Breitling Unitime Automatic Ref. 1260
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1951
Maker / issuer
BreitlingThis Breitling Unitime Automatic, reference 1260, is a gentleman's world-time wristwatch produced circa 1951. It features a three-body, bicolor stainless steel and yellow gold-plated case measuring 37 mm in diameter.
The watch is equipped with a revolving reeded bezel that indicates 24 cities worldwide. Its dial is finished in a two-tone matte silver and incorporates a revolving outer 24-hour ring in silver and black, accented with painted Arabic numerals and applied steel indexes. Central artistic details display maps of South America, Africa, and parts of Europe and North America. Powered by a copper-colored Caliber 260 movement with 17 jewels, the watch includes a lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, and a self-compensating flat balance-spring.
The dial, case, and movement are signed by the maker. A date aperture is positioned at the 3 o'clock mark, accompanied by Dauphine steel hands.
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
- World time wristwatch
- Maker
- Breitling
- Case Material
- Stainless steel and yellow gold plated
- Dial Features
- Map design and 24-hour ring
- Movement Specs
- 17 jewels, lever escapement
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Case Dimensions
- 37 mm
- Movement Caliber
- Cal. 260
- Reference Number
- 1260
- Maker / attribution
- Breitling
Design
- Visible features
- • Revolving reeded bezel inscribed with global city names • Matte silver dial featuring a world map motif • Date window located at the 3 o'clock position • Applied steel indices and steel Dauphine-style hands
- Case and Dial Design
- The watch utilizes a three-body case design constructed from stainless steel with a yellow gold-plated finish. It features lapidated lugs and a revolving reeded bezel that serves as the indicator for 24 international cities. The crown is located on the right side of the case. The two-tone matte silver dial is divided into sections. An outer revolving ring tracks 24 hours, finished in alternating silver and black segments with painted Arabic numerals. The center of the dial is decorated with an artistic map representation encompassing South America, Africa, and parts of North America and Europe. Steel indices are applied to the dial, which is paired with steel Dauphine hands and a date window at the 3 o'clock position.
- Movement Specifications
- The watch is driven by a self-winding Caliber 260 movement, which features a copper-colored finish. The movement is constructed with 17 jewels and incorporates a standard lever escapement architecture. Precision and durability are managed by a monometallic balance combined with a shock-absorber system. A self-compensating flat balance-spring is used to regulate the frequency. The movement is signed, consistent with the dial and case signing.
- Condition and Attribution
- The auction house reports the grading for the watch, assigning specific categories to the case, movement, and dial. These are reported based on an internal grading system. The watch is attributed to circa 1951, and literature cited in the documentation notes that the world-time series was launched by Breitling in 1946, placing this object among the early iterations of this specific complication.
Identification
- Reference
- 1260
- 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: The exact condition of the movement and dial requires further verification despite the auction house grading
- Research required: The gold plating on the steel case is a composite construction whose longevity and exact material composition are not fully detailed