IT’S GETTING COMPLICATED: DUOGRAPH AND DATORA

REFS. 762, 764, 766, 784, 785, 799, 800, 804, 805

Willy’s next chess move: complications. The rattrapante, used to record multiple time intervals with its split-second hand, was (and still is) the highest complication you could add to the chronograph. It had been central to the company since 1900, when Leon Breitling proudly advertised his new models. Willy sought to build on his grandfather’s legacy by taking the split- second out of the pocket and onto the wrist. But this was the 1940s; Breitling was an industrial manufacturer now and couldn’t hand build ebauches like Leon did. The only available industrialized split-second standard ebauches were designed for pocket chronographs. The Valjoux 55VBR, used by Breitling for its wide selection of pocket rattrapantes

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Duograph ref. 764, 1945, Venus cal. 179, 38 mm case: 18k gold, hands: Pencil

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1937 advertisement for the Breitling ref. 612 pocket chronograph rattrapante

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(sometimes called “split chronographs” or “doppelchronographs”), was much too large for the elegant wristwatches that Willy had in mind. Venus and Breitling had been working on their own version for years, a family of rattrapantes that would fit watch cases from 36 mms upwards. These calibers had it all: split-second functionality, combined with twin- (cal. 179) and triple-register (cal. 185) base movements, all in wrist-optimized sizes.

Seizing on the promise of this ready supply of ebauches, Willy proudly showcased his new “Duograph” rattrapante models in the 1940 Breitling catalog. But this technological breakthrough apparently came with some teething problems (perhaps literally) because it took another three years for the Duograph to enter mass production. When it did, however, Willy cheekily announced it in an ad that showed it “growing” out of the 1940 catalog.

A first model, the non-waterproof 36 mm ref. 762, launched in early 1943, was soon followed by the larger waterproof ref. 764 at 38 mm. Very quickly after, a triple-register model was launched under references 766 (from 36 mm) for the non-waterproof and 791 for the waterproof. The latter came in what were roughly 38 mm steel cases, considered huge at the time. While the twin-register ref. 764 was made in solid gold, the ref. 791 was surprisingly never documented in precious metal. These pieces, housed in beautifully sculpted cases with mesmerizing dials, continue to be wonders of watchmaking.

The Duograph was the cornerstone of Willy’s strategy to wrist-size the rattrapante, but it remained a very rare bird. Breitling only produced 350 Duographs, including all references, over its production period from 1943 to 1970, and most were custom made.

One particular model, the ref. 800, a rattrapante with moonphase and date, which first appeared in the 1946 catalog, was for many years never seen in reality until one surfaced about a decade ago, branded by U.S. retailer Tourneau. You’ll see another example of a rediscovered ref. 800 later in this chapter.

Breitling’s

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Duograph ref. 762, ca.

1943, Venus cal. 179, 35.8 mm case: steel, hands: slim Lozenge

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Duograph ref. 762, ca.

1943, Venus cal. 179, 35.8 mm case: steel, hands: Leaf (feuille)

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Duograph ref. 766, ca.

1944, Venus cal. 185, 35.1 mm case: steel, hands: Pencil

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Duograph ref. 764, ca.

1944, Venus cal. 179, 38.1 mm case: steel, hands: slim lumed Syringe

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