Galli Uhren Bijouterie AG
Theaterstrasse 16, on Bellevue
CH-8001 Zurich
Tel: +41 44 262 04 10
Fax: +41 44 252 49 96
The Navitimer – from flying instrument to icon
In 1952, the watch world set a new standard: the Breitling Navitimer was born.
With its revolutionary slide rule bezel and as the official time measuring instrument of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), it became an indispensable tool for pilots and quickly advanced to become an aviation icon. The Navitimer combined precision, functionality and elegance and thus wrote an important chapter in the history of pilots’ watches.
1952 - The hour of birth
The story goes way back to 1952 when Willy Breitling was asked by the renowned American Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) to produce a chronograph for its members.
Willy Breitling created an innovative instrument with which the pilots could carry out all the necessary flight calculations.
With this watch, it was now possible to calculate the average speed of the distance travelled, the fuel consumption, the rate of climb or descent and the conversion of miles into kilometres or nautical miles.
1960s
In 1969, the Breitling Navitimer underwent a revolutionary change: it was equipped with its first automatic chronograph. This innovation, known as Calibre 11, represented a significant technical advance and further cemented the Navitimer as the leader among pilot’s watches.
The 2000s
In 2009, Breitling marked another milestone in its history with the introduction of its own manufacture movement, the Calibre B01. This in-house chronograph movement was characterised by outstanding precision and reliability and underlined Breitling’s commitment to technical excellence.
The introduction of the calibre in the Navitimer followed in 2010 and set new standards.
140 years of Breitling
Breitling celebrates its 140th anniversary and kicks off the anniversary year with new additions to the Navitimer collection.
One thing is for sure:
The legendary success story of the Navitimer continues…
