Since Georges Kern was appointed the CEO of Breitling back in the summer of 2017, the brand has seen many of its most historically important models revived as limited editions and its flagship collections, like the Chronomat, overhauled for even better wearability. A day before the Watches & Wonders event takes place, the Swiss watch manufacturer does it again, but this time with their coveted Navitimer collection. Meet the new range of 2022 Breitling Navitimer watches designed in celebration of the model’s 70th anniversary.
The Navitimer is Breitling’s most emblematic watch and over the years, it has advocated the brand’s strong aviation heritage. First launched by Willy Breitling in 1952 under the reference 806, the Breitling Navitimer became famed as the ultimate pilot’s chronograph equipped with a clever slide rule bezel. It was created for the AOPA (the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) and at 42mm, it was an incredibly large watch for its time. The original also featured the AOPA winged logo at the 12 o’clock position and maintained a distinctive aesthetic with its beaded bezel. Now, marking one of the biggest releases of the year, Breitling have reinvented the Navitimer with a selection of new design details to mark 70 years since the release of reference 806.
The 2022 Breitling Navitimer watch collection delivers a range of colourful and powerful pilots watches distinctively Breitling but offering some new and subtle design elements. For starters, the dial of each release presents the AOPA winged logo, just like that of the original Navitimer. There’s also a slimmed oscillating rotor observed through the rear of several designs, finished in silver for the steel models and gold for the rose gold cases. The cases themselves are also more compact on the wrist, offering a thinner height with polished-brushed finishes and domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass. Most importantly however, the 2022 Breitling Navitimer Chronograph watches debut a newly styled bezel with a flatter beaded detailing, still distinctively Navitimer and still incredibly easy to grip. There’s also newly designed flattened alligator leather straps and 7 link stainless steel bracelets available on every model.
“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.”
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46
First up in the line-up of 2022 Breitling Navitimer watches is a quartet of Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 models. The first three are all engineered from stainless steel and come with a choice of a black, blue or dark green dial with contrasting counters. The fourth is finished in 18ct rose gold and delivers an iconic panda dial with a silver backdrop and black subsidiary dials. All sit on the wrist at 46mm in diameter with an open sapphire crystal case back, bi-directional slide rule bezel, 30 metre water resistant rating and a choice of an alligator leather strap or 7-row bracelet in their retrospective case material. The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46 watches are also powered by the in-house Breitling B01 automatic winding calibre with a 70 hour power reserve.
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43
Coming in a little bit smaller with a diameter of 43mm is a range of Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 watches. This time there are five models to choose from, four of them engineered from polished and brushed stainless steel and a single 18 carat rose gold piece. The former four come with black, silver, copper or ice-blue dials while the latter opts for a classic black centrepiece. Once again, we’re treated to 30 metre water resistant ratings, the newly flattened bi-directional slide rule bezel, an exhibition case back and a choice of alligator straps or a stainless steel bracelet. The same 70-hour power reserve Breitling Manufacture Calibre B01 movement delivers the chronograph complication, small seconds, hours and minutes and integrated date window.
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41
The smallest of the new 2022 Breitling Navitimer Chronographs is the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 41. The same trend follows with a range of stainless steel models and an 18 carat gold design, all opting for a 41mm diameter. The stainless steel references come with a choice of a blue, silver or mint green dial while the gold case opts for a classic silver dial. The Breitling Manufacture Calibre B01 movement delivers the same functionality as the releases above and is exhibited through the sapphire crystal case back alongside its newly designed oscillating rotor. There also a 30 metre water resistance, domed sapphire crystal glass on top and a slide rule bezel.
Breitling Navitimer Automatic 41
Alongside the set of new 2022 Breitling Navitimer Chronographs, there’s also two time-only models including this Breitling Navitimer Automatic 41 watch. For this design, the iconic beaded slide rule bezel returns bordering a rich forest-green dial. Dressed in Superluminova, the hour and minute hands pair with a red-tipped seconds hand and an integrated date window at 6 o’clock. These complications are powered by the Breitling Calibre 17 automatic winding movement with a 42 hour power reserve. Unlike the chronographs, this watch doesn’t include the AOPA logo or an exhibition case back. Instead, an engraved screw down back delivers a 30 metre water resistant.
Breitling Navitimer Automatic 35
Last up in the 2022 Breitling Navitimer watch collection is this Navitimer Automatic 35 watch. Suitably sized for both men and women, the 35mm stainless steel case also returns the beaded bezel and an attractive mint green dial. This design neglects a date window and delivers just classic hours, minutes and seconds powered by Breitling Calibre 17 automatic winding movement. Alongside the option of a steel bracelet, the watch can be delivered on a dark green alligator leather strap with a tang buckle or folding clasp. There’s also Superluminova hardware, a screw down case back, domed sapphire crystal and a 30 metre water resistance.
If you’d like to learn more about the new 2022 Breitling Navitimer watch collection and shop all of the pieces for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
