1940s, Breitling "Premier" Chronograph

1940s, Breitling "Premier" Chronograph

Reference:782

Caliber: Venus Cal.175

Movement: Hand-wound

Case: 18KPG

Breitling. This brand is so closely associated with the sky that it is always mentioned when talking about rugged pilot watches, and it is a representative manufacturer specializing in chronographs.

Breitling has a strong image of being suited to the wrists of strong men, but of course there are models that don't fit that description.

This was the "Premier," which reigned as the flagship model in the 1940s.

It was revived in 2021 and is currently in production, so many enthusiasts will be familiar with its name.

The Premier line was released in 1943 and was produced until the 1970s, and was named after relatively dressy chronographs.

The Ref. 782 we are introducing this time is a model with a snapback case and square pushers, making it stand out as a dressy model.

The movement used is Venus' Cal. 175, a high-end model that uses a horizontal clutch and column wheel.

While movements made by Valjoux and Lemania are often talked about among enthusiasts, Venus is not often mentioned, perhaps because it has been eliminated over time. However, Venus was also a prestigious ebauche manufacturer on par with these manufacturers.

This particular example is made from the rare 18KPG, and the lemon-colored dial matches the color of the case, giving it a unique sexiness.