Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 Watch

Breitling’s iconic chronograph for pilots: for traveling. In 1952, Willy Breitling developed a wrist chronograph equipped with a circular slide rule that would allow pilots to make all the necessary calculations in flight. Two years later, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) announced that this model would become its official timepiece. The Navitimer, a contraction of the English words “navigation timer”, was born. AOPA was (and still remains today) the largest community of pilots in the world, counting almost all American aviators among its ranks. Established as the default pilot’s watch during the glory days of civil aviation, the Navitimer was worn by airline captains and aviation enthusiasts. In 1962, it even traveled into space on the wrist of astronaut Scott Carpenter. Pilots weren’t the only ones drawn to the watch’s irrepressible aesthetic. Celebrities of the time, including Miles Davis and Serge Gainsbourg, were among the loyal customers and confirmed that the Navitimer was as practical as it was elegant. Since its launch 70 years ago, numerous examples of the Breitling icon have appeared, but this new Navitimer takes up its most emblematic characteristics, while adding a few modern touches. A flattened slide rule and curved glass create the illusion of a more slender profile. Alternating polished and brushed metal elements gives a finish that is both shiny and understated. New colors in shades of blue, green and copper, more particularly define the choices of modernized dials. Finally, if there is a new singularity that arouses nostalgia, it is the return of the AOPA wings to their initial position at 12 o’clock. For 70 years, Breitling’s first pilot’s watch has been appreciated by aviators and trendsetters alike. Worn by astronauts in space and by the biggest stars on the planet, it is Breitling’s most iconic timepiece and one of the most recognizable watches of all time.