automatic LE
• Antares World
• Astromat
• Astromat 1461
• Astromat Longitude
• Avenger
• Avenger Seawolf
• Avenger Seawolf Chrono
• Avenger Seawolf Chrono Blacksteel
• Avenger Seawolf Steel
• Avenger Skyland
• Avenger Skyland Blacksteel
• AVI
• AVI/Co-pilot
• Aviastar
• B-1
• B-1 SuperQuartz
• B-2
• B-Class
• Barnato
• Barnato 42
• Barnato Racing
• Bentley Barnato 42 Midnight Carbon
• Bentley Flying B Chrono Midnight Carbon
• Bentley GMT Midnight Carbon
• Bentley GMT V8
• Bentley Supersports ISR
• Bentley Supersports Lightbody
• Bentley Supersports Lightbody QP
• Blackbird (2007)
• Blackbird (Original)
• Blackbird Blacksteel
• Callistino
• Callisto
• Callisto (Early)
• Callisto (mid-90's)
• Chrono Avenger
• Chrono Avenger M1
• Chrono Avenger Rattrapante
• Chrono Avenger Sixty-Nine
• Chrono Callisto
• Chrono Cockpit
• Chrono Cockpit (Early)
• Chrono Colt (2006)
• Chrono Colt Ocean
• Chrono Colt Quartz
• Chrono Colt Quartz SQ
• Chrono Galactic
• Chrono Jetstream
• Chrono Sextant
• Chrono Shark
• Chrono Shark Quartz
• Chrono Sirius
• Chrono SuperOcean
• Chrono-Matic
• Chrono-Matic 1461
• Chrono-Matic 1461 Limited
• Chrono-Matic 49
• Chrono-Matic Blacksteel Limited
• Chrono-Matic LE 24H
• Chrono-Matic QP
• Chrono-Matic SE
• Chronomat (2008)
• Chronomat (Early)
• Chronomat (Late)
• Chronomat 01
• Chronomat 01 Limited
• Chronomat 41
• Chronomat 44
• Chronomat 44 Limited Edition
• Chronomat 44 TopGun
• Chronomat Blackbird Limited Edition
• Chronomat Calibre 13
• Chronomat Evolution
• Chronomat GMT
• Chronomat GMT 44
• Chronomat GMT Limited
• Chronomat GT
• Chronomat Longitude
• Chronomat Luna Moonphase
• Chronomat Vitesse
• Chronomat Yachting
• Chronoracer Rattrapante
• Chronospace
• Chronospace (Old)
• Chronospace Automatic
• Co-Pilot Module
• Cockpit
• Cockpit Lady
• Colt 33
• Colt 44
• Colt Automatic (1999)
• Colt Automatic (2006)
• Colt Automatic (Early)
• Colt Chrono Auto
• Colt Chrono Transocean
• Colt Chronograph II
• Colt GMT
• Colt GMT+
• Colt Military PVD
• Colt Oceane (2006)
• Colt Oceane (Early)
• Colt Oceane SQ
• Colt Quartz
• Colt Quartz (2006)
• Colt Quartz SQ
• Compass
• Cosmonaute (2002)
• Cosmonaute (Display Back)
• Cosmonaute (Early)
• Cosmonaute (Lemania)
• Cosmonaute 02 LE
• Cosmonaute 125th Anniversary
• Cosmos (Navitimer 2400)
• Crosswind
• Crosswind Racing
• Crosswind Special
• Crosswind Special Sport
• Datora
• Duograph
• Emergency
• Emergency Mission
• Emergency Superquartz
• Flying B
• Flying B Chronograph
• Flying B No.3
• Galactic 30
• Galactic 32
• Galactic 36 Automatic
• Galactic 41
• Galactic Chronograph II
• GMT
• Grand Premier
• GT
• GT Racing
• Headwind
• Hercules
• Intruder
• J-Class Automatic
• J-Class Chrono
• Jupiter (Navitimer 2300)
• Jupiter (Navitimer 3300)
• Jupiter Pilot
• Jupiter Pilot (Early)
• Lady J
• Lady J Automatic
• Lady Sirius Perpetual
• Le Mans
• Long Playing
• Maritime Chrono
• Mark VI
• Mark VI Complications 19
• Mark VI Complications 29
• Military
• Military Colt/Maritime
• Monbrillant 1461 Jours
• Montbrillant
• Montbrillant (No-Date)
• Montbrillant 01
• Montbrillant 01 Limited
• Montbrillant 1903
• Montbrillant 47
• Montbrillant Datora
• Montbrillant Eclipse
• Montbrillant Edition
• Montbrillant Legende
• Montbrillant Olympus
• Motors
• Motors Speed
• Motors T
• Motors T Speed
• Mulliner Perpetual
• Mulliner Tourbillon
• Navitimer (Current)
• Navitimer 01
• Navitimer 01 Limited
• Navitimer 02
• Navitimer 125th Anniversary
• Navitimer 1461 (1997)
• Navitimer 1461 (2011)
• Navitimer 1461 (52 Week)
• Navitimer 1461C
• Navitimer 1952 QP
• Navitimer 1952 SE
• Navitimer 50th Anniversary
• Navitimer 92
• Navitimer Airborne
• Navitimer Blue Sky 60th Anniversary
• Navitimer Breitling Fighters
• Navitimer Exemplaires
• Navitimer Heritage
• Navitimer Heritage Left Crown
• Navitimer Olympus
• Navitimer QP 95
• Navitimer Quatre
• Navitimer Rattrapante
• Navitimer World
• Old Navitimer II
• Old Navitimer Mecanique Patrouille de France
• Old Navitimer Mechanique
• Pluton
• Pluton (Navitimer 2100)
• Pluton (Navitimer 3100)
• Premier
• Pupitre
• Rallye Quartz
• Reserve de Marche
• Shadow Flyback
• Shark Automatic
• Shark Quartz
• Sirius Automatic
• Sirius Perpetual
• Skyracer
• Skyracer Raven
• Spatiographe
• Starliner
• Super Avenger
• Super Avenger Blacksteel
• SuperOcean (2003)
• SuperOcean (2010)
• SuperOcean (Earlier)
• SuperOcean 44
• SuperOcean Chronograph II
• SuperOcean Chronograph M2000
• SuperOcean Deep Sea
• SuperOcean GMT
• SuperOcean Heritage 38
• SuperOcean Heritage 42
• SuperOcean Heritage 46
• SuperOcean Heritage Chrono
• SuperOcean Heritage Chrono 125th Anniversary
• SuperOcean Heritage Chronograph 44
• SuperOcean Professional
• SuperOcean Steelfish (2007)
• SuperOcean Steelfish (42mm)
• SuperOcean Steelfish GMT
• SuperOcean Steelfish X-Plus
• Supersports
• Tabarly Lady Quartz
• Tabarly Quartz
• Titan Gold
• Top Time
• Transocean
• Transocean Chronograph
• Transocean Chronograph 1461
• Transocean Chronograph Limited
• Transocean Chronograph QP
• Transocean Chronograph Unitime
• Twin Sixty
• Twin Sixty 2
• Unidate
• UTC Module
• Wings Automatic
• Wings Lady
• Wings Quartz
• World

Breitling Serial Numbers From 1944 Until 1978

Year Made	Chronograph serial number range	Non Chronograph serial numbers
1944	563659-568959	298262 - 313351
1945	568971-636507	313352 - 354254
1946	636508-692266	354255 - 406688
1947	703562-717737	406689 - 417234
1948	717784-728688	417235 - 448093
1949	728724-740210	448094 - 467655
1950	740405-769843	467656 - 498512
1951	769844-808456	498513 - 592542
1952	808457-817915	592543 - 646974
1953	817916-832126	646975 - 660248
1954	832127-844123	660249 - 690037
1955	844124-868778	690038 - 740339
1956	868779-889562	740340 - 861841
1957	889563-898029	861842 - 881067
1958	898830-910504	881068 - 890396
1959	910505-922163	890397 - 903387
1960	922164-933063	903388 - 917613
1961	933064-947803	917614 - 971814
1962	947804-963553	971815 - 995108
1963	963554-975997	995109 - 996458
1964	975998-1002734	996459 - 998198
1965	1002735-1060398	998199 - 1000198
1966	1060399-1122809	1000199 - 1002543
1967	1122810-1204581	1002544 - 1002743
1968	1204582-1262904	1002744 - 1002943
1969	1262905-1337825	--------------------
1970	1337826-1356899	1002944 - 1003103
1971	1356900-1382203	1003104 - 1003153
1972	1382204-1406566	1003154 - 1003213
1973	1406567-1426969	-------------------
1974	1426970-1433372	-------------------
1975	1433373-1439417	1003214 - 1003713
1976	1439418-1442922	1003714 - 1004083
1977	1442923-1448464	1004084 - 1004183
1978	1448465-1448473	-------------------