Landmarks of 20th-Century Horology
The Navitimer's circular slide rule, the Chronomat's rotating pilot bezel and the Top Time's racing pedigree are landmarks in 20th-century horology. Many of these pieces are no longer part of the new-production catalogue, which is why collectors look for them on the pre-owned market.
Why Vintage Breitling
Collectors turn to the pre-owned market for Breitling for two reasons. First, many of the most sought-after references — early-execution Navitimers, transitional Chronomats, original Cosmonaute pieces — are simply no longer in production. Second, the chronograph movements of the 1960s and 1970s, including Venus and Valjoux calibres, have gained a following of their own.
What We Look For Before a Piece Joins the Case
Originality of dial, hands and case; movement service history; matching case and case-back reference; original Breitling papers and a signed box where the era supports it. Every Breitling we offer has been opened, inspected and condition-graded by our watchmaker before listing. Redials, mismatched movements and service-replaced parts are disclosed explicitly.
Why Almaz in Vienna
For a new-production Navitimer or Chronomat, a Breitling boutique is the right address. For everything earlier than the current catalogue — and for the kind of in-person comparison that lets you evaluate two examples of the same reference side by side — Almaz is the practical source in Vienna. Our store on Stephansplatz has welcomed collectors from across Austria and the EU since 1991; appraisal and authentication are routine.
Visit Us in Vienna
Almaz Jewelry • Stephansplatz 12, 1010 Wien • Monday–Saturday 10:00–18:30. Worldwide insured shipping. Call +43 1 512 00 85 or email office@almaz.jewelry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Almaz authenticate a vintage Breitling?
Each piece is opened by our watchmaker. We verify the case reference against the catalogue era, confirm the movement calibre and serial alignment, and check the originality of dial and hands against period reference material before listing.
Is service available in Vienna?
Standard service work — gasket, crystal, crown — is carried out in-house. Movement overhauls on collector-grade pieces are entrusted to authorised Swiss specialists, and the watch is returned to you with the service paper.
What is the difference between estate, vintage and pre-owned?
Estate denotes provenance from a previous owner; vintage typically refers to pieces older than 25 years; pre-owned applies to any watch that is not new, including recent-production references. All three describe the same underlying market.