Why This Watch Matters A classic 40's chronograph from one of the best makers of the complication of all time, this ref. 777 offers a Premier level of enjoyment on the wrist at 37.5mm in diameter. The Full Story Two years ago, Breitling revived the Premier, a collection of chronographs originally released in the 1940s. Breitling has a rich archive, one that they continue to have success in reaching into for modern re-editions and heritage inspired product lines. The brand has emphasized its historic connection to chronographs meant for aviation for decades. However, unlike other long-running model lines like the Chronomat and Navitimer, the new Breitling Premier series tapped into a different part of the brand's history, one based on elegance and intended for dressed-up occasions. This is an original Breitling Premier chronograph ref. 777 and its mid-century charm comes across immediately. The example we have here today has a number of fantastic attributes. The hour hands are syringe-shaped, with pointed tips for accurate time telling. The beautiful silvered dial features a mix of inverted dart hour markers and stylized Arabic numerals. The twin sub-dials – elapsed 45-minutes at three o'clock; running seconds at nine o'clock – have a concentric engine-turned decoration and bring a sense of balance and proportion to the rest of the dial. The old-school Breitling logo is prominently placed in script under 12 o'clock with "PREMIER" branding below, and a crisply printed tachymeter scale finishes the dial layout on its periphery. Beyond the beautiful dial, the stainless steel case of this Breitling Premier measures in at a highly wearable 37.5mm diameter. This would have been large for the 1940s, but it's perfect for today. The printing on the caseback is well-defined and legible, and the piston pushers operate with precision and a crisp click. We paired this Breitling with our Bedford watch strap in beige to play off of the dial and lume patina, the look is very vintage chronograph and works really well here. The Fine Print Maker: Breitling Model: Premier Reference: 777Year: Circa 1945Case No: 582838Material: Stainless steel Dimensions: 37.5mm diameter; 12.5mm thickness Crystal: Plexiglass Lume: Yes, radium Caliber: Breitling signed Venus, manually-wound, 176 Bracelet/Strap: HODINKEE The Bedford Strap in Beige Lug Width: 20mmBox/Papers: No. A digital extract from the Breitling Archives will be sent to its new owner, stating the date of case manufacture (May 1945), the serial number, the reference number, the case material, and the movement. What We Love And What You Should Know Things We Love: - Oversized 37.5mm case diameter- Syringe hands- Excellent overall condition and patina Things To Know: - Scratches on case This Breitling Premier is in excellent and honest overall condition. The case is strong with light scratches and nice edges to the subtly twisted and faceted lugs. The case has some light nicks on the edges. The bezel edges have remained sharp. The engravings on the caseback are all strong and clearly visible. The dial has developed patina with a consistent light spotting throughout. The lume on the dial has developed patina and has aged to a rich vanilla color. The lume in the hands has also developed patina and is close to matching the color of the lume on the dial. The blued hands have developed patina. The crown is correctly unsigned. The dial, case, and movement are signed by Breitilng. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist.
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