Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute to Vought F4U C
24 % below RRP
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ℹ️ 1-month trend
Price change over the past 30 days. Shows the short-term market movement — relevant if you want to buy or sell soon.
ℹ️ 4-month trend
The central metric behind the momentum score. It filters out short-term swings and shows the true, medium-term market trend of this reference.
ℹ️ Volatility
Annualised price fluctuation. Below 10 % = very stable, 10–20 % = normal, above 20 % = volatile. With high volatility the price can change quickly — in both directions. Be cautious about buying without checking the current price.
ℹ️ Momentum score
ChronoCheck's own indicator from 0 to 100, calculated from the 4-month trend, volatility and market direction.
- Above 60 — Upward trend. Good time to sell, prices are rising.
- 40 – 60 — Neutral. Stable price level, no pressure to act.
- Below 40 — Downward trend. Wait or enter at a good price.
ℹ️ Investment Grade A/B/C/D
ChronoCheck's own rating for each reference. A 0–100 point scale, made up of four weighted components:
- Momentum (40 pts) — trend strength from the momentum score.
- Liquidity (25 pts) — number of active live listings.
- Stability (20 pts) — inverse volatility — the calmer, the better.
- Source robustness (15 pts) — number of independent market sources.
- A · 75+ Trend is right, liquidity good, data broad.
- B · 55–74 Solid, but one component weaker.
- C · 35–54 Average, volatility or market breadth weigh on it.
- D · below 35 Downward or too little data — a collector's piece.
Not investment advice. Pure data analysis from aggregated market sources.
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Technical data
Breitling Ref. A233801A1C1X1 — Variants and collector names
Known as: Corsair, Blue Corsair, Bent-Wing
Movement variants
- B23 (?–today) · 28800 bph
Bezel variants
- A233801-BiRatchet-Smooth-Steel
Dial variants
- Blue Corsair — Arabic hour indices; 3 totalizers: running seconds at 9h, 30-min counter at 3h, 12h counter at 6h; silver-tone hands; no date
Crystal variants
- Sapphire-Cambered-AR
Bracelet variants
- Fünfglied-Edelstahlarmband Ref. A233801-A1-Steel-5Row
- Pilotenarmband Kalbsleder Schwarz Ref. A233801-X1-Calfskin-Black
The Breitling A233801A1C1X1 circulates under three distinct collector names. Alongside the plain Corsair, Blue Corsair has become the more precise term because it names the navy-blue Arabic-numeral dial directly — Code A233801-C1-Blue-Arabic. The third name, Bent-Wing, arrived from the English-speaking collector market as a tribute to the Vought F4U Corsair, the most celebrated gull-wing carrier aircraft in US Navy service from 1943 onward.
## Calibre B23 and a Bezel That Goes Without
The in-house Calibre B23 powers this reference — no outsourced movement, but Breitling's own development from the Cockpit line. The bezel commands attention: Code A233801-BiRatchet-Smooth-Steel describes a plain steel-ring construction with bidirectional click-stop and no divisions or scale whatsoever. That deliberate restraint gives the Corsair a purposeful, uncluttered silhouette that sets it apart from the instrument-dense Breitlings that typified the era.
## How the Dial Settles the Market Price
On today's secondary market, the Blue Corsair trades between 1,600 and 2,300 euros, with dial condition driving most of that spread. Unrestored examples carrying original lacquer hold their value markedly better than refinished pieces — a pattern that has repeated itself consistently across Breitling's Cockpit chronographs at this price point for at least 15 years. Box and papers nudge the price higher, but not by much: the premium rarely clears 200 euros, because this is not a collector's investment vehicle but a watch that is hunted, reliably and persistently, by people who intend to wear it.
Brand profile: Breitling
Breitling is known for aviation and dive watches. Chronographs (Navitimer, Chronomat) are the most frequently counterfeited. Pay close attention to slide rule details and COSC certification.
- Wing logo: a genuine Breitling logo shows the anchor and wing tips that NEVER touch — precise negative space between them — fakes let the tips meet or overlap
- 3D 'B' crown: the 'B' on the crown must appear three-dimensional with a light reflection on the curve — a flat 'B' = fake
- Bezel scale vs. dial: the outer white bezel scale must align precisely with the inner black dial indices — fakes show misalignment
- Date disc depth: a genuine Navitimer date disc sits flush with the dial plane — fakes show the date window as a 'crater' (noticeably sunken or raised)
Serial number format: Breitling serial numbers: alphanumeric, located between the lugs at 6 o'clock. Format: one letter + 8 digits (e.g. 'AB012012'). Older models: digits only.
Further sources
Buying guide: Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute to Vought F4U C
Entry into Breitling
At $5,246 this reference is one of the more affordable ways to wear a Breitling on your wrist. That is precisely why many pieces have already passed through several hands — condition varies accordingly. Buyers here should pay particular attention to service history and honest photos from the seller.
Watch out for swings: This reference has an above-average volatility of 47.9 percent. In concrete terms: the price can move by several hundred euros within a few weeks. Check the current value before buying or selling — old listings or auction results from two months ago are of little help.
What to look out for when buying?
- Authenticity: The serial number and reference on the case must match the papers. A professional authenticity check of the Breitling Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute to Vought F4U C reliably rules out counterfeits.
- Condition: Check scratches on the case and bezel — professional refurbishment can leave traces.
- Service history: A documented service by the manufacturer or a certified watchmaker increases the value.
- Scope of delivery: Box, papers and warranty card make a noticeable price difference on the Classic AVI Chronograph 42 Tribute to Vought F4U C.
- Independent certification: The CPS-52 standard covers 52 checkpoints — from the serial number and the timing machine to water resistance. The result is secured on the blockchain and can be verified at any time.
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