Have this for approx 20 years, so not a recent acquisition.
Just like to have opinions from forum members to see if it is ok.
Have read past posts saying that Breitling did not sign bridge until mid 40s.
Believe this is made in 1951.
Thanks.
Did post 4 photos incl caseback but not showing properly.
Tried to fix that and hope it is working.
Please take a look. Your comments appreciated.
Messages: 856 Location: USA
Registered: December 2003
Re: vintage cadettle 1191
Fri, 09 March 2018 09:26
It does date to 1951 so wouldn't have a signed crown but would almost certainly have a signed bridge. My thought is it's a Wakmann movement that someone switched the Wakmann bridge for a plain bridge since the correct Breitling bridge would be very tough to find. I only found one back like that and it was pretty much the same but had Breiling in script in the center. Yours might be just earlier. If it doesn't say Wakmann inside the back cover the case is probably ok.
A member who seems to have knowledge on vintage pieces in another breitling forum said (not to me)
"I've seen the 1188 and 1189's without anything printed on the bridge and with Cadette printed on the bridge so I think either way is probably ok. Often the 1188's and 1189's don't even say Cadette on the dial. They made a bunch of the 11xx watches so they are constantly popping up in various stages of modification or configuration."
It seems that Brietling started signing the bridge on the more expensive watches first.
So I am not so worried about the bridge.
As for the "France" signature, do they only appear on wakmann watches, but not on Breitling watches?
The 11xx were relatively cheap when they first came out, perhaps Breitling simply used existing parts to assemble them.
Let me do a search on the movements used in those 11xx...
