I think I hit the vintage motherload today...

I placed an eSnipe bid on this immaculate 1960s Breitling early today and won it with only $20.00 to spare!
Can't wait to get this bad boy. The movement is the famous Venus 178. The seller's description is below
the photos.

I'd like to swap out the generic strap for something more 'provocative' in either leather or steel. Any suggestions???





















SELLER'S DESCRIPTION:

Offered for auction this important manually-wind three-register chronograph Breitling ref. 814,
also known as Breitling Top-Time in a big square-shaped stainless steel case, manufactured in
1960's and equipped with a famous column-wheel Venus 178 caliber movement.
This rare watch comes in perfect clean condition, excellent working and keeping time, ready to wear
and enjoy or to enlarge your vintage chronograph's collection.



CASE:
38 mm (not counting a winding crown) width x 40 mm length; 13 mm thick; waterresistant; antimagnetic;
signed and numbered; stainless steel; screwed back; original signed winding crown and round pushers; top
pusher starts and stops chronograph, bottom one resets to zero; acrylic scratch-free crystal; total weight
with band and buckle 73 g.


DIAL:
original two-tone black-white dial; luminous-filled hands and hour markings; all hands are original; 12-hour,
30-minute and 60-seconds sunken registers; tachymeter scale; signed "Breitling Geneve. T Swiss T"


MOVEMENT:
genuine 17 jewels Swiss Made Venus caliber 178; rose-gold gilt; manually-wind; signed by Breitling; stamped
caliber number under balance bridge; 18.000 BPH, diameter 31.0 mm, 14 lignes, height 5.7mm; recently
serviced; all chronograph functions work as it should, keeping time excellent


BAND:
brand new Alpine 20 mm stitched black leather band; non-signed stainless steel buckle; total length of the
watch with band and buckle 9 1/4" (23.5 cm)

Tom, that is an awesome watch!! Condition is near perfect....Congrats!! If it was me, I would most likely just get a nicely textured black strap with orange, white, or gray stitch. But I am not super adventerous on straps.

Congratulations on yet another fabulous vintage piece!

Rally strap.....

That is gorgeous!! Another amazing find. I think Doc's choices are perfect; the rally strap would compliment the race inspired look. Maybe a black strap with some orange or red accent stitching?

HOLY CRAP!

It looks BRAND NEW!

I'm not a chrono fan but that thing ROCKS!

Looking forward to YOUR pics!

Keep us posted...

Tom, you outdid yourself once again sir ! ...
It really DOES look immaculate too by the way. The
case shape is RIDICULOUSLY nice, and it makes you
wonder why we don't get to see more cool cases
like this nowadays ! Seems like no matter where
you look on this watch, you see something neat.
From the shape, AND brushing on the case, to the
way Breitling thought about the dial ! The hands
are EXCEPTIONAL, while the markers not only look
amazing, but have a super cool 3D feel happening.
Those sub-dials are really sporty too, and that
silver chapter ring is another GREAT feature to
enjoy !..You REALLY did hit the motherload Tom !
This watch couldn't be more impressive !!!!!
Congratulations on finding this ! I know you will
be ENJOYING it !!!..I also think everyone has
the right idea with the strap and cool stitching !
..Anything would look good on this watch though.
Maybe even a vintage style bracelet, or..mesh
too !

Docrwm wrote:

Congratulations on yet another fabulous vintage piece!

Rally strap.....

Wish I could find a black rally strap like these with orange stitching. I've been looking...

Whoops! There go my clean underwear.