Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Breitling Co-Pilot Chronograph Double Signed Lip Ref 765CP, mid 1960s
- Maker / attribution
- Breitling (maker)
- Date
- mid 1960s
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 40.5 mm
- Stock no.
- W-2666
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-2666)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Breitling Co-Pilot Chronograph Double Signed Lip Ref 765CP (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-2666), this is a wristwatch by Breitling, made in Switzerland, dated mid 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 40.5 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Bulang & Sons
This Breitling is a watch with a big history, having been the wrist choice of Raquel Welch and Jean-Claude Killy at the Grenoble Olympics. The ‘reverse-panda’ dial is in outstanding all original condition with clean silver sub dials and lovely patina on the hour markers. To make this watch extra special, the dial is double signed Lip, the famous French clock and watchmaker. The case remains in fantastic condition throughout. The oversized sub dial at three o’clock features a 15-minute counter, which is the standard time for plane ground checks and features further three-minute interval markings that resemble a star. At some point the minute hand has had a small repair. The black aluminium bezel is in very good condition and can measure elapsed hours. The watch also comes with a spare polished steel bezel. This cool chrono comes with its original Lip-signed box and an unused Breitling leather strap. The manual wind movement is a Breitling modified Venus calibre 178 that has been fully checked and regulated by our watchmaker. We love these watches and so do Breitling, as it was reissued a few years ago. Please get in touch to discuss it some more! Specifications: - Breitling Co-Pilot Chronograph - 40.5mm steel case - Serial 1054xxxx dates to mid 1960s - Black dial signed Breitling and Lip - Black rotating bezel - Spare polished steel bezel - Original Lip box and old unused Breittling strap - Venus 178 movement - Fully checked by our watchmaker
Historical context
Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.
The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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