Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Breitling Top Time Chronograph (Ref. 2000) "Reverse Panda" Gold-Plated, 1964
- Maker / attribution
- Breitling (maker)
- Date
- 1964
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Stock no.
- BRT2000TT-2
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (BRT2000TT-2)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1964 Breitling Top Time Chronograph (Ref. 2000) "Reverse Panda" Gold-Plated (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number BRT2000TT-2), this is a wristwatch by Breitling, made in Switzerland, dated 1964. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. 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 — Craft & Tailored
The Top-Time ref. 2000 was the first execution of the Top-Time and features the highly regarded manual winding Venus Cal. 188 with a running seconds counter at 9 o'clock and a 45-minute recorder at 3 o'clock. With classic square pushers and a striking "reverse panda" dial that accents the gold-plated case, the ref. 2000 Top-Time features all the trimmings of a classic chronograph, but with the renegade attitude that could only come from the 60s. Stock # BRT2000TT-2 Brand Breitling Style Top Time Chronograph Model 2000 Serial 98XXXX Size Men's Material Gold Plated/ Stainless Steel Dial Matte Clack "Reverse Panda" Millimeters 35 Strap 2pc Leather Rally Strap CASE & BRACELET The stunning gold-plated case is believed to remain unpolished with strong factory dimensions and clean angles with light signs of use. The case retains its original gold-plated square pushers and Breitling signed crown, the logo on the crown has some softening from wear. The case back is in great condition as well, retaining all of its factory markings with light wear from use. The watch will come supplied on a 2pc handmade rally-style strap. DIAL & HANDS The "reverse panda" matte black dial with silver sub-dials and white outer tachymeter track is in good vintage condition, showing normal aging throughout which is common. Under U.V. light inspection the tritium lume plots show degradation with minimal lume remaining on the dial. The original tritium hands have taken on a dark sandy patina and exhibit no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. ACCESSORIES
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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