One of of the watch world icon, the Breitling Navitimer turns 70, and to celebrate this anniversary, the brand has updated the coveted model. Let’s put it in High Gear and review nya Breitling Navitimer.
The history of the Navitimer began in 1952 and was originally used for navigation while sitting behind the levers of a tin crow.
The watch can be used to make any relevant calculations you may need while flying an aircraft.
Navitimer has a rich history
In 1954, the Breitling Navitimer became the official watch for AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association), an American organization that supports general aviation. Thus Navitimer got its logo – a wing.
The Breitling Navitimer has long been used by pilots, both private and commercial, and has even been in space: In 1962, astronaut Scott Carpenter wore a Navitimer in space to determine whether it was day or night.
The new watch
The new watch is obviously a Navitimer, something you can spot from a mile away. Details like the classic large dial, the bezel that doubles as a counting rod and the chronograph movement.
Breitling has kept the retro look and even though this is a new Navitimer, the references to the history books are clear.
From the side, the new Navitimer appears slimmer and more elegant. The watch has Breitling’s automatic movement, something that can undoubtedly be seen as a premium stamp and the new Navitimer has a power reserve of up to 38 hours.
Now there is also a date complication at 6 o’clock.
The new Breitling Navitimer is available in three different sizes: 46, 43 and 41 millimeters.
Our test watch was 41mm, and the thin design of the watch made it appear smaller, perfect when you don’t have arms that could be mistaken for thighs.
Both the 46 and 43mm variants are suitable for those who want the whole world to see they are rocking a Breitling or for those pilots of historic aircraft who actually use the watch to make calculations.
The new watch also offers many colorful options. As for the case, you can choose between stainless steel and 18K gold. The straps consist of an alligator strap or a metal strap.
As for the hands, you can choose between shades of blue, green or copper. Our test watch was in stainless steel with an alligator strap and rose gold hands, a much more elegant combination.
The back is covered in glass, which means you can see when the mechanics are feverishly working.
The new Breitling Navitimer once again received the aforementioned AOPA logo on the dial.
Navitimer is a joy to wear
The Breitling Navitimer is incredibly solid to wear. Its origins as a pilot’s tool permeate the design and the very fact that it is a functional watch is very interesting.
It has a substantial weight and feels solid on the arm. While I’m not a big fan of rose gold, he married well with the brown alligator leather strap.
It is also a visible watch and people are commenting on it, both good and bad. Breitling has long had a reputation for being for car dealerships in the 1990s.
The new Breitling Navitimer tries to remedy this to some extent. Configuration possibilities abound, not only in terms of size but also a myriad of colors to choose from.
The result is that there is something for almost everyone, at least stylistically.
The bottom line
With the Breitling Navitimer, the Swiss have succeeded in modernizing an icon to the point that it manages to both look ahead without ignoring what is written in the history books.
The result is a watch that has acquired a different breadth, which means it can appeal to a wider target group.
In terms of price, it’s not unreasonably expensive, especially when you consider that you’re actually getting an in-house developed movement, developed by the same engineers responsible for the Rolex Daytona’s chronograph.
Breitling is on a brand journey – it wants to appeal to a wider audience and appear likeable. At the same time, they also don’t want to become a dozen, a balancing act that is tricky but one they are determined to achieve.
The new Navitimer lives up to its storied history and takes on a winning concept without compromising what makes the model or piece so special.
The watch also offers a lot of flexibility and can accommodate a range of different types of events.
Breitling Navitimer (2022)
Diameter: 41mm
Thickness: 10mm
Lug to Lug: 46mm
Clockwork: Automatic, self-lifting
Bracelet Type: Brown alligator leather
Bottle material: Polished steel
Sockets: from SEK 48,400
Read more about Breitling
Breitling Boutique opens in Stockholm [Högsta Växeln]
Introducing the new Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute [Högsta Växeln]
Here is the new Breitling Navitimer [Högsta Växeln]
Breitling regains connection with octane and adrenaline [Högsta Växeln]
The partnership between Bentley and Breitling has ended [Högsta Växeln]
