Jewellery & Watch News
A day ahead of the highly anticipated Watches & Wonders event, Breitling prepares for one of their biggest launches in their history. The new 2022 Breitling Navitimer watch collection celebrates this legendary timepiece turning 70 years old, and delivers new redesigned cases, bold coloured dials, enhanced styling and a new set of straps.
A flagship model for the Grenchen-based brand, the Breitling Navitimer is not short of a fascinating history. It began in 1952 when Willy Breitling was approached by the US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and was requested to produce a chronograph for its members. What became known as the first Breitling Navitimer, reference 806 was a remarkable piece of wristwear for its time allowing pilots to perform all necessary flight calculations from their wrist including average speed, distance travelled, fuel consumption, rate of climb or descent, and conversion of miles to kilometres or nautical miles. For determining these calculations, he adapted an original logarithmic side rule originally debuted on Chronomat and integrated it into a rotating bezel surrounded by small beads, making it even easier to manipulate. When it was finally introduced to the AOPA, the Breitling Navitimer ref. 806 was an instant success for its (then) imposing 41mm case, iconic beaded bezel and legible black dial printed with the AOPA winged logo. Now, in celebration of a huge milestone, Breitling launches a 70th anniversary collection of 2022 Breitling Navitimer watches.
“The Navitimer is one of the most recognizable watches ever made. It’s on collectors’ lists of the greatest watches of all time. What began as a tool for pilots has gone on to mean something profound to every single person who has had this timepiece along on their personal journey.”
What’s New for the 2022 Breitling Navitimer Collection?
A quick glance at the new 2022 Breitling Navitimer watch collection, and you’ll see the DNA of the aviation family is still extremely prominent and yet for the purposes of even finer-looking stylings, the brand have included some subtle yet significant improvements to the design. One of the least subtle details is that of the AOPA logo on the dial, the very same that debuted on the original Navitimer ref.806. The dial’s also present freshly designed chronograph counters and an integrated date window at 6 o’clock. The chronographs are all powered by the in-house B01 automatic winding movement, most of which opt for contrasting subsidiary counters, and feature a new engraved oscillating rotor which is finished in silver on steel models and gold on gold references.
The cases of the new Breitling Navitimer watches also debut some changes. One some references, the beaded bezel is replaced with a flattened, ratcheted architecture to pair with a thinner height, polished-brushed finishings and domed sapphire crystal glass. Finally the 2022 Breitling Navitimer watches showcase a whole new collection of straps. Available in a range of colours, a selection of semi-shiny alligator straps opt for a flatter aesthetic for a truly elegant finish while the stainless steel bracelets elect 7 links and a butterfly clasp. Here’s a run down of all the new models in the 2022 Breitling Navitimer watch collection…
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 Steel
- Case: 46mm, stainless steel, exhibition case back, bi-directional slide rule bezel, sapphire crystal glass, 30 metre water resistance
- Dial: Black, blue or dark green
- Movement: Breitling Manufacture B01 Calibre, 70 hour power reserve, chronograph complication, Superluminova hardware
- Strap: Alligator leather or 7-row bracelet with butterfly clasp
- Limited Edition: No
- RRP: £7,050 (Leather), £7,250 (Bracelet)
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 Gold
- Case: 46mm, 18ct rose gold, exhibition case back, bi-directional slide rule bezel, sapphire crystal glass, 30 metre water resistance
- Dial: Silver
- Movement: Breitling Manufacture B01 Calibre, 70 hour power reserve, chronograph complication, Superluminova hardware
- Strap: Alligator leather or 7-row bracelet with butterfly clasp
- Limited Edition: No
- RRP: £14,000 (Leather), £28,500 (Bracelet)
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Steel
- Case: 43mm, stainless steel, exhibition case back, bi-directional slide rule bezel, sapphire crystal glass, 30 metre water resistance
- Dial: Black, silver, copper or ice-blue
- Movement: Breitling Manufacture B01 Calibre, 70 hour power reserve, chronograph complication, Superluminova hardware
- Strap: Alligator leather or 7-row bracelet with butterfly clasp
- Limited Edition: No
- RRP: £6,950 (Leather), £7,150 (Bracelet)
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Gold
- Case: 43mm, 18ct rose gold, exhibition case back, bi-directional slide rule bezel, sapphire crystal glass, 30 metre water resistance
- Dial: Black
- Movement: Breitling Manufacture B01 Calibre, 70 hour power reserve, chronograph complication, Superluminova hardware
- Strap: Alligator leather or 7-row bracelet with butterfly clasp
- Limited Edition: No
- RRP: £14,500 (Leather), £29,000 (Bracelet)
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41 Steel
- Case: 41mm, stainless steel, exhibition case back, bi-directional slide rule bezel, sapphire crystal glass, 30 metre water resistance
- Dial: Blue, silver or mint-green
- Movement: Breitling Manufacture B01 Calibre, 70 hour power reserve, chronograph complication, Superluminova hardware
- Strap: Alligator leather or 7-row bracelet with butterfly clasp
- Limited Edition: No
- RRP: £6,850 (Leather), £7,050 (Bracelet)
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41 Gold
- Case: 41mm, 18ct rose gold, exhibition case back, bi-directional slide rule bezel, sapphire crystal glass, 30 metre water resistance
- Dial: Silver
- Movement: Breitling Manufacture B01 Calibre, 70 hour power reserve, chronograph complication, Superluminova hardware
- Strap: Alligator leather or 7-row bracelet with butterfly clasp
- Limited Edition: No
- RRP: £14,000 (Leather), £28,500 (Bracelet)
Breitling Navitimer Automatic 41
- Case: 41mm, stainless steel, screwed in case back, bi-directional slide rule bezel, sapphire crystal glass, 30 metre water resistance
- Dial: Green
- Movement: Breitling Calibre 17, 42 hour power reserve, time and date only, Superluminova hardware
- Strap: Alligator leather or 7-row bracelet with butterfly clasp
- Limited Edition: No
- RRP: £3,595 (Leather), £3,775 (Bracelet)
Breitling Navitimer Automatic 35
- Case: 35mm, stainless steel, screwed in case back, bi-directional slide rule bezel, sapphire crystal glass, 30 metre water resistance
- Dial: Mint green
- Movement: Breitling Calibre 17, 42 hour power reserve, time only, Superluminova hardware
- Strap: Alligator leather or 7-row bracelet with butterfly clasp
- Limited Edition: No
- RRP: £3,595 (Leather), £3,775 (Bracelet)
