Launched in the late 1990s, the Navitimer Montbrilliant is a wonderfully-styled timepiece that blends Breitling’s rich tool watch heritage with the classier design elements of their mid-century models, such as the Chronomat from the 1940s. Measuring in at 38mm, the H30030.1 that we have here is a wonderfully balanced timepiece that features a hefty 18kt gold case with the Navitimer’s iconic slide rule bezel with its signature hobnail texture, and a busy, yet legible, silver dial. Sporting a red central seconds track like that on vintage Chronomats and warm 18kt gold hour markers and two blued steel hands, the H30030.1’s dial features charming dots of color that elevate its aesthetic. With recessed subdials featuring concentric guilloche engraving and a subtle grainy surface throughout the rest of the dial, the H30030.1’s dial is a satisfying blend of color, textures and useful inscriptions such as those along the dial’s periphery that enable the slide rule bezel to operate as amazingly as it does.

The H30030.1 is a beautifully-styled timepiece that executes on the Navitimer's pilot's watch heritage as well as the dressier design elements of mid-century Breitling - a tricky balance to strike indeed.