Curated Vintage Watches Collection

The Breitling Jumbo GMT is a striking and highly desirable pilot’s watch, instantly recognizable by its oversized case and colorful rotating 24-hour inner bezel. Most examples feature the classic two-tone beige and brown combination, while a much smaller number boast the spectacular and highly sought-after beige and blue variant. The dial stands out with vibrant orange hands for the hour, minute, and chronograph functions, paired with a bright yellow GMT hand, delivering excellent legibility and a bold, distinctive look.

These GMT chronographs were produced in two main references: the more common automatic Chrono-Matic Ref. 2115 and the significantly rarer manual-wind Ref. 812. The Ref. 812 is powered by the legendary Valjoux 724 (a GMT-modified version of the renowned Valjoux 72), with only a very limited number of cases manufactured in 1968. Breitling experts estimate that fewer than 100 pieces of the Ref. 812 were ever assembled, making it one of the rarest vintage Breitling chronographs from this era.

Vintage Eye Watches is proud to be one of the leading specialists in these charismatic jumbo-cased Breitling GMTs. Both the Ref. 812 and Ref. 2115 form important pieces of our permanent collection, and we regularly seek out the best surviving examples for serious collectors who appreciate their rarity, mechanical beauty, and unmistakable pilot-watch character.

Rare Breitling 'Jumbo' GMT Ref 812 & 2115 – Vintage Pilot Watch

This image represents likely the largest gathering of the very rare GMT ref 812 in the World!

In 1969, Omega launched one of the most ambitious and complex pilot watches ever created: the Flightmaster Ref. 145.013. Developed specifically for the booming trans-continental airline industry, this watch was engineered to far exceed the standards of typical pilot watches of the era. It featured an oversized, futuristic case with exceptional water resistance comparable to serious dive watches of the time, making it robust enough for the demanding cockpit environment. With its distinctive asymmetrical design, three crowns, two pushers, and no fewer than seven hands, the Flightmaster stood out as a true “Swiss Army knife” for professional pilots.

What made the Flightmaster truly revolutionary was its advanced 12-hour GMT complication with a fully independent second hour hand, adjustable via the auxiliary crown at 10 o’clock. While popular GMT watches like the Rolex GMT-Master or Glycine Airman required rotating the bezel to display a second time zone, the Flightmaster allowed direct, independent setting — a significant advantage for long-haul pilots. Omega paid extraordinary attention to detail with color-coded pushers and crowns (blue for the GMT hand, black for the inner rotating bezel, and yellow/orange for the chronograph functions). Special professional versions even featured yellow cadmium-coated hands for superior legibility in infrared-lit aircraft cockpits. Powered by the modified Calibre 910 (based on the robust Lemania 861), it combined chronograph capability with practical aviation-focused innovations.

At Vintage Eye Watches, we are true specialists in the Omega Flightmaster and have curated and sold numerous examples across the key references, including the 145.013, 145.026, and 145.036 in both yellow and red hand versions. The first reference 145.013 remains our favorite thanks to its distinctive black and green bicolor subdials (representing night and day) and its lower, more elegant case profile with a domed crystal. Because its production run was relatively short, well-preserved examples are becoming increasingly difficult to source. Many suffer from dial fading, uneven patina, or deterioration of the rubber gasket around the rotating bezel. For those wanting to explore the model in depth, we highly recommend the authoritative book “FLIGHTMASTER ONLY”.

1969 Omega Flightmaster 145.013 – The Ultimate Pilot’s Tool Watch

The most innovative pilot's tool watch from the beginning of the Jet Age

Introduced in 1964, the Breitling SuperOcean Ref. 2005 is one of the most creative and unconventional diver’s chronographs of the 1960s. Nicknamed the “Slow Seconds” or “Slow Chrono,” it features a highly unusual layout where a large central hand counts elapsed minutes instead of the traditional central chronograph seconds hand. The status of the chronograph is cleverly indicated by a small round window at 6 o’clock: a black dot when inactive or reset, a small green dot when stopped after running, and a large green dot when actively timing. This intelligent functionality was achieved through a custom modification of the Valjoux 7731 caliber (based on the Venus 188), allowing the watch to serve as a practical dive timer in an era when most chronographs were ill-suited for underwater use.

The Ref. 2005 evolved through its production, with the later MK3 version from the early 1970s introducing a practical yachting bezel. Both the MK1 and MK3 are distinguished by large tritium markers for superior underwater legibility and a distinctive square-tipped central minute hand. These watches rank among the earliest automatic chronograph dive watches ever built and have developed a strong cult following among collectors who appreciate their bold design and innovative approach to timing.

At Vintage Eye Watches, we are specialists in these rare Breitling SuperOceans and have curated and sold numerous fine examples of the Ref. 2005 MK1, MK3, as well as the automatic Chrono-Matic Ref. 2105. Launched in 1969, the Ref. 2105 was Breitling’s first automatic SuperOcean, powered by the groundbreaking Calibre 11 Chrono-Matic (developed in partnership with Heuer, Buren, and Dubois-Dépraz). Housed in a massive 48mm case with 20 ATM water resistance and a patented waterproof rotating bezel, it features striking orange accents, lime-green luminous indices, a 15-minute countdown timer at 3 o’clock (with orange markers), and a 6-hour totalizer at 9 o’clock. The bold early-1970s aesthetic combined with robust dive capability still looks remarkably modern and desirable today..

Breitling SuperOcean - Vintage "Slow Seconds" & Automatic Diver Chronograph

"Slow Seconds" ref 2005 Mk1 & Mk3 and Chrono-matic ref 2105 from the 1960s

The Breitling Chronomat has been one of the longest-running and most iconic lines in Breitling’s history since its introduction in 1941 with its signature slide-rule bezel. The arrival of the Chrono-Matic automatic chronograph movement in the late 1960s marked an exciting period in horology, as major Swiss brands competed fiercely to develop the first reliable automatic chronograph calibers. The Ref. 0818 and its cousin the Ref. 1808 beautifully combine the classic 1960s Chronomat and Navitimer DNA with the bolder, more architectural case designs that became popular in the 1970s.

These models feature a distinctive layered dial with an integrated slide-rule scale, allowing the wearer to perform practical calculations such as speed, distance, and fuel consumption. Both references were offered with either the manual-wind Venus 178 movement (three subdials) or the groundbreaking automatic Calibre 11/12 (two subdials with date). While the reverse panda (black dial with white subdials) was the most common, the classic panda configuration (white dial with black subdials) is significantly rarer and highly prized by collectors.

The rarest and most sought-after variant is the striking all-white “Albino” dial on the Ref. 0818, which creates a dramatic, high-contrast look when paired with the fluorescent orange hands. These all-white 0818s very rarely appear on the open market, and when they do surface, they are mostly well-worn or faded examples. This strongly suggests that the best-preserved pieces are tightly held by dedicated collectors. At Vintage Eye Watches, we specialize in these rare Breitling Chronomats and have curated and sold numerous examples of both the Ref. 0818 “Albino” and Ref. 1808 “Panda” across their various movement and dial variations.

Breitling Chronomat Ref 0818 “Albino” – The Rare White Dial Unicorn

Breitling Chronomat 0818 “Albino” & 1808 “Panda” – Rare 1970s Chronographs

Launched in 1967, the Glycine Airman SST was designed as a bold evolution of the original 1953 Airman — the world’s first GMT wristwatch. The “SST” stands for Supersonic Transport, inspired by the excitement surrounding the new era of supersonic passenger jets like Concorde. With its oversized cushion “UFO-shaped” case and futuristic styling, the SST embraced late-1960s tool-watch design while retaining excellent pilot-focused legibility.

This particular example has a remarkable one-owner history. It was purchased new in the summer of 1972 at the Kadena Air Base BX on Okinawa by a U.S. Air Force C-141 pilot during the Vietnam War era. He flew numerous missions across the Pacific, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, wearing the watch daily until 1975 and then intermittently as a Reserve and later Continental Airlines pilot. The watch was serviced twice at the Glycine factory in Switzerland (in 1978 and 1983) and has only had its case opened on those two occasions in over 45 years. It remains in exceptional like-new mechanical and cosmetic condition.

A true product of its time, the Glycine Airman SST “Pumpkin” earned its nickname from the striking bright orange 24-hour inner chapter ring paired with the two-tone AM/PM dial. Its limited production, combined with this watch’s documented military pilot provenance, makes it especially desirable among serious vintage GMT collectors. Many pilots still consider the Airman one of the best tool watches ever made for international travel or UTC/GMT needs.

This watch was also featured on Flight Birds: https://flightbirds.net/the-stroke-of-midnight-the-glycine-pumpkin-sst/

Glycine Airman SST “Pumpkin” – The Iconic 1967 Orange GMT

Our Rare, One-Owner, Vietnam War Pilot Watch

Introduced in the early 1980s, the Seiko 7A28 is a landmark in watchmaking history — the world’s first analog quartz chronograph movement. Often considered over-engineered by modern standards, this 15-jewel caliber features an all-metal construction with virtually no plastic parts, making it fully serviceable and even regulatable like a high-end mechanical movement. It offers exceptional accuracy along with advanced functions, including a triple-register chronograph measuring to 1/20th of a second and a clever split-seconds feature.

We particularly appreciate the 7A28 in the following key references available in our collection: the 7A28-7000 (the iconic “Ripley” model worn by Sigourney Weaver in the 1986 movie Aliens), the 7A28-7010, the 7A28-8000 series including the Bishop model (also featured in Aliens), both of which were designed by legendary Italian car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, the highly regarded 7A28-7040 (a civilian cousin to military-issued models), and the striking 7A28-7090 Yacht Timer. These pieces showcase the movement’s versatility across different dial designs and case finishes while retaining the same robust, high-performance heart.

While the quartz versus mechanical debate continues, the 7A28 stands out as genuinely collectible. Discontinued in the early 1990s in favor of cheaper alternatives, good examples of these references are becoming harder to find in original condition. As supply steadily decreases and more collectors recognize their historical significance, cinematic connection, superior build quality, and Giugiaro design pedigree, values have been rising noticeably in recent years — making now an excellent time to secure one before prices climb further.

Seiko 7A28 – Why Collectors Are Rediscovering Vintage Quartz

Visit our "Seiko" Store to see our selection of carefully curated, collectible Quartz models