Venus 175 vs Venus 178: What the Hour Counter Changes
The Venus 175 and 178 are close cousins in vintage Breitling chronographs. Here is what the extra hour counter changes, and how to tell them apart.
Collector Art Time
10/24/20261 min read
The Venus 175 and the Venus 178 are two of the most respected manual-wind chronograph movements of the 1940s and 1950s, and they look very similar in a photo. The difference is on the dial. The Venus 175 is a two-register chronograph: a running seconds sub-dial and a 30-minute counter. The Venus 178 adds a 12-hour counter, giving three registers, so you can time much longer events without losing track of the hours.
For a collector this matters in three ways. First, layout: a three-register dial is more balanced and, in many references, more sought after. Second, usability: the 12-hour counter makes the 178 a genuinely practical timer. Third, originality: because the dials look alike at a glance, always check that the dial, hands and movement belong to the same reference.
We currently have one of each. The Breitling Chronomat Ref. 769 with a Venus 175 movement, from the 1940s, silver dial and blue hand: https://collectorarttime.com/breitling-chronomat-ref-769-venus-175-1940s-chronograph-silver-dial-blue-hand
The Breitling Chronomat Ref. 0818 with a Venus 178 movement, manual wind, 44 mm, white dial: https://collectorarttime.com/breitling-chronomat-ref-0818-venus-178-manual-wind-chrono-44mm-white-dial
Every watch is shipped insured by DHL Express and comes with clear photos of the real piece. Read our terms here: https://collectorarttime.com/shipping-returns
Questions about either watch? Message us on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/541131142424
