Breitling ref 765 AVI all black 1960 ‘Digital’

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Very Rare and sought after ‘Digital’ Breitling 765 AVI all black

the Breitling 765 AVI predates the Breguet type XX by at least 1 year. With the earliest Breitling I have seen (serial 820441) released 1/2 1953 and the Breguet type XX being released in 1954 . This by itself should be enough proof that the Breitling 765 AVI was designed, made and released prior to the Breguet type XX.

http://www.qahill.com/tz/type20/type20.html

From 1954, Breguet was commissioned by the French government to supply the Type 20 to the Air Force, the Naval Air Arm, and the CEV. The Breguet Type 20s used stainless steel cases and screwed case backs. 
The Vixa Type 20 was built in 1954 with case and movement by Hanhart. The company “Vixa” was named after a late president of Timex Watches France. (Timex had a factory in Besançon until 1960.) Some 4000-5000 Vixa Type 20 chronographs were supplied.

Auricoste provided around 2000 Type 20 chronographs under contract and delivered them to the French military between August 1954 and March 1955. The Auricoste Type 20 used Lemania movements that were marked “Auricoste.”

Surprisingly the ‘Digital’ All black 765 with date aperture minute counter is listed on this website as

http://www.qahill.com/tz/type20/type20.html

The watch on the left is not a Type 20, but is an interesting flyback chronograph made by Auricoste in the 1950s for the French army. It is difficult to see in this picture, but there is a small window at 3 o’clock for a digital minutes counter. It has a bezel marked in hours, a 12-hour totalizer at 6 o’clock, and a steel case with a screwed back.

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Description

CASE & BACK:  This watch measures a large 41.5 x 47mm not including crown and is 14mm to the top of the flush fit crystal. The heavy all-steel case does not appear to have ever been polished and still shows its original bevels and contrast satin-polished finish. There some superficial scratches and some nicks commensurate with a worn 55-year-old tool watch  — Fantastic vintage condition overall. The outer part of the screwed steel back has some very light and superficial scratches but shows its original Breitling nomenclature of the period including the serial number on the outside, which indicates a 1960 production, and correct 765 AVI reference–also Excellent original cosmetic condition. The inner caseback shows no corrosion and has the correct internal Breitling engraving of the era.

BEZEL: The Steel ‘rice bead’ rotating bezel is in Fantastic condition with superficial scratches, I have opted not to let these be polished out but can be easily done . The bezel itself rotates with good tension in both directions as designed.

DIAL & HANDS: matte black dial with white printing and finely calibrated track and only the minor imperfections visible under a loupe All original ‘coffee cream’ colored Tritium luminous numbers , some lume has disappeared over time but this does not distract from the overall appearance of the watch . Hands are almost perfect with slight discolouration of the lume

CROWN & PUSHERS: Signed Breitling crown looks very clean and winds and pulls out to the time-setting position as it should. It sits tightly against the case. The two pusher caps are likewise in Excellent shape and both chrono pushers work as they should and also nice and crisply.

CRYSTAL: Large flush-fit acrylic crystal is Excellent+ without scratches and no deep marks and sits barely proud of the bezel, which I believe to be correct for this model.

MOVEMENT: Legendary Venus 178 chronograph movement Heavily modified to accommodate the 15 minute aperture ‘date window’ minute counter is looking bright and working well with all correct Breitling nomenclature of the era and shock protection. Watch is keeping good time with a strong power reserve and all chronograph functions are working properly and returning to zero. This is guaranteed to be the case at the time of shipment.

SERVICE: Watch is currently being returned from service (Jan 2015 full service)

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