One of the show-stoppers from Baselworld this year was the new Breitling Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition watch. This stunning limited edition has been designed to celebrate an early 1959 model from the iconic Breitling Navitimer collection that was released exactly 60 years ago. The design of the re-edition is almost exact to the original with an all-black dial, beaded bezel and hand-wound movement.
The first Breitling Navitimer watch was released in 1952 and it became a revolutionary chronograph for every passenger of the cockpit. It’s innovative slide rude allowed pilots to make critical flight calculations becoming a must have for every aviator, especially favoured by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in the United States. The Navitimer collection remains just as popular today as it did back then, and we are certain the 1959 limited edition pieces of the Breitling Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition watch will sell out quickly on its release in April.
Breitling CEO Georges Kern said: “In the past year, we’ve been thrilled to learn that there are so many people who have always been passionate about Breitling’s legacy and that there’s enormous interest not only in our new products but also in our heritage and our early timepieces. The Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition will give new Breitling fans and people who have followed the brand for decades a chance to own and enjoy their own exclusive piece of our legendary past.”
The Breitling Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 watch is the first re-edition from the brand, but it doesn’t sound like it will be the last. It replicates the design codes of early Navitimers to the smallest of detail including an all-black dial with matching coloured sub-dials and a rotating beaded bezel. The dial is also adorned with a Breitling inscription in capital letters and an unsigned winged logo. Only serious watch fanatics will remember that the Breitling unsigned winged logo was used for the European market only, while the watches sold in the US had an AOPA-signed logo.
The bezel of the Breitling Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition watch is absolutely breathtaking and is made up of 94 intricate beads, exactly the same number found on the 1959 model. The case also measures to 40.9mm in size just like that of its historic counterpart and comes on a vintage inspired black leather strap. The famous circular slide rule that made Breitling Navitimer watches so successful is also equipped onto the watch and can be found positioned beneath a piece of high domed acrylic glass and fashioned in the exact shape of the original.
Just how the original model boasted a manual winding movement, the new Breitling Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition is equipped with a hand-wound calibre, the Breitling Manufacture Caliber B09 mechanical movement to be exact. The B09 is based on the brand’s in-house Caliber 01 and is of course also COSC certified. Breitling have hinted that this new B09 calibre will power many of the other hand-wound historical re-editions that are to be released in the future.
The only differences that have been made to the re-edition is an increased water resistance to 30 metres and Superluminova coating on the dial. These are differences we can certainly get on board with, not only because the increased water resistance gives the watch better durability but the colour of the Superluminova has been carefully chosen to reflect the same luminescent material used on earlier Navitimer models.
There is no doubt that the Breitling Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition watch is going to be a huge hit with collectors, not only for its limited-edition status but because it is officially the first Breitling re-edition watch to be released. The retail price of £6,520 also makes it all the more tempting. The watch is expected to be released in April but we highly recommend pre-ordering it now to ensure you get your hands on this highly anticipated, limited edition timepiece!
Specifications: Breitling Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition Watch (AB0910371B1X1)
- Case Size: 40.9mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Water Resistance: 30 metres
- Glass: Acrylic, convex
- Case back: Closed, stainless steel
- Crown: Non-screw locked, two gaskets
- Bezel: Bi-directional with slide rule
- Dial: Black with Superluminova numerals, hour and minute hands
- Movement: Breitling Manufacture Calibre B09 hand winding
- COSC Certified: Yes
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Frequency: 28,800 vph
- Functions: Hour, minute, sub seconds, central chronograph seconds, 30 minute counter, 12 hour counter
- Strap: Black leather with stainless steel pin buckle
- RRP: £6,520
- Limited Edition: 1959 pieces
- Release Date: April 2019
