Breitling Genève, "AVI- Co-Pilot," Ref. 765. Made in the 1960's. Fine, antimagnetic, water-resistant, stainless steel Aviator's wristwatch with round button chronograph and registers.
Case: Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back, graduated black bezel, lapidated lugs.
Dial: Black with luminous baton indexes and Arabic 12, subsidiary sunk guilloche dials for the seconds, the 15-minute register with luminous blocks at 3 minute intervals and 12-hour registers. Luminous white hands.
Movement: Cal. 178, copper-colored, 17 jewels, straight- line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring.
Size: 40mm Thickness: 12mm
Circa: 1960s.
More about Breitling:
Introduced in 1954, the Breitling AVI Co-Pilot first generation had digital minute counter instead of the "classic" 15 minute counter subdial. This unusual minute counter was soon replaced by the more common fiften minute counter seen in other watches specifically the Type 20 from Breguet, Vixa and Auricoste which were based on a requirements established by the French Armée de l'Air.
The AVI co-pilot was often a procurement watch, used by military pilots whose governments did not issue a watch. Starting in the late 1960's the AVI line experienced a few different variations for specific purposes such as Yachting but also cosmetic changes and was fitted with a Black bezel and silver subdials for better contrast. It was famously worn by Raquel Welch in the Movie Fathom and the brand use that notoriety in a subsequent advertising campaign .
This example is the one worn by Raquel Welch in Fathom, the AVI 765 with a steel rotating bezel and a black dial with silver subdial. It is the most coveted AVI Co-Pilot Ref. 765.
