Breitling Duograph Ref. 766 'Rattrapante'
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1951
Maker / issuer
BreitlingThis vintage Breitling Duograph, reference 766, is a split-seconds, or 'rattrapante', chronograph dating to approximately 1951. The timepiece is housed in a 35mm case featuring stepped lugs and square pushers, with a snapback caseback.
The crown located at 3 o'clock serves as the activation for the split-seconds function, while also facilitating winding and time-setting. The silver dial displays a uniform patina with patinated indices and blued-steel hands. The watch is powered by the Venus Caliber 185, a movement incorporating a three-register design and a mechanical split-seconds complication. The watch is presented on a strap and is described by the vendor as being in strong overall condition.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1951
- Type
- Split seconds chronograph
- Maker
- Breitling
- Movement
- Venus Caliber 185
- Reference
- 766
- Complication
- Split-seconds chronograph
- Case features
- Stepped lugs, square pushers, snapback
- Crown function
- Winding, setting, and split-seconds activation
- Maker / attribution
- Breitling
Design
- Visible features
- • Silver dial with aged patina • Blued-steel handset • Stepped lugs and square pushers • Three-register dial configuration
- Case and Dial Design
- The Breitling Duograph reference 766 is constructed with a 35mm case that includes distinctive stepped lugs and square chronograph pushers. The case architecture is completed by a snapback caseback. The crown, positioned at 3 o'clock, serves a dual purpose: standard winding and setting, and the activation of the split-seconds function. The watch features a silver dial which has developed a uniform patina over time. It retains clear printing and features patinated indices. The time is indicated by a set of blued-steel hands, which provide contrast against the aged silver surface.
- Condition and Attribution
- The auction description reports the watch to be in strong overall condition. The watch dates to approximately 1951. The source notes that the Duograph was produced in various configurations of metal and dial designs, and that the reference 766 is considered an elusive model within the Breitling catalog. As with many vintage pieces, the visual appearance of the dial is the result of aging, described as a uniform patina.
- Movement and Complication
- The timepiece is powered by the Venus Caliber 185. This movement is notable for integrating both a three-register chronograph design and a split-seconds, or 'rattrapante', complication. The movement is contained within a form factor that the source identifies as comparable in size to other chronographs from the 1940s. The 'rattrapante' function allows for the timing of intermediate intervals by using a split-seconds hand controlled by the crown. This mechanism represents the technical approach Breitling employed to expand its chronograph offerings during the 1940s and early 1950s.
Identification
- Reference
- 766
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Patina development is subjective to observation
- Research required: Exact production year is estimated as 'circa 1951'