Introduction
Released in 1952 and based on Breitling’s 1942 Chronomat, the Breitling Navitimer was the pilot’s watch to end all pilot’s watches. Following Breitling’s collaboration with the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) to make the slide rule of its Chronomat even more relevant to pilots, the Navitimer was born as the ultimate pilot’s watch. Basically, a hand-held computer, the Navitimer enabled pilots to quickly figure out fuel consumption rates, average speeds, convert between various scales, and much more. Offered here we have the Navitimer ref. 7806 from the mid-70s, which features the added bonus of being a watch issued to the Royal Jordanian Air Force, as denoted by its engraved caseback bearing “Hussain Bin Talal” and the crown of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Made of stainless steel and measuring 41mm in diameter, it wears with a poise similar to modern variants, but the detailed of a vintage example thanks to its manual-wind Valjoux cal. 7740 movement placing its date aperture at 4:30, a detail that most Navitimers lack.
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Grade
V 8.5
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Watch Only
Est. value range
$4,000 – $6,000
The Details
Brand
Breitling
Dimensions
41mm
Model
Navitimer
Movement
Manual-wind Valjoux cal. 7740
Reference
7806
Bracelet
Leather strap
Year
Circa 1975
Condition
Excellent
Material
Stainless steel
Included
Watch only
Dial Color
Black
THE DIAL
Mostly identical to the majority of Navitimer displays, this ref. 7806 boasts a black dial with a trio of silver subdials and its iconic slide rule bezel, but in addition to that, it also features a date aperture at 4:30, which marks it as a unique and rare reference.
THE DIAL
Issued to the Royal Jordanian Air Force's pilots in the 1970s, these rare examples of the ref. 7806 will include casebacks engraved with “Hussain Bin Talal” in Arabic and the crown of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in overall excellent condition. The steel case shows surface scratches and tiny nicks, while the case back displays surface marks and retains a well-defined engraving, with some black enamel still present in the crown insignia. The original “B”-signed winding crown remains present. The dial shows light spotting on the sub-dial along with light surface marks, and both the dial and hands appear to have been relumed at some point. It is fitted with a blue leather strap and a Breitling steel pin buckle, both remaining in excellent condition.
Our Perspective
A rare and special variant made all the more rare and special on account of its ties to the Royal Jordanian Air Force, as highlighted by its engraved caseback, this ref. 7806 is a wonderful example of the importance of reliable equipment for militaries in the latter half of the 20th century.
Eric Ku
Co-founder
