The legendary Breitling Navitimer turns 70 this year, and the brand just unveiled a redesigned collection with a selection of bold colours and sizes.

Press Release information with Commentary in italics.

The new 2022 Breitling Navitimer Collection

Editorial Commentary

A complete refresh of the Navitimer lineup. Ever since Georges Kern took over the brand, Breitling has continued with their iconic pilot chronograph of the Navitimer with several updates, including adding a complete sub-line known as the Navitimer 8. See our coverage:

But this year, the old school Breitling fans will have their prayers answered with the 2022 Edition of the Navitimer B01 Chronograph collection. Not one, but the collection is of 14 models, offered three different sizes – 46mm (4 models, 3 SS + 1 RG), 43mm (6 models, 5 SS + 1 RG) and 41mm (4 models, 3 SS + 1 RG), all with the inhouse Breitling B01 column wheel chronograph movement. And all available in two metals – a luxurious red gold, as well as a very practical stainless steel. The range is actually a bit more complicated as the watches are available with a choice of either a semi-shiny alligator strap or 7 link metal bracelets.

The collection has perhaps something for every Navitimer fan. The old slide rule is retained. Of course, it remains as complicated to use as ever. But the movement is now the superior B01 automatic chronograph. And other than the high lux red gold models in each of the sizes, the other 11 models are in stainless steel with various dial colour options. From blues to greens to copper and of course black and white. And with either black sub-dials or white sub-dials. It is obvious the money making model will be the 43mm, as Georges has punted 7 watches in this line. Which makes sense, as the 46 is probably considered a little large these days, and to properly give enough room for the complicated dial, remember the slide rule, 43mm is about right. The 41 is offered to those who prefer smaller watches.

Prices remain in the competitive range, circa SGD 12-13k for the stainless steel models, and SGD 24-26k for the red gold with alligator and SGD 50-54k for the red gold with red gold bracelet. We look forward to handling and photographing these watches soon. And will revert back when we do.

Press Release information

As Breitling’s legendary timepiece turns 70, the brand unveils a redesigned collection that is all about bold color, enhanced styling—and incredible journeys.

For 70 years, Breitling’s original pilot’s watch has been beloved by aviators and tastemakers in equal measure. Worn by an astronaut in space and the biggest stars on Earth, it is Breitling’s most iconic timepiece. Today, Breitling honors the legend with the introduction of a new Navitimer that captures its most classic features, while enhancing them with modern refinements.

“We don’t throw the term ‘icon’ around lightly,” says Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling. “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.”

THE DE FACTO PILOT’S WATCH

Not even its inventor could have predicted the phenomenon the Navitimer would become. In 1952, Willy Breitling developed a wrist-worn chronograph with a circular slide rule that would allow pilots to perform all necessary flight calculations. Two years later, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the largest aviators’ club in the world, announced the design as its official timepiece. The association’s winged logo was emblazoned at 12 o’clock, and the “navigation timer”—or Navitimer—was born.

The Navitimer grew up alongside the burgeoning civil aviation industry. Beloved by airline captains and aircraft enthusiasts, it even made its way into space on the wrist of astronaut Scott Carpenter in 1962 as a 24-hour timepiece to tell day from night. And it wasn’t only pilots drawn to the watch’s irrepressible aesthetic. Celebrities of the day, such as Miles Davis, Serge Gainsbourg, Jim Clark, and Graham Hill, were devotees, proving that the Navitimer had style as well as function.

AN EVOLUTION IN BREITLING’S SIGNATURE MODERN-RETRO STYLE

To create the new Navitimer, Breitling preserved the most recognizable aspects of the icon’s design code. From a distance, this is unmistakably a Navitimer, with its circular slide rule, baton indexes, trio of chronograph counters, and notched bezel for easy grip. Up close, however, its modern refinements come through loud and clear.

A flattened slide rule and a domed crystal create the illusion of a more compact profile. Alternating polished and brushed finishes give the metal elements a lustrous yet understated quality. A slimmer silhouette on the oscillating weight enhances the open-caseback view of the COSC-certified Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01. This movement is backed by a five-year warranty, provides approximately 70 hours of power reserve, and allows the wearer to change
the date—now visible through a discreet window in the subdial at 6 o’clock—at any time.

The watch comes in a range of sizes (46, 43, or 41 mm), two case materials (stainless steel or 18-karat red gold), and a choice of straps (semi-shiny alligator or seven-row metal bracelet). Modern colors in shades of blue, green, and copper define its updated dial options. And if there is one feature sure to spark nostalgia, it’s the return of the AOPA wings to their original position at 12 o’clock.