First 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 a unique piece of the Navitimer’s heritage, a quartz variant, the Jupiter Pilot. Powered by the quartz cal. 3300 and featuring an ana-digi dial with a digital display at 6 o’clock for its dual-time, chronograph, and alarm functions, this timepiece was the ultimate tool for pilots in the 1980s, and through its impressive utility, air forces such as the Iraqi Air Force ordered batches of the watch from Breitling for use by their pilots. As such, this particular example exists as one of those watches. With its 42mm stainless stee featuring a caseback with the Iraqi Air Force emblem engraved on it. With nicely aged luminous material and its iconic slide rule bezel, this example’s display is full of character and utility, ensuring that it is still as practical as the day it entered service.

The watch is in overall very good condition. The stainless steel case has some light surface scratches and minor nicks. The case back shows signs of wear, but the engravings, including the Iraqi Air Force insignia, remain well-defined. The bezel is well-defined with some surface marks, while the inner bezel shows some color degradation in places. The crystal has light scratches throughout visible in the images. The dial shows light wear, and the tritium lume remains in good condition. Hand luminous is slightly cracked. The watch is fitted with a black leather Breitling strap, which has some discoloration on the stitching, and a stainless steel Breitling buckle with light scratches.

A thoroughly capable timepiece with a unique story and the commemorative caseback to prove it, this example belongs to the ultimate category of vintage Breitlings.