A New Golden Era For The Breitling Navitimer
Few watches have travelled quite as far as the Breitling Navitimer. Born as a precision instrument for aviators, its distinctive combination of chronograph and circular slide rule has, over more than seven decades, transformed it into one of the most recognisable designs in watchmaking.
Now, the Navitimer enters a new golden era with two exclusive editions created in collaboration with the Watches of Switzerland Group. Combining stainless steel with 18kt yellow gold and introducing two distinctive shades of green, the new Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 and Navitimer 32 offer very different interpretations of one of Breitling’s enduring icons.
Available exclusively through Watches of Switzerland, Goldsmiths and Mappin & Webb in the UK, the two models share the unmistakable Navitimer design language while taking it in distinctly different directions.
An Icon for the Journey
The story of the Navitimer began in 1952, when Willy Breitling developed a wrist-worn chronograph incorporating a circular slide rule. Designed to allow pilots to perform essential flight calculations, it transformed the wristwatch into a practical navigation instrument.
In 1954, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association named the Navitimer its official timepiece. From its origins in the cockpit, the watch soon found a much wider audience, appearing on the wrists of airline captains, astronauts and cultural icons.
Its appeal has endured because the design is as distinctive as the technology behind it. The circular slide rule, chronograph registers and strong case architecture have remained central to the identity of the Navitimer, while successive generations have allowed the watch to evolve without losing its character.
These latest editions introduce a particularly luxurious interpretation, pairing the technical confidence of the Navitimer with the warmth of 18kt yellow gold.
The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43
At the heart of the new men’s model is a rich green dial, framed by a 43mm case combining stainless steel and 18kt yellow gold. The same two-tone treatment extends to the seven-row bracelet, where polished and brushed surfaces create definition across the design.
The familiar circular slide rule and chronograph display retain the technical character that has always distinguished the Navitimer, while the combination of green, steel and yellow gold gives the watch a more contemporary and sophisticated presence.
Power comes from Breitling’s Manufacture Caliber 01, a self-winding mechanical chronograph certified by the COSC. Operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, the movement provides approximately 70 hours of power reserve and measures 1/4 second, 30 minutes and 12 hours.
A cambered sapphire crystal, glare-proofed on both sides, protects the dial, while water resistance is rated to 3 bar or 30 metres.
The result is a Navitimer that remains faithful to its aviation heritage while embracing a more luxurious expression.
The Navitimer 32
Alongside it comes a very different interpretation of the Navitimer. Measuring 32mm in diameter, the Navitimer 32 adopts a slimmer, more jewellery-like character, with a stainless steel and 18kt yellow gold case matched by a two-tone bracelet.
Its mint green dial introduces a lighter expression of the Navitimer aesthetic, while diamond hour markers add a subtle touch of refinement. The circular slide rule associated with the larger Navitimer gives way here to a simplified dial, creating a cleaner appearance that complements the watch’s more compact proportions.
Inside is Breitling Caliber 77, a COSC-certified SuperQuartz movement. The thermocompensated quartz calibre is designed to deliver the precision associated with the Navitimer name, while the case provides water resistance to 5 bar or 50 metres.
Together, the two watches demonstrate the versatility of the Navitimer design. One embraces the full technical drama of the 43mm chronograph, while the other distils its distinctive character into a more compact and jewellery-inspired form.
A New Chapter
The collaboration between Breitling and the Watches of Switzerland Group has produced a pair of watches that combine one of the most recognisable designs in modern watchmaking with a particularly distinctive use of colour and precious metal.
The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 brings together a rich green dial, Manufacture chronograph movement and 18kt yellow gold, while the Navitimer 32 offers a softer interpretation through its mint green dial, diamond markers and smaller proportions. Both remain unmistakably Navitimer.
More than seventy years after Willy Breitling created a watch intended to help pilots navigate the skies, the design continues to evolve while retaining the characteristics that made it an icon in the first place. This time, its journey takes it into a new golden era.
Technical Specifications:
NAVITIMER B01 CHRONOGRAPH 43
Reference: DB01381A1L1D1
WATCH MOVEMENT
Caliber: Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01
Winder: Self-winding mechanical
Power reserve: Approx. 70 hours
Balance frequency: 28,800 a/h or 4 hertz
Chronograph: 1/4th second, 30 minutes, 12 hours
Certification: COSC certified
CASE
Material: Stainless steel & 18k yellow gold
Diameter: 43 millimeters
Thickness: 13.69 millimeters
Water resistance: 3 bars (30 m /99 ft)
DIAL/HANDS
Green
STRAP
Material: Stainless steel & 18k yellow gold
Colour: Metal bracelet
Size (Lug/Buckle) 22/18 mm
WEIGHT:
Product Precious Metal Weight: 13.15 g
PRICE
RRP £12,200.00
NAVITIMER 32
Reference: D77320E71L1D1
WATCH MOVEMENT
Caliber: Breitling 77
Battery: Approx. 3-4 hours
Certification: COSC certified
CASE
Material: Stainless steel & 18k yellow gold
Diameter: 32 millimeters
Thickness: 13.69 millimeters
Water resistance: 5 bars (50 m /165 ft)
Crown: Non screw-locked, two gaskets
Crystal: Cambered sapphire, glareproofed both sides
DIAL
Mint Green
STRAP
Material: Stainless steel & 18k yellow gold
Colour: Metal bracelet
Size (Lug/Buckle) 16/14 mm
WEIGHT: Product Precious Metal Weight: 8.53 g
PRICE
RRP £7,100.00
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