Breitling
Italian Military | 817 | Steel
Ref. 817
The Breitling 817 was introduced in 1975, as a tool watch expressly designed for military use. Commissioned by the Italian Army, the watches were given to helicopter pilots, bearing many of the classic hallmarks typically associated with military pilot’s wristwatches.
Each piece was designed to meet the Italian Military’s “Cronometro da Polso” or “CP-1” requirements and unlike numerous military examples, were never commercially available to civilians.
Only 500 of the references were made, with only a handful recorded amongst collectors, making this arguably one of the rarest collection of military wristwatches ever produced.
This Breitling 817, with serial number (EI 01XX) has a round, stainless steel case with large chronograph pushers and an original unsigned, fluted crown. The case measures 39.5 mm in diameter (as per CP-1 specification) and has thick straight-line lugs with sharp bevels, retaining good definition. Like all original examples, the screw-down case-back features rarely preserved military engraving; “E.I” (Esercito Italiano) translates to “Italian Army”, along with its military stock number.
The case features a black aluminium, PVD coated bi-directional rotating bezel with a sixty-minute graduation.
Inside the watch, it houses a hand-wound Valjoux calibre 236 movement (signed “Breitling”), beating at a rate of 21,600 A/h. Born of a famous column-wheel chronograph family, the Valjoux 236 is derived from the 17 jewel, two-register base calibre Valjoux 23, boasting an increased beat frequency.
It comes fitted with its original, Japanese-made expanding bracelet. It is in remarkably good condition, with signs of wear to the case, bezel and plexi.
Viewings can be arranged in Central London by appointment.| Brand: | Breitling |
| Model: | 817 - Italian military issue |
| Movement: | mechanical manual-winding Valjoux 236 |
| Functions: | chronograph, hours, minutes, seconds, |
| Features: | all original |
| Case: | 39.5 mm stainless steel |
| Crystal: | plexiglass |
| Bracelet: | original Japanese expandable bracelet |
| Lug: | 22mm |
| Year: | 1975 |
| Box & papers: | - |
All of our pre-owned watches have undergone thorough mechanical inspections, including being ultrasonically cleaned, serviced and resealed if appropriate and tested for at least four days, to ensure they meet our highest timekeeping standards. Our pre-owned and vintage watches, unless stated otherwise, are covered by a full or a limited twenty-four month warranty. For example, due to their age, some vintage watches should not be subjected to the same conditions as when they were new. Please see our Terms & Conditions for further information.
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