In 1952, Breitling developed the Navitimer, a revolutionary wrist-worn chronograph that instantly became a mainstay of every cockpit. Breitling’s new Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition celebrates one of the most iconic early designs of the Navitimer, released exactly 60 years ago.
Time is pretty important to pilots. Knowing how long it will take is second only to knowing where you’re going, and thanks to a circular slide rule that enables the wearer to make all critical calculations they might need when in the air, the Breitling Navitimer has been a favourite with pilots for over half a century. The watch brand’s first re-edition timepiece, the Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition is a chronograph that replicates – almost to the smallest detail – the design codes of one of the most venerated early Navitimers, the Breitling Ref. 806, including an all-black dial with tone-on-tone subdials and a rotating beaded bezel.
In celebration of the year this specific design was produced, the new timepiece has been created in an edition limited to 1,959 pieces, all individually numbered and engraved on the caseback and is the first in a new series of re-releases that tap into the brand’s heritage.
Like its inspirational ancestor, the Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition has an all-black dial with tone-on-tone subdials and, recreating one of the signature elements of the original Ref. 806 in 1959, the dial is adorned with a Breitling inscription in capital letters and an unsigned winged logo (a little-known fact is that the unsigned winged logo was used for the European market, while the watches sold in the US had an AOPA-signed logo).
The timepiece also has a rotating beaded bezel made of precisely 94 beads, exactly the number found on the 1959 model. In the course of the production period for the original Navitimer Ref. 806, the number of these beads – the small markings around the bezel – varied from as many as 125 in the early 1950s to as few as 93 in 1960. This may be a small detail, but for enthusiasts of historical wristwatches, it is an important one.

Even the stainless-steel case, measuring precisely 40.9 millimeters, has been developed specifically for the Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition, with the same lugs profile and finish as the original Ref. 806.
The famous circular slide rule, positioned beneath a piece of high-domed acrylic glass fashioned in exactly the same shape as the original, will be familiar to every passionate Navitimer fan. In fact, the only concessions to modernity are the water resistance, which has been increased to 3 bar (30 meters), and a Super-LumiNova coating, the hand-finished application of which gives the dial an additional touch of vintage allure and character.
In respect to the original manual caliber that powered the early Navitimer, a completely new manual (handwound) movement has been developed. The in-house Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09 mechanical movement is based on the brand’s renowned in-house Manufacture Caliber 01 and is a COSC-certified chronometer. This movement will power many of the other hand-wound historical re-editions to come.
The watch is presented on a black vintage-inspired leather strap.
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