Breitling Reference 765 CP 'Co-Pilot' | A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch, Circa 1965 | 百年靈 型號 765 CP 'Co-Pilot' 精鋼計時腕錶，製作年份約 1965

Breitling

Reference 765 CP 'Co-Pilot'
A stainless steel chronograph wristwatch, Circa 1965

百年靈 型號 765 CP 'Co-Pilot'
精鋼計時腕錶，製作年份約 1965

Dial: black
Caliber: cal. 178 mechanical, 17 jewels
Case: stainless steel, screw down case back
Case number: 1'055'111
Size: 41 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no

Condition Report:
Case: The case is in overall good condition with light surface wear visible throughout commensurate with age. Some more surface scuffing to the case back. Some minor losses to the coating around the bezel. Please note that the strap and buckle are generic and not signed Breitling.

Dial: The dial is in good condition for its age. The dial has light spotting throughout. The luminous material remains intact and has darkened in some areas. The luminous accents reacting to U.V light exposure but not glowing for a prolonged period of time. The tritium markers on the 15-minute counter have aged to a different color than the indexes. The minute and hour hand have been likely replaced in the past, but are tritium. The hands with some dark spotting and minor loss to the luminous material in the seconds hand.

Movement: The movement is stamped 'WOG'. The movement is running at time of cataloging, however it was not tested for the accuracy of time or duration of the power reserve and may need service at the buyer's discretion. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement.

Catalogue Note:
In 1953, the Breitling Watch Company launched the first reference 765 AVI: a large pilot chronograph with a 12-hour rotating steel bezel. The first model included a Venus 178 movement, with the 30-minute register modified to a 15-minute register. The 15-minute register was created due to its significance for a pilot in readying a plane for takeoff. This register design was later replaced by a 15-minute register with oversized luminous markers placed at 3-minute increments.

In 1965, Breitling updated reference 765 AVI by replacing the steel bezel by an anodized aluminum one. This update was accompanied by a reference change to 765 CP, and the introduction of two different bezels, a full black one (like the present watch) and a half black and silver one. With a limited production run between 1965 to 1967, the dial was also updated with simple outer track markings and smaller luminous markers in the 15-minute register.

Reference 765 CP, is also nicknamed the 'Jean-Claude Killy' after the famous French alpine ski racer who was spotted wearing this Breitling model when he won the gold in all three Alpine skiing events at the 1968 Olympics in the French Alps.