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 as the AOPA’s official watch from 1954 onwards, Breitling would design and sell two AOPA-specific variants. First is the AOPA logo variant, which we have here, and the Double Plane variant, which followed after. Released in 1956, the ref. 806 variant was designed to capitalize on the Navitimer’s popularity with an upgraded movement, Venus cal. 178 instead of the Valjoux cal. 72 and larger beads on the bezel for greater friction. An iconic watch on its own merit, this example’s link to the AOPA, the group that brought it about, stands as a tangible piece of horological history that deserves to be celebrated.

Watch is in overall excellent condition. Original dial is in excellent condition, with very minor loss to the lacquer around the center post. Radium hands and indexes are matching. Case is in excellent condition, having previously been detailed. Watch is an early version, featuring the beaded bezel.

Inarguably one of the most iconic watches ever, the Navitimer simply would not exist if not for the AOPA. Moreover, the AOPA-specific variants like this example prove Breitling was well aware of that fact back in the late 1950s.