Comments:
I don't know a lot about Breitling Navitimers, so you will understand why tjis post is important for my education.
Excellent, and congratulations for having built such a theme!
All the best.
Nicolas
Breitling Navitimer (and some Cosmonautes) over 59 years - pic heavy, beware !
Well, I've already outed myself as a bit of a Breitling addict and there is no brand section on PuristsPro, so I hope you will not mind to see some Navitimers here, although some members who normally have eerily similar tastes to mine do not like them too much - for me it is one of the iconic aviation watches.
I will not bother you with too much historical information, a lot has been written about the Navitimers, though much of that is slightly incorrect. Breitling launched their first sliderule chronograph in 1941 or 1942, the Chronomat ref. 769; the patent application for the logarithmical sliderule was filed in September 1940 and granted in January 1942, it proved to be highly successful. In the early 1950s Breitling and AOPA (the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) - probably motivated by the success of the Jardur Bezelmeter - adapted the Chronomat sliderule design to fit aviation requirements and named it the NAVIgationTIMER, quite a chunky watch for the times with a diameter of 40mm it offered pilots calulation tools for ground speeds, gasoline consumption, rates of climb and descent, climb and descent distances and more.
Breitling still claims the Navitimer was launched in 1952 and last year celebrated their 60th anniversary - evidence shows the Navitimer was only launched in small quantities in 1954, mass production started in 1955. The mythical 1952 and 1953 Navitimers probably result from misnumbered cases - the watches that bear those serial numbers have all the specifics (movement, case, import marking WOG instead of BOW, bead numbers on the bezel) of late 1950s Navitimers; confronted with the evidence Breitling now claims there were Navitimers produced for military use in 1952 - but they can not disclose which army commissioned them, still secret. Yeah, sure. I must mention the Navitimer-guru Kurt Broendum and "Dracha" Ren'e Kesting, without their persisent research we would probably still believe the Breitling lore.
In the first years AOPA had an exclusive distribution agreement for the Navitimer 806 (displaying their logo on the dial instead of the Breitling brand), but quite soon Breitling-branded pieces appeared for markets outside the US.
So, enough blah; let's start the journey with a family shot, spanning the years from 1955 to 2011:
1955
Navitimer 806 V1b, Valjoux V72, AOPA (V1a would be the even rarer 1954s without reference numbers. 1952 Navitimers are a myth, as discussed above).
1956
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178, AOPA, watch came with the original box and the earliest printed manual I have ever seen.
1956
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178; AOPA
1958
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178, AOPA (fully restored, dial relumed, sliderule replaced)
1958 or 1959
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178; serial number would indicate 1953, but all characteristics prove it to be a late 1950s, one of the misnumbered cases that most probably are the reason for that 1952/53 launch myth. This is an example of an "international distribution" Navitimer, no AOPA lettering inside the wings, Breitling-branded.
1963, 1964
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, new "twin-plane" Breitling logo for non-AOPA distribution
1964
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, AOPA & "boxed 10"
1966
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, AOPA
1967
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, twin plane "boxed 10"
1971
Navitimer 7806, Valjoux 7740
1973
Navitimer 7806-S, modified Valjoux V7740
1986-94
Navitimer reborn; "Lemania Cossie" 81600 (later 12x2x), a Navitimer was launched in the same case, Lemania 1873
1995
Old Navitimer 1, Valjoux 7750
2001
Navitimer Mècanique Japan LE (400 in black); Lemania 1873. Rare bird, but really quite nice.
2004-2010
Navitimer A23322, modified Valjoux 7750
2011
Navitimer 01, in-house cal. B01
Navitimer 2014 ?
Who knows, but it will most probably be based on the a design introduced 60 years ago .....
Please forgive the pic tsunami, hope you enjoyed the journey a bit ?
Thanks for your patience, Fred
I will not bother you with too much historical information, a lot has been written about the Navitimers, though much of that is slightly incorrect. Breitling launched their first sliderule chronograph in 1941 or 1942, the Chronomat ref. 769; the patent application for the logarithmical sliderule was filed in September 1940 and granted in January 1942, it proved to be highly successful. In the early 1950s Breitling and AOPA (the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) - probably motivated by the success of the Jardur Bezelmeter - adapted the Chronomat sliderule design to fit aviation requirements and named it the NAVIgationTIMER, quite a chunky watch for the times with a diameter of 40mm it offered pilots calulation tools for ground speeds, gasoline consumption, rates of climb and descent, climb and descent distances and more.
Breitling still claims the Navitimer was launched in 1952 and last year celebrated their 60th anniversary - evidence shows the Navitimer was only launched in small quantities in 1954, mass production started in 1955. The mythical 1952 and 1953 Navitimers probably result from misnumbered cases - the watches that bear those serial numbers have all the specifics (movement, case, import marking WOG instead of BOW, bead numbers on the bezel) of late 1950s Navitimers; confronted with the evidence Breitling now claims there were Navitimers produced for military use in 1952 - but they can not disclose which army commissioned them, still secret. Yeah, sure. I must mention the Navitimer-guru Kurt Broendum and "Dracha" Ren'e Kesting, without their persisent research we would probably still believe the Breitling lore.
In the first years AOPA had an exclusive distribution agreement for the Navitimer 806 (displaying their logo on the dial instead of the Breitling brand), but quite soon Breitling-branded pieces appeared for markets outside the US.
So, enough blah; let's start the journey with a family shot, spanning the years from 1955 to 2011:
1955
Navitimer 806 V1b, Valjoux V72, AOPA (V1a would be the even rarer 1954s without reference numbers. 1952 Navitimers are a myth, as discussed above).
1956
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178, AOPA, watch came with the original box and the earliest printed manual I have ever seen.
1956
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178; AOPA
1958
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178, AOPA (fully restored, dial relumed, sliderule replaced)
1958 or 1959
Navitimer 806 V1c, Venus V178; serial number would indicate 1953, but all characteristics prove it to be a late 1950s, one of the misnumbered cases that most probably are the reason for that 1952/53 launch myth. This is an example of an "international distribution" Navitimer, no AOPA lettering inside the wings, Breitling-branded.
1963, 1964
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, new "twin-plane" Breitling logo for non-AOPA distribution
1964
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, AOPA & "boxed 10"
1966
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, AOPA
1967
Navitimer 806 V2, Venus V178, twin plane "boxed 10"
1971
Navitimer 7806, Valjoux 7740
1973
Navitimer 7806-S, modified Valjoux V7740
1986-94
Navitimer reborn; "Lemania Cossie" 81600 (later 12x2x), a Navitimer was launched in the same case, Lemania 1873
1995
Old Navitimer 1, Valjoux 7750
2001
Navitimer Mècanique Japan LE (400 in black); Lemania 1873. Rare bird, but really quite nice.
2004-2010
Navitimer A23322, modified Valjoux 7750
2011
Navitimer 01, in-house cal. B01
Navitimer 2014 ?
Who knows, but it will most probably be based on the a design introduced 60 years ago .....
Please forgive the pic tsunami, hope you enjoyed the journey a bit ?
Thanks for your patience, Fred
A Reference Post, Fred. Thank you so much.
I don't know a lot about Breitling Navitimers, so you will understand why tjis post is important for my education.
Excellent, and congratulations for having built such a theme!
All the best.
Nicolas
Thank you, Nicolas !
happy to add a miniscule facet to that impressive knowledge. best, Fred
Thank you very much for his complete Navitimer lesson ....
Fred,
Your post is encyclopedic and perfect.
I'm sure that all Purists that belongs to the Navitimer "fan club" will save this post for future study and admiration.
Congratulations.
Cheers,
Nilo
Your post is encyclopedic and perfect.
I'm sure that all Purists that belongs to the Navitimer "fan club" will save this post for future study and admiration.
Congratulations.
Cheers,
Nilo
Beautiful Chrono-Matic, Richard ! That story might be a theme for a future post ? [nt]
No message body
beautiful watches...
and lovely pics! Love the AOPA of course, what a fantastic patina!
Matt
Great post Fred...
You really are the Vintage Breitling king... Stunning pictures and thanks for sharing.
Cheers
Andrew
Sharing the passion makes it even more special, thanks, a pleasure, Andrew ! [nt]
No message body
A delightful journey
Thanks Fred for an excellent post that opened my eyes. I love that it was "pic heavy" since you are one of the members on this forum who consistently takes fabulous shots. I love the patina on the first one. Your have fueled my desire to seek one out,
Dean
all i can say is Just Superb Fred.
i'm a huge lover of vintage Breitlings and have owned several different models over the years from a 1930's pilots watch to a 1969 Chrono-Matic Navitimer. currently i just own the 1964 806 Navitimer, but would love to get a 64 Cosmonaute if i ever had enough money and could find one that wasnt gold plated.
i would love to own another Spatiograph. i know they are modern, but i love the digital minute counter.
a brilliant collection of excellent condition vintage Breitlings. something to be very proud of.
best
Graham
i would love to own another Spatiograph. i know they are modern, but i love the digital minute counter.
a brilliant collection of excellent condition vintage Breitlings. something to be very proud of.
best
Graham
thanks Graham; both the early Cossie and the Spatiographe are wonderful pieces !
Did not want to overdo that post, so did not add them, but happy do correct that omission !
Here is a 1966 Cosmonaute ref. 809:
The Spatiographe is a rare piece, Breitling had Dubois-Depraz design a specific chrono module for the ETA2892-A2, comemorating the early 50s digital 765 Co-Pilot, in this case a 10 minute digital counter for pilot's instrument approaches, the watches were produced between 1997 and 2002:
maybe you'd like to add a pic of your 64 Navi ?
best, Fred
here you go Fred. a...
here you go Fred. a pic of my current Navi and some pretty old pics of my previous Breitlings.
i must take some more pics of the Navi as i wear it on a mesh bracelet.
best
Graham.
Navitimer
was always one of
my favorite watches
I place it in my mind in same category as Rolex Submariner
Omega Speedmaster or TAG Monaco
something that is genuine characteristic of brand
and standing test of time
Thank you very much for this amazing reference post
after which I'm positive I have to had Navitimer
Sincerely
Damjan
Damian, happy you liked the journey !
it is quite an icon, not many early 1950s designs have shown this longevity; I too see it "up there" with the Speedie and the Sub, would add the Memovox.
should you want to go the "vintage road" and choose a vintage Navi, let me have a virtual look at the watch before you commit to buy; many incorrect pieces around.
best, Fred
Much appreciated dear Fred
and when I'll do it
surely I'll contact you
Thank you for your kindness
Best
Damjan
I'm not a vintage watches guy...
But I highly appreciated your post.
Thanks a lot!
Fx
This message has been edited by foversta on 2013-09-29 01:03:07
Thanks a lot!
Fx
This message has been edited by foversta on 2013-09-29 01:03:07
Wonderful post Fred.
I've always had an affinity for the early Navitimers, and you posted some beauties. Enjoyed the history lesson quite a bit.
Darren
Excellent post on the Navitimer
My favorite Breitling's are the Old Navitimer II around late 1990's with the date at the 3 o'clock position. Great post WatchFred, thanks for all the wonderful pics from your collection.
Regards,
ED-209
Regards,
ED-209
