The Fake Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition

Quick Take

Yesterday, while many of us were negotiating the possibility of slowing the passage of time for what (I hope) was a peaceful holiday, Breitling had other plans. Officially announced just now, Breitling boss Georges Kern dropped an early look at a new pilot’s chronograph on his Instagram. “New,” as you can see from the images, is a relative term, as this is a vintage-inspired re-edition of Breitling’s much-loved and very collectible 765 AVI chronograph. The new version, dubbed the AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition, is a mid-century military design that has been reborn some 67 years later, with time (and your choice of steel, rose gold, or platinum – all limited editions) diminishing little of the original’s handsome hand-wound charm. replica watches uk

The Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition in platinum (left), steel (center), and rose gold (right).

Initial Thoughts

These images, largely pulled from Kern’s own Instagram, show the AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition as a faithful recreation of the original, with a 41mm case, a highly domed crystal, and a 12-hour screw-secured bezel. Offered in steel, rose gold, and platinum, each offers its own production limited edition, in runs of fake Breitling 1953, 253, and 153, respectively.

Being a historical recreation from Breitling, the AVI 765 1953 gets a proper movement in the in-house B09 caliber. Hand-wound, ticking at 4 Hz, and offering some 70 hours of power reserve, this special expression of Breitling’s well-known B01 uses a column wheel and displays running seconds, a 15-minute counter (three o’clock) and a 12-hour counter at six. With no date and a matte dial treatment for all three available versions, the AVI 765 1953 Re-Edition hits the same mark as the original, by which I mean, it’s gorgeous.

This is one I would love to see in person. And while all three versions have their own charm, the price point of the steel (CHF 7,900, or about $8,050 at the time of posting) and the blue dial of the platinum example really speak to me. The rose gold is undeniably rad, but the white metal really works here and the AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition offers a ton of vintage-effect military chronograph for slightly less money than the (also lovely) Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition (which currently sells for $8,600 in steel). While I’m personally not a huge fan of pilot’s watches, I am a sucker for a 12-hour bezel and I have to imagine that this 765 AVI 1953 would look amazing on a NATO (if you get a shot, please tag me).

A vintage Breitling 765 AVI (left) and the new AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition (right).

Hype and NATO-wearing dreams aside, little of this release will be a surprise for die-hard Breitling fans as the brand has been open (and quite successful) over the past few years in their work to look to their past and pull on the thread of highlight work. This includes both general inspiration (such as that exemplified by the updated Premiere line) and full-on re-editions (like this one or the previously-mentioned 806 Re-Edition).

All told, the “new” AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition is an easy-wearing size, rocks a solid and appropriate movement, looks great, and offers a compelling value statement for a limited edition piece from Breitling that I can’t wait to see in the metal.

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The Basics

Brand: Breitling
Model: AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition

Diameter: 41mm
Thickness: 11mm
Case Material: Steel, rose gold, or platinum
Dial Color: Black or blue
Indexes: Painted numerals
Lume: Faux aged tanned
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Leather strap

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The Movement

Caliber: Breitling B09
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, 15-minute counter, and 12-hour counter for the chronograph
Diameter: 30mm
Power Reserve: 70 hours
Winding: Hand-wound
Frequency: 28,800 (4 Hz)
Jewels: 47
Chronometer Certified: Yes, COSC

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