Breitling Football Timer Chronograph ref 2734.3, 1973 — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Breitling Football Timer Chronograph ref 2734.3, 1973

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Breitling (maker)
Date: 1973
Historical period: Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Country of origin: Switzerland
Object type: Wristwatch
Dimensions: Case 40 mm
Dealer: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen
Stock no.: W-2262
Credit line: Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-2262)
Catalogue title (original): Breitling Football Timer Chronograph ref 2734.3 (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-2262), this is a wristwatch by Breitling, made in Switzerland, dated 1973. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 40 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 is a very cool and unusual Breitling chronograph that was designed for referees to wear in football, or soccer, games. The watch has a 45-minute outer track on the dial to measure halves of the game and a centre stopwatch hand that displays minutes, not seconds as you would see on most chronos. There is also an aperture at six that shows whether the chrono is running or not, for when the ref stops play for an injury or other incident. The c-form case is in absolutely mint condition, with the case still having the case back sticker intact. The rotating bezel is in outstanding condition too. The black dial has sporty luminous hours and the striking red minute track with really clean white hands. This watch really is a bout as nice an example as you will ever find! The watch will come on a vintage Tropic strap fitted with the original Breitling buckle. The calibre 7731 automatic movement has been fully checked and regulated by our watchmaker. We love unusual vintage watches like this and would be delighted to discuss the watch in more detail. Get in touch and let’s talk! Specifications: - Breitling Chronograph REF 2734.3 dating to 1973/74 - 40mm steel case - Countdown bezel - Black dial with red 45-min outer minute track - Calibre 7731 automatic movement - Original Breitling buckle on vintage Tropic strap - Fully checked by our watchmaker - Includes a handmade leather watch pouch

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

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.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication
Self-winding (automatic) mechanism — Component

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsRecorded
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Bulang & Sons — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Breitling Football Timer Chronograph ref 2734.3, 1973." Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen, W-2262. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/breitling-football-timer-chronograph-ref-2734-3-c87977.