that thing is bad to the bone  (n/t)

Good Job Ricky!  (n/t)

It looks good Ricky. Nice transplant...let's hope the Swiss body does not "reject" the
the foreign "organ".

Re: ..the foreign "organ".
Should that happen I would immediately drop in the appropriate quartz "heart". Indeed, I have already identified the caliber 804.114 as being the exact one I'd need. One can never be too careful!

Luckily {knocks on wood} there is no sign of "organ rejection" thus far.

Thanks for the kind words Bro. Jim!

NICE looking job, Ricky! I'm thinking something like this for it ...

Black-Grey Zulu Nylon PVD

10 Dollars, from International Watchman

Whoa! Those are GREAT prices!
Cripes. I foresee a rather substantial International Watchman, Inc. order in my immediate future.

Quote
JFK3531
..Black-Grey Zulu Nylon PVD..

..Standard Ricky NATO, but I knew Murphy would make fun of it if I did.



Seriously, I may give that one a go later today. The (potential) problem with most ZULU straps is the thickness. This watch has very "compact" lugs, with the springbars being in close proximity to the case. An extremely thick strap would be a Fail. Even this one is a tight fit, and at .70mm it's quite thin.

my friend.

Re: Whoa! Those are GREAT prices!
Indeed, they are! If shipping to EU can be done for a few bucks in a envelope, it might be a super saver for me too (yes, I know, I love bracelets) but those kevlar style ones are also hard to resist....)

Mike (Nuvolari) put me on to International Watchman.  (n/t)

Still can't figure out were to order, my browser does show anything else than the site with the straps, ...
.but there's no order button or whatsoever??

You're not gonna like the International Orders options I fear...

Quote
International Watchman, Inc.

Ordering Information
Phone or Fax orders
TOLL FREE (800) 243-3014 (U.S. only)
For International Orders, dial: (330) 220-7200

Email: watchbands@earthlink.net

Mail Orders may be sent to:
International Watchman, Inc.
4301 Manhattan Ave.
Brunswick, Ohio 44212 USA

Shipping Information

International Watchman will ship each order within 48 hours of receipt. All orders will be shipped the most effective way, unless otherwise indicated. Should you be in need of a special delivery service, International Watchman will be more than happy to comply with your request. All packages carry insurance and are shipped F.O.B. Cleveland, Ohio.

U.S. Shipping Charges: Shipping charges for small orders will be $6.00 via Priority Mail with Insurance.... Large Quantity Orders will be shipped via UPS ground with Insurance and Tracking for an additional $15.00....

International Shipping Charges: International Orders are accepted and can be shipped Via EMS Global.....Shipping Includes Tracking and Insurance... Confirmed Shipping address is needed on all orders..... International Payment is accepted through Bank Checks or Bank Wires Only--In U.S. Funds...No PayPal or Credit Cards... Shipping charges for Watchbands--$15.00 ....Shipping charges for any 1 watch---$35.00

In that case they should remove their "International" from their name...
They price themselves out of the market with the difficult and expensive international orders. No wonder the Chinese keep on gaining markets... Something else. In India the silk workers are making a Sari (a kind of beautiful women's' dress) in silk in about 8 days on their century old type of wooden machines. But the Chinese are picking up on their trade making 3 sari's a day with their modern electric machines and they make it so, it looks like handmade...
So don't curse the Chinese, give them competition!

Methinks you exaggerate.

Quote
James T. Kirk©
They price themselves out of the market with the difficult and expensive international orders.

I mean really. Expecting International Shipping for "a few bucks".. well, IMHO that's an unreasonable expectation.

Maybe I expect Chinese standards with their free shipping...  (n/t)

Common, but still not Universal.
And I'm thinkin' you wouldn't have to wait 2-6 weeks for an order from International Watchman, Inc.

Re: you wouldn't have to wait 2-6 weeks for an order from International Watchman, Inc
Probably not indeed...Anyway, Ricky_uk did not do bad, just under 2 weeks!

Still waiting on me extra links.
Any day now!

Re: If shipping to EU can be done for a few bucks in a envelope, it might be a super saver for me too..
Nah, I'm pretty sure they ship everywhere in the EU except Holland.

But I could be wrong.

Re: You....., you......  (n/t)

What a great watch and project. Well done.  (n/t)

Bro. Rob. It may not be a "real" Breitling, especially given the movement swap. However...
..it's close enough for the likes o' me! To the point where I have officially stricken Breitling from The WIShlist.

Nice work, Ricky. (n/t)

I said it yesterday and I'll say it again...COOL WATCH!!! (n/t)

I think the new hands look better than original, certainly the red second hand, which...
...is nicely in tune with the red lettering, good job! Love black (ion plated/PVD) watches... It is you can't do much with the short steel bracelets of Ricky_us, but they would look great with this watch too!

Re: ..black (ion plated/PVD)..steel bracelets of Ricky_us..would look great with this watch too!
Ahh.. well, yeah, that'd look alright, I reckon. Hooded lugs, so straight endlinks would be a perfect fit.

But, in my experience, bracelets frequently seem a wee bit out-of-place on a Mil-Watch. At least a watch that has pretensions of the issued Mil-Watch type.

Not that I's a stickler in such matters!

Quote
James T. Kirk©
I think the new hands look better than original, certainly the red second hand, which is nicely in tune with the red lettering, good job!

Thanks mate, much appreciated!

AFAIK Breitling did a field watch for the Italian army in the 1980s.... (n/t)

Oh yeah, forgot to mention..
..mid-1980's jives perfectly with my Best Guess as to the date-of-manufacture of this watch.

Note that the original movement has a trim pot for adjusting the going-rate. That's a feature that hasn't been common on quartz movements for two decades and more, so I figure it is of ca. 1985 vintage.

Twisted logic, maybe, but That's My Story An' I'm Stickin' To It.

forgot to mention: in a similar case  (n/t)

Kewl! If ye have any photos handy I'd love to see 'em.
Otherwise, it'll be a good project for some Rainy-day WIS Research.

FWIW these watches seem to be very, very rare. I have thus far been unable to google up a single image (other'n me own ) and, indeed, have found not even a single text reference to them.

They do look a little different...
...I noticed now

Here you go

Ah! Different dial / bezel insert, but same basic case. They even carry the same "80210" reference number!
Hmmmm. This watch might have a more legitimate claim to a "Military Watch" pedigree than I at first assumed.

Thanks so much Bro. Micha!

Neato! Great when things finally come together!
What about soaking the green NATO in a bleach solution to lighten and wabi-ize it? If you have several or an old one, it might be a good experiment.

Re: What about soaking the green NATO in a bleach solution to lighten and wabi-ize it?
You know, since the watch itself has a bit of wabi, that could work!

Quote
itschris
If you have several or an old one, it might be a good experiment.

I do have one other identical strap. Hmmmmm...

Quote
itschris
Neato! Great when things finally come together!

'tis!

Thanks Bro. Chris.

NICE work Ricky!  (n/t)

I knew that you would ressurect that one!!!
Dont throw the old movement and hands out! Maybe still a chance of ressurection. You did good with putting a movement with a sweeping seconds hand though....congrats bro Ricky! Its a stunner for sure!

An' don't think for a minute I've forgot that ye tried to hornswaggle me ought of it when we were horse-tradin' on the Fossil Centipede!


Ya know I'm just joshin' ye, Bro. Dan.

To be fair, you're not the only one. I got a couple of offers on it when I posted it back in 2010.

Quote
dano0
Dont throw the old movement and hands out! Maybe still a chance of ressurection.

Quote
dano0
..congrats bro Ricky! Its a stunner for sure!

Ah yes...the great mississippi purchase trade of 2011........
The Red dialed, gold tone seiko should be at my door next week!!!

Something like this? (n/t)

Nope, not even close. There are plenty of linked photos in my reply to dano, below. (n/t)

Yep, saw them later!  (n/t)

Re: The Red dialed, gold tone seiko should be at my door next week!!!
Ah! The much abused 7006-5019 "Clamshell"!

That is so cool! See? I knew it was going to a good home.

Good show Bro. Dan!



P.s. - when you're showin' it off in it's new-found splendor, feel free to use my "before" photos for contrast.

Consider it done!! Hopefully It will be at my door monday after work!!! (n/t)

Wow! Just curious, did the original movement approximate any current
Movement offering? just wondering if there is a closer match to dial-to-stem, and the original hands.

Those original hands are killer, and have the perfect patina. Pity they were not compatible.

Just the same, good show! Better to have that one in service than not.

I knew someone would give me grief for using a Japanese movement!
And I figured it'd be you, Dave!

Quote
Dave M
Just curious, did the original movement approximate any current Movement offering? just wondering if there is a closer match to dial-to-stem, and the original hands.

Oh, sure! The ETA caliber 804.114 would be a plug-and-play replacement, I'm pretty certain, with the exception that one dial foot appears to not line up. The hands would've still been a no-go, however, as the ETA 804's also use 120/70 mains, though a 20 seconds.

I thought about going that route - keeping it "All Swiss" - but, frankly, that isn't important to me. And, strictly speaking, it would be just as much a Franken with the 804.114 as it is with the PC33. Plus, I got to say, I'm not impressed with the long-term reliability of the bottom-tier ETA quartz movements. I've encountered a bunch of dead ones.. far more than I have the SII PC-series!

And, yeah, the PC33 was convenient, being in-stock and ready to go.

Quote
Dave M
Those original hands are killer, and have the perfect patina. Pity they were not compatible.

Yeah, I really wanted to re-use them, keep the watch bone-stock in appearance. To the extent that I searched at some length for a compatible movement using 130/85 hands! If I could have found one, I'd have gone for it. But, alas, it's a mythical beast as far as I can tell.

Quote
Dave M
Just the same, good show! Better to have that one in service than not.

My motto exactly!

Bro. Dave.

Lots of work and a very nice watch, Ricky! (n/t)

 (n/t)

Sharp looking... nice work!  (n/t)