Breitling Chronograph Ref. 765 CP Co-pilot full-set 1976

BREITLING, REF. 765 CP, « CO-PILOT », CHRONOGRAPH, FULL-SET, RETAILED BY LIP

ICONEEK price: 22’500.- CHF

Iconeek is very proud to introduce here an amazing Breitling 765 CP, Co-Pilot, Double signed vintage chronograph and further more a true collector piece, including the correspondence between Breitling, their agent in South of France, the future owner, the original guarantee and presentation box.

Back in 1975, a gentleman, from South of France, wrote to Breitling in order to receive a catalog of their watches, as he was interested by one of the chronograph model. So here we are, in the present letter, dated June 1975, Breitling replied to Mr Augustin in Orange, that the french official dealer/retailer will contact him soon. Then, we have here a letter from the official retailer to Mr Augustin stating that he will receive soon the catalog. Cherry on the cake, we also have the original guarantee dated January 1976 to Mr Augustin in Orange and stamped by the french retailer. Finding such a watch with all the papers is almost impossible today.

But not only, the present watch is also bearing on the dial the double signature LIP-BREITLING, as in France, Breitling was associated and distributed with the French watch brand LIP to benefit from the latter's network and retailers. A french exclusivity that did not least very long and makes today the double signed models even more rarest and sought-after by collectors. Very few models have survived...until now, and when one appears in lovely condition and retaining its original guarantee, correspondence and presentation box, it is a small treasure. Double-signed watches are highly collectibles items and some of the association are very iconic in the collector’s eyes such as Breitling and Lip, like the present watch, Patek Phillipe and Cartier, Rolex and Tiffany, among others.

The present model has a three-body construction: a large water-resistant stainless steel case, with bi-directionnal revolving black finish steel bezel bearing a 12-hour graduation, a screwed case back. The inside back is engraved « Breitling Watch Ltd 1084124 ». The size between the lugs is 22 mm. Under the plexiglass crystal, we find a nice and attractive, double signed, inverted panda, matte black dial with silvered guilloche registers and luminous hands. Inside ticks a caliber Venus 178, engraved TJ under the balance, copper finish, 17 jewels, column-wheel mechanism, straight line lever escapement, monometallic 3-arm balance, self-compensating flat balance spring, shock absorbers. The movement is engraved WOG standing for Wakmann Watch Co. Inc., Breitling.

According to Breitling archives, the model 765 CP was launched in 1965 and is an evolution of the Ref. 765 AVI (fitted with steel engraved bezel). The present watch, with serial number 1084124, belonged to a batch of steel case ordered by Breitling in the mid-1966 and the complete watch was assembled later. Because of the cost making of steel case and the difficulties to produce them, it was normal at the time for many brands to order a large quantities of cases in one batch and to assemble them years later. It is also interesting to notice that the model 765 AVI is more often illustrated in Breitling catalog than the 765 CP. Iconeek is very thankful to Mr Chambron and Mr Westphalen, from Breitling, for their help in researching for this watch. The advertising below, courtesy of Breitling, is featuring the ref. 7650, an evolution of the present Ref. 765, fitted with a slightly bigger diameter than the 765.

A rare and highly collectible Breitling !!

Condition: 8.5/10, in extremely good and original overall condition, per sure a collector.

Brand: Breitling

Model: Co-Pilot, retailed by LIP

Reference: AVI 765 CP

Year: sold in 1976

Movement no.: -

Case no.: 1084124

Material: stainless steel

Dial: matte black, inverted Panda, silvered registers, luminous hands

Movement: cal. Venus 178, engraved WOG, pink finish, 17 jewels

Bracelet: leather strap

Functions: chronograph

Water-resistant: at the time

Dimensions: 40.60 mm. diam. thickness 14.15 mm.

Accessories: period Breitling presentation box, original guarantee dated January 1976 from France, Orange, Breitling letter to original owner dated June 1975, Breitling’s retailer letter to original owner

Ref. ICO: 99-19-020C

Vintage & Modern watches