Breitling 1904 Watch Steel — Sub-seconds, Cream Dial (1960s)
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Movement guaranteed for 1 year
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Photo taken on a 17.5 cm wrist
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Atelier Note
The cream dial has developed a radiant patina, denser on one side than the other. At six o'clock, the sub-seconds turns beneath its crosshair. At Breitling, this sobriety is the exception.
Breitling 1904 Vintage Watch from the 1960s, steel with patinated cream dial
This Breitling Watch bears the reference 1904 and dates from the 1960s. The house was founded in 1884 in Saint-Imier by Léon Breitling, established in La Chaux-de-Fonds from 1892, then led by his son Gaston and his grandson Willy Breitling from 1932 to 1979. It made its name with sports counters and aviation chronographs — the Navitimer being their culmination. This piece is its exact opposite: a dress three-hander, with neither counter nor calculating bezel, signed BREITLING GENÈVE beneath the anchor logo.
The original dial has acquired a cream patina born of time: it radiates from the center, grows denser in the nine o'clock sector, and is repeated on no other example. Faceted applied baton hour markers in steel mark the hours, doubled at twelve. At six o'clock, a sub-seconds register recesses the dial, crossed by its own crosshair — a configuration inherited from pocket watches, which central seconds would replace in the following decade. The faceted steel leaf hands reflect the light along successive edges.
The steel case measures 35mm in diameter, 8.6mm thick, and 42mm Lug-to-lug. Its flared, faceted lugs extend away from the caseband before falling back toward the wrist, a design that elongates the silhouette without adding width. The bezel is thin and polished, the slightly domed acrylic Crystal, and the crown fluted.
The movement is a hand-wound mechanical. It was serviced in April 2025 by our partner watchmakers and is guaranteed for one year. The watch is presented on a later textured black leather strap, in Lug width 17mm.
Three points to note
01
Cream dial with a patina born of time — radiating from the center, never cleaned or retouched.
02
Sub-seconds at six o'clock — recessed register with crosshair, applied baton hour markers doubled at twelve.
03
A Breitling without a chronograph — the dress register of a house known for its aviation watches.
Why choose a vintage Breitling watch?
This pre-owned Breitling watch holds a precise place among men's and women's vintage watches: 35mm in diameter, 42mm Lug-to-lug and 8.6mm thick make up the classic format of the men's watch of the 1960s, worn today equally well on either wrist. It is also the most direct way to enter the world of Breitling outside of the chronograph: same signature on the dial, same period, without the premium of aviation models.
Like all our vintage mechanical watches, this one has been opened and checked by our partner watchmakers: inspection of the movement, examination of the dial, hands and case. Every vintage Breitling watch we offer comes with an Atelier Victor invoice serving as a certificate, a one-year guarantee, and lifetime-guaranteed authenticity.
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Technical characteristics
- Brand: Breitling
- Model: Dress watch with sub-seconds
- Reference: 1904
- Serial number: 7269••
- Estimated year: 1960s
- Origin: Switzerland
- Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex)
- Movement: Mechanical hand-wound
- Functions: Hours, minutes, sub-seconds at 6 o'clock
- Case: Steel, round shape with flared lugs, steel caseback
- Diameter: 35mm (36mm including the crown)
- Lug to lug: 42mm
- Thickness: 8.6mm
- Lug width: 17mm
- Crown: Fluted steel, not original
- Dial: Cream with patina born of time, applied faceted baton indexes, sub-seconds register at 6 o'clock, Breitling Genève signature, original
- Hands: Faceted steel leaf, original
- Crystal: Acrylic (condition 8/10)
- Strap: Textured black leather, not original
- Buckle: Steel pin buckle, not original
Condition and guarantee
- Overall condition: Good state of preservation. The original dial shows a pronounced cream patina, radiating from the center and denser in the nine o'clock sector: it was born of time and has not been cleaned. The applied indexes, hands and sub-seconds register are complete and unaltered. The polished steel case shows signs of wear on the bezel and lugs. Acrylic Crystal rated 8/10. Our photographs are presented unretouched.
- Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
- Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
- Mechanical: Movement serviced in April 2025, guaranteed for 1 year
- Included: Atelier Victor invoice serving as a certificate, protective case
- Not included: Original box and papers
Frequently Asked Questions
A Breitling without a chronograph, is that common?
Less well known, but entirely part of the brand's catalogue. Breitling built its name on sports counters and aviation chronographs — the Navitimer and its slide rule being the culmination of that — and this part of the production now eclipses the rest. The brand has nevertheless always produced three-hand dress watches like this one, signed in the same way, in the same years.
What is a sub-seconds?
A seconds hand that rotates in an offset register, here at six o'clock, instead of sharing the central axis of the hours and minutes. This is the configuration inherited from pocket watches, whose architecture naturally placed the seconds wheel in that position. On this example, the register is recessed into the dial and crossed by a crosshair, two fine lines that structure it.
Is the dial original?
Yes. The cream patina formed over a long period and remains uneven, denser on one side than the other — which a refinishing would make uniform. The applied indices are each in one piece with their facets intact, and the signature as well as the register crosshair are crisp. We have neither cleaned nor retouched it, just as we repaint no dial.
How do you wind a hand-wound watch?
Gently turn the crown clockwise, about twenty turns, until you feel resistance. Never force it beyond that point. Daily winding, at the same time of day, is enough to keep it running and stabilizes its rate. The sub-seconds at six o'clock lets you check at a glance that it is running.
Is this piece suitable for a slim or large wrist?
With a 35mm diameter, 42mm Lug-to-lug, and 8.6mm thickness, it suits wrists from approximately 15.5 to 19cm — a guideline, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. Its flared lugs elongate the silhouette and make it appear slightly larger than its 35mm. The Lug width measures 17mm, a common size for replacement straps.
Mechanical warranty — 1 year
Each watch is inspected by our watchmakers before shipping. In case of a mechanism malfunction during the first year, we cover the repair.
Authenticity warranty — lifetime
If a watch turns out to be non-authentic, we will take it back and refund you in full. Without time limit.
What is not covered
- Exposure to water or humidity
- Shocks, impacts, or vibrations
- Consumable parts (strap, Crystal, crown, pushers)
- Battery replacement (quartz movements)
- Opening or disassembly of the watch by a third party
- Improper use
The accuracy of vintage watches varies according to the model, movement, and year of production. A request for accuracy improvement deemed within acceptable tolerances cannot be covered by the warranty.
Shipping fees
After-sales service is free. Shipping fees outside the United Arab Emirates remain the responsibility of the customer.
Authentication Process
Each watch is examined by our partner watchmakers before being offered for sale: verification of authenticity, checking the conformity of the components, identification of any modification or replacement of original parts.
If any element has been replaced during the life of the watch (dial, hands, crown, Crystal, strap), we systematically indicate it in the product sheet. You buy knowing the exact history of your piece.
Certificate of Authenticity
Your Atelier Victor invoice serves as a certificate of authenticity: it attests to the origin and conformity of the piece, and is covered by our lifetime authenticity guarantee — if a piece sold by Atelier Victor were found to be non-authentic, it would be fully refunded, with no time limit.
Free delivery
Delivery is free on all our pieces internationally. Dispatch within 48 to 72 business hours by DHL Express, Emirates Post, EMS or an equivalent carrier depending on the destination, delivery within 2 to 14 business days. Each shipment is insured and delivered against signature.
- Tracking number sent as soon as the shipment is dispatched
- For certain destinations, delivery may be made to a secure collection point in order to guarantee the integrity of the shipment
Collection in Dubai
In-person handover by appointment in Downtown Dubai. Make an appointment.
Taxes and customs
The shipping origin is indicated on each product page. If the delivery country differs from the shipping country, customs duties and taxes may apply upon receipt and are payable by the buyer. Customs inspections may in rare cases extend the delivery time.
For full details, please consult our shipping policy.
FINAL SALES
All sales are final: no return, exchange, or cancellation is accepted after order confirmation. Each piece is authenticated, inspected, and described in detail before being offered for sale.
BEFORE PURCHASE
Our advisors remain at your disposal for any questions and can send you additional photographs or videos upon simple request, by email or on WhatsApp.
NON-CONFORMING ITEM
In the exceptional case of an item that does not match its listing, please notify us within 72 hours: it will be eligible for a refund or an exchange. If the parcel shows damage upon delivery, it should be refused or its opening filmed continuously.
For full details, please consult our return policy.
A piece selected by Atelier Victor
Authenticated, inspected, and photographed by our team. As each sale is final, our team remains available 7 days a week on WhatsApp to answer your questions, share additional photos, or a video of the piece in hand — so that you can make your choice with complete peace of mind.
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