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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · World time wristwatch

Breitling Unitime Automatic Ref. 1260

Partially verified

This 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.

Front view of the Breitling Unitime Automatic showing the world-time bezel and map-dial.
Front view of the Breitling Unitime Automatic showing the world-time bezel and map-dial. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Wristwatch · World time wristwatch
Maker / attribution
Breitling
Reference
1260
Catalogue / lot identifier
92
Source-reported date
circa 1951
Source-reported place
Switzerland

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “C. Three-body, bicolor, polished, revolving reeded bezel bearing the indication of 24 cities around the world, lapidated lugs.”
  • “D. two-tone matte silver with outer 24 hours revolving ring dial alternated in silver and black with painted Arabic numerals, concentric, applied steel indexes, in the center, the design of the maps of South America, Africa, part of North America and part of Europe, aperture for the date on the3. ?Dauphine? steel hands.”

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “M. Cal. 260, 11 1/2???, copper colored, 17 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating flat balance-spring.”
  • “Dial, case and movement signed.”

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “Grading System Grade: AA Very good Case: 4 Fair Movement: * 4 - 5 Dial: 4 - 5 - 01”
  • “The first models of ?World Time? wristwatches were launched by Breitling in 1946.”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific material composition of the gold plating used on the stainless steel base?
  • What are the precise chronological indicators that differentiate this 1951 reference 1260 from the earlier 1946 models?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Breitling Unitime Automatic Ref. 1260
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerBreitling“Breitling, Genève”
Reference Number1260“Ref. 1260”
Datecirca 1951“circa 1951”
Case MaterialStainless steel and yellow gold plated“stainless steel and yellow gold plated”
Movement CaliberCal. 260“Cal. 260”
Dial FeaturesMap design and 24-hour ring“in the center, the design of the maps of South America, Africa, part of North America and part of Europe”
Case Dimensions37 mm“Diam. 37 mm.”
Movement Specs17 jewels, lever escapement“17 jewels, lever escapement”

Visible details

  • 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

Research qualifications

  • The exact condition of the movement and dial requires further verification despite the auction house grading
  • The gold plating on the steel case is a composite construction whose longevity and exact material composition are not fully detailed

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.