yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force Breitling Navitimer 2100

[paja]

The watch belonged to Yugoslav Air Force Pilot, unfortunately it doesn't work. It seems that Breitling delivered watches with some kind of defect as most of them I've seen so far, and I've seen at least a dozen, don't work. I found information that some of them stopped working after first battery replacement. Anyway they were produced between 1980 and 1985 and have ESA Y2 900.231 movement, model is also known as Pluton. You can see pilots' wings and RV i PVO (Air Force and Anti-Air Defence) inscription on the case back. 

Edited May 3, 2016 by paja

[paja]

A few more slightly better photos.

[paja]

Just two more.

[Emanuel]

My JNA AirForce Pilot watch:

Some more pictures for future reference....

[paja]

Great photos, thanks for sharing! 

[Rogi]

Its been a while for me but just wanted to say what beautiful timepieces the movement inside is a bit over designed for the time and harder to maintain but still a wonderful example of the early quartz movements. 

[paja]

According to information a fellow collector shared with us on another forum you supposedly had to use plastic tweezers or some other tool during the battery replacement avoiding all contact between the battery and the mechanism itself. Is that really true or not I can't say but I've heard stories like that before...

[paja]

Before Breitling Yugoslav pilots were using Zenith Cal. 143-6 and Heuer 1550SG. 
A friend of mine inherited Heuer and I had photos of it but unfortunately I can't find them. 
Pilots of the Army of Yugoslavia/Army of Serbia & Montenegro and Army of Serbia were and I think still use some of the Citizen's Blue Angels models! Some of the models I've seen have pilots' wings (FRY era type) engraved on the clasp.

[Rogi]

8 hours ago, paja said:

According to information a fellow collector shared with us on another forum you supposedly had to use plastic tweezers or some other tool during the battery replacement avoiding all contact between the battery and the mechanism itself. Is that really true or not I can't say but I've heard stories like that before...

Yes it is true, but that is how you have to replace most quartz pieces' batteries. Especially vintage as it can sometimes get picky in changing them. Metal tools can short the battery, it causes an electrostatic discharge and cause the connection to be terminated, necessitating a new movement That doesn't mean we can pick up any old plastic tweezers, they have to be electrostatic discharge safe. Plastic itself can also cause a discharge depending on what it has been mixed with to produce it.

So no fingers, or metal tools. Good watchmaking plastic tweezers.

Plastic or Bamboo tweezers (I've always used plastic), there are guys that change them with gloves (handling them with gloves) but I'd avoid doing that, if your hand is too large it will knock something out or worse squish your battery.

[paja]

My previous reply very nicely illustrates how much of a watch expert am I  
Because that's a common procedure and considering just how much of them aren't working properly I presume they have other issues.

[nero13]

If anyone have one of these for sale, I am interested!

[paja]

Not that long ago there was one on chrono24, it must have got sold as I can't find it now.
If I remember well the watch was in working condition and the price was 1200$.

[nero13]

Ahaa ok too bad :/ Any Watch is of intresst working or not as long its jna issued.

[paja]

Last few not-working ones I saw were in the 100-200 EUR range (prices in Serbia). I still regret not getting one with 100 EUR price tag as it was in very good shape with original box and instructions manual, but alas, someone was quicker.

[nero13]

3 hours ago, paja said:

Last few not-working ones I saw were in the 100-200 EUR range (prices in Serbia). I still regret not getting one with 100 EUR price tag as it was in very good shape with original box and instructions manual, but alas, someone was quicker.

IF you find one of thoes broken ones please contact me. 

Edited November 21, 2016 by nero13

[nero13]

Finally after a year of hunting I found one! So stoked! If anyone have info or documentation on these please PM!

[paja]

Excellent! Thanks for the photos and congrats on finding it in such a great condition 

[BalkanCollector]

Such a beautiful watch! Love the combination of digital and analog.

[Daffy Duck]

that was very fast

[nero13]

Big thanks guys!

[new world]

interesting examples!

Breitling is known for making numerous customized watches for national airforce units and teams. Although they normally paint national logo on the dial of the watch.

I am curious why watches were not sent back and serviced by Breitling? It looks like serious defect, such high grade watch should be able to handle battery replacement. 

Edited November 28, 2017 by new world

[paja]

Sadly the original owner of the watch I presented in this topic passed away so I can't ask him. If I remember well the story was they couldn't be replaced because of the breakup of SFRY and everything else that followed.

[new world]

here's similar looking Navitimer 2100 watch, for French Air Force, roughly same repiod.

Note logo on the dial - this was common practice for Breitling. I am surprised Yugo Air Force logo is not on the dial. 

[paja]

Yugo logo on the dial would be a nice detail. Do you happen to know did any other national air force use that model?
Thanks for the photo.

Edited December 22, 2017 by paja

[MarinaAnic]

My dad has been a pilot in JNA and he says that no one was wearing these watches because they all stopped working so fast…