A Vintage Breitling AOPA Reference 765 Chronograph & Catalog
by Charlie Dunne
I recently hung out with a passionate collector and new friend by the name of Dominic. His enthusiasm for vintage watches is really infectious and it is always great to spend time with people who get you pumped up for these old timepieces. Probably within 2 hours of unpacking this Breitling AOPA reference 765 at Wind Vintage HQ, Dominic called dibs and added the chrono to his collection. Accompanying the watch was an interesting catalog (which he was kind enough to let me borrow and document).
After scanning the catalog, I reached out to share it with Breitling Historian and vintage watch collector/expert Fred Mandelbaum (better known on Instagram as @WatchFred). As I should have expected, Mandelbaum would reply that he was aware of these and lent insight to the era in which these pamphlets were produced.
Cover of the strategy concept and market research developed by Willy Breitling, Georges Caspari, and their Ad Agency.
“These were part of the “rejuvenating strategy“ in the early/mid 60s which were financed by the FHH chronograph association and led by Willy Breitling. It was quite the success story, as chronograph sales rose by 400% between 1964 and 1969.”
