MAJ75 922 Posted November 13, 2017 Hi All, Recently (I am a little ashamed to say) I have been flirting with the Gen world. I was extremely fortunate to pick up a Speedmaster Professional ref 145.022 in the last few weeks & that had been my only planned "Big" purchase until later in 2018. However last week another of my wanted list turned up online & it was at such a good price that I had to pull the trigger. It is something of a rarer beast being that this reference of Navitimer was only in production for 2 years (1986-87). The movement is the wonderful handwound Lemania Cal.1873 as also used in the Speedmaster. Breitling moved on to the 7750 in future references. My pick-up is an 18K Gold Plated case & bezel (I had originally planned on a stainless steel Navi) but the gold matches my wedding band & it is in great condition for its age. It came on a wonderful dark brown calf strap. Note the dial spacing is extremely similar to the Speedy & this reference doesn't have a date. I know that the busy face divides opinion but this is a piece I have lusted after since being a kid.I must admit I find a strange sort of beauty in this dial design. There is a nice article with more information on this reference here: https://www.timeline.watch/watch/breitling-navitimer-81600/ Here are a few pictures of mine: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glaude 1,615 Posted November 13, 2017 Well, isn't that a beauty ! Great pics, I love this gold/black/white/dark-brown mix ! The 12 marker with the rest behing sticks and the lack of date windows look very nice. I don't think there's anything to be even a little ashamed about the fact that you can (or you make it so you can) buy a gen watch ! Enjoy it ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Del 4,463 Posted November 13, 2017 Congrats mate. I would absolutely love a Navi in my collection! Enjoy! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moondustesp 136 Posted November 13, 2017 Stunning mate congratulations Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flipper81 0 Posted November 13, 2017 Stunning and two classics already obtainedSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAJ75 922 Posted November 13, 2017 2 hours ago, Glaude said: Well, isn't that a beauty ! Great pics, I love this gold/black/white/dark-brown mix ! The 12 marker with the rest behing sticks and the lack of date windows look very nice. I don't think there's anything to be even a little ashamed about the fact that you can (or you make it so you can) buy a gen watch ! Enjoy it ! Thanks for the kind words mate, TBH I'm firmly in the camp of enjoying gens & reps just the same.....I love wearing reps in & amongst the daily rotation......... 2 hours ago, Del said: Congrats mate. I would absolutely love a Navi in my collection! Enjoy! Cheers Del, I got lucky with this one...it was a deal I couldn't miss........... 2 hours ago, Moondustesp said: Stunning mate congratulations Really appreciated, thanks Sir............ 1 hour ago, Flipper81 said: Stunning and two classics already obtained Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Cheers & I do feel extremely fortunate...believe it or not I think one last piece & my collection is done.......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moondustesp 136 Posted November 14, 2017 The collection is never done you show know that by now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NCRich 13,764 Posted November 14, 2017 Gorgeous! The navi is an awesome watch. Congrats mate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Genius 281 Posted November 14, 2017 What a stunner! And finding a vintage piece with a bulletproof movement makes it all the better Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NFleischer 4,355 Posted November 14, 2017 Nice pick up, congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAJ75 922 Posted November 14, 2017 5 hours ago, Moondustesp said: The collection is never done you show know that by now! I am long enough in the tooth to know that you are right squire, although my current feeling is that I only want one more....................... 5 hours ago, NCRich said: Gorgeous! The navi is an awesome watch. Congrats mate. Thanks Rich, I'm delighted with it......best of the vintage mixed with modern touches. 4 hours ago, Genius said: What a stunner! And finding a vintage piece with a bulletproof movement makes it all the better Thanks Sir, a lucky but painful financial break.............. 3 hours ago, NFleischer said: Nice pick up, congrats! Thank you kindly Sir! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daffy 105 Posted November 14, 2017 If the worn gold plating ever starts to bother you, with both the case and bezel being stainless, there is a solution. You (or your local metalsmith) can heat the stainless to a certain temperature to make the actual metal turn gold. I think the rep world calls this "brassing" when done to bezels. btw: NICE pickup. I am seriously jealous. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAJ75 922 Posted November 14, 2017 51 minutes ago, Daffy said: If the worn gold plating ever starts to bother you, with both the case and bezel being stainless, there is a solution. You (or your local metalsmith) can heat the stainless to a certain temperature to make the actual metal turn gold. I think the rep world calls this "brassing" when done to bezels. btw: NICE pickup. I am seriously jealous. Thanks for the tip-off bud. I guess it is 30 years old & seems to have been regularly worn so the plating is worn on the edges of the bezel. The plating on the case is pretty blemish free, just a little oxidisation on the chrono pushers etc. TBH these are a small trade off against being able to aquire at what I thought was a very fair price. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bjorns 0 Posted November 14, 2017 Looking amazing ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dhistory 0 Posted December 24, 2017 Looks great. The crystal is amazingly clean for its age. Hope you enjoy it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites