BREITLING 
 
"Watch of a famous Swiss luxury watch manufacturer.” 
 
When it comes to luxury timepieces that seamlessly blend aviation-inspired design with precision craftsmanship, Breitling is a name that often soars above the rest. Breitling is a Swiss luxury watchmaker founded in 1884 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, by Léon Breitling. The company is known for its precision-made chronometers designed for aviators and today is still in operation and based in Grenchen, Switzerland. This iconic watch company has a history that's as rich and storied as the intricate movements ticking inside their beloved timepieces.  
 
The company initially focused on producing high-quality chronographs and precision instruments for various industrial and scientific purposes. During World War I, Breitling gained prominence for supplying military forces with chronographs and other timing instruments, particularly those used in aircraft cockpits. This association with aviation marked the beginning of Breitling's longstanding connection to the world of flight. 
 
Historically, Breitling has sourced movements from suppliers such as Valjoux, ETA, and Venus rather than producing movements in-house; however, in 2009 Breitling developed the B01, a self-winding, column wheel chronograph movement, for use in the Breitling Chronomat 01 and Navitimer 01. 

BREITLING Navitimer - "The ultimate wrist-worn computer for pilots." 

In 1952, Breitling designed the Navitimer at the request of the US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). This innovative chronograph featured a rotating bezel with a logarithmic slide rule, allowing pilots to perform essential flight calculations. Its 41mm case, large for its time, ensured readability, while radium-filled oversized Arabic numerals contrasted sharply against the black dial. The name "Navitimer," combining "navigation" and "timer," perfectly reflected its purpose.

Initially exclusive to AOPA members, the Navitimer lacked the Breitling logo and iconic 806 reference. By 1956, it was released to the public with the Breitling name and 806 reference. Early AOPA models can be identified by the signed “AOPA” winged logo, while others bore the stylized winged logo.

One of the most iconic designs, the 1959 Navitimer, was reissued in 2019 as the Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition. By the late 1950s, the Navitimer had become a staple in aviation, solidifying Breitling’s reputation as the official timepiece supplier to the aviation industry. 

The “Twin-Jet” Navitimer - In the early 1960s, the Navitimer was modernized with white subdials for improved readability and the new bezel was changed from “beaded” to “serrated”. Around 1965, it adopted the iconic twin-jet logo featuring two superimposed aircraft. The Navitimer quickly became a symbol of excellence across aviation, motorsport, and beyond.

BREITLING 
Navitimer 
Chronograph 
Transitional Watch 
Ref. 806  

"The Breitling NAVITIMER is your copilot, It is a high quality chronograph filled with a navigation computer, with makes lightning calculations of your travelling speed, distance covered, lost time and stops, and also converts miles into kilometers and nautical miles, It helps you pilot your course and fix your radio checks, it gauges your fuel consumption and tells you where you are, where you are going and your arrival time." 

Vintage Breitling Navitimer chronograph wristwatch reference 806 - a transitional piece dated from 1965. 
 
It is a manual-wind watch powered by an original Breitling Watch Ltd. movement caliber Venus 178 with 17 jewels, a sub-seconds hand and a chronograph complication which includes a central sweep second hand, a 30-minute sub dial, and a 12-hour sub dial. Operating at 18,000 vibrations per hour, it provides a 45-hour power reserve. Swiss-made.

The watch is housed in a 41mm stainless steel case with an inner bidirectional rotating bezel and an original signed crown.

The original black dial features white baton hour markers, Arabic numerals at 12 o'clock, luminous indices, a white minute track, and white luminous hands. The 30-minute sub dial is positioned at 3 o'clock, the 12-hour sub dial at 6 o'clock, and the sub-seconds hand at 9 o'clock. The dial is signed with the "Twin-Jet" logo, "Breitling Genève" at the top, and "Navitimer" at the bottom.

It is complemented by a brown leather two-piece strap. 

It is a very interesting and good looking watch! Runs very well, keeps excellent time. 
 
Thank you for looking!  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or respectful offers.

Movement: 
Breitling Watch Ltd. 
Seventeen 17 Jewels 
Unadjusted 
Swiss 
Cal. Venus 178 

Case Back Markings: 
Breitling Watch Ltd. 
Swiss 
968439 

Measurements (mm): 
Case 41  
Case w/crown 43.5  
Case Lug to Lug 47.2       
Case Thickness 13.5  
Lug Width 22
Band Width 22  

Vintage watches are traditionally smaller than today's watches. Men’s watches typically measure between 29-36mm wide (some larger, some smaller) excluding the crown. In the listing details we typically try to do our best to list all pertinent dimensions of a watch. If you don't see it, or we failed to do so, please reach out to us. Women’s watches from the 1900s-1970s were also much smaller than today's offerings. Please also feel free to ask any questions you have pertaining to size. 

We prefer to shoot photographs outside when weather is permitting. However, when we shoot indoors, please be aware that we shoot our photographs inside of lightboxes that are lit with 360 LED bulbs. This indeed magnifies any flaws. Usually, they are much less obvious to the naked eye. Having said that, we never photoshop any of our photography, remove blemishes, etc. We adjust the lighting, when necessary, but what you see is what you are getting, and we take pride in that.  

The condition is pre-owned.   
The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear but is fully operational and functions as intended. 
Please review the photos and feel free to ask any questions you may have.  
 
It will be carefully packed.  

Please view our other listings.  
Thank you for looking!  
   
WA-0806