When considering which limited edition watch I wanted to cover in this article, I thought of one of the most significant relaunches: the illustrious 41 mm Breitling Navitimer 806 from 1959, using the Venus 178 manual-wind chronograph movement.
When it was launched in 1952, the Navitimer was one of the most important modern timepieces. It represented a milestone in the evolution of pilot watches, combining functional innovation, distinctive design, and a deep connection to aviation history. It became the official watch for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), cementing its status as a pilot’s watch.
Historical Background
Back then, the Navitimer was a computer on the wrist with its distinct slide rule bezel, which allowed pilots to perform crucial flight calculations such as fuel consumption, airspeed, distance, and rate of climb or descent. This made it an essential tool for pilots during an era when onboard flight computers were non-existent or rudimentary. The advertisement that promoted the innovative watch read “The Navitimer is your co-pilot” in its early days. And the advert wasn’t wrong.
To us who sit in the passenger seats of an airplane today, the Navitimer and its slide rule make it a great conversation piece for the person in the neighboring seat. If they are not paying attention, I would tell them that the esteemed auctioneer of Phillips Watches once said: “The Navitimer is one of the coolest watches to wear every day.” I am sure that would make your co-passengers all ears.
The Breitling Navitimer 806 Re-Edition
In 2019, Breitling decided to reintroduce the Navitimer 806. Everything was as it used to be. Even the number of beads on the bezel (there are 94) was the same as on the original. One could say that the 2019 version is a carbon copy of the original Navitimer from 1959.
A plain black dial with clean white hands and markings to provide legibility on a complicated dial gives the Navitimer the overall aesthetic of an aircraft instrument panel. With a diameter of 41 mm and a thickness of 12.9 mm, the current model has the same case dimensions as its predecessor. The only new features here: The watch is water-resistant up to 3 bar and is coated with Super-LumiNova.
I am sure that the design department, run by Creative Director Sylvain Bergeron and Breitling collector Fred Mandelbaum, who acts as a historian and board advisor to the Swiss watch brand, was very pleased with the outcome. Admittedly, when the press photo of the original and the relaunched 806 next to each other was released, I could not tell one from the other.
Availability and Price
The success of this relaunch in 2019 was immediate. Back then, the price was USD 9500, which in today’s market seems pretty fair for such a fine watch with a manual wind COSC-certified in-house calibre B09 movement with a 70-hour power reserve based on the B01 column wheel chronograph with a vertical clutch.
If you are okay with a pre-owned version of this incredibly cool watch in stainless steel, limited to 1959 pieces, it can be found on Chrono24 for around USD 9000, saving you enough to buy a new strap. The rose gold version was limited to 159 pieces—of course, you will find fewer offers on the marketplace here, but they start at USD 19500 (list price: USD 28650). The platinum version of the model is even more limited. Only 59 units were produced, available for a list price of around USD 51000. On the Chrono24 marketplace, you can also find some more affordable pre-owned offers starting at USD 22500.
