Navitimer

The Breitling Navitimer Story

The Navitimer's history starts in 1952. It was built to let pilots run complex calculations like fuel burn, airspeed, and climb rate without other instruments. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the AOPA, quickly made it their official watch, and the winged logo stayed on the dial through the early models and beyond. By the 1960s the Navitimer had moved past commercial aviation, when astronaut Scott Carpenter wore a modified version on his 1962 orbital flight, making it one of the first chronographs to leave the atmosphere.

The watch even survived the 1970s quartz crisis by sticking with mechanical movements, and it's been the Breitling flagship ever since. Through generations and small design updates, the core has stayed the same, which is rare in watchmaking and a big reason collectors keep coming back. The vsfactory.cc clone line reproduces that same core at 1:1.

Explore the Navitimer Series

The line has grown a lot over the years, from a compact 36mm automatic to a 46mm chronograph, each one putting its own spin on the classic aviation look. Here are the main models available today.

Navitimer B01 Chronograph

The B01 is the modern flagship of the line, and the clone reproduces the in-house movement architecture that marked a big step forward for the brand. The movement uses a vertical clutch and a column wheel, so the chronograph pushers run smoothly. The B01 has stayed the most popular modern Navitimer, with genuine examples averaging about $6,500 used.

The design stays close to the original but is built more solidly than the older models. The date window sits inside the sub-dial at 6 o'clock, which keeps the dial balanced, and a 70-hour power reserve means the watch runs from Friday night to Monday morning. The clone reproduces all of it.

Navitimer World and GMT

For frequent travelers, the Navitimer World is the pick. It usually uses a 46mm case with real wrist presence, and the GMT function tracks a second time zone, which fits the watch's aviation roots. The clone reproduces the GMT hand and the travel-watch details, including the city-engraved case back.

Navitimer Heritage and Vintage References

The Heritage and vintage references, like the 806, are the purists' focus. They carry a strong mid-century feel, with matte dials and the beaded bezel that marked the early Navitimer, and many keep the original AOPA winged logo rather than the newer "B". The clone reproduces the vintage details, including the winged logo and the beaded bezel.

Navitimer Cosmonaute

The Cosmonaute holds a special place as the first Swiss watch in space. Designed with astronaut Scott Carpenter, it uses a 24-hour dial and a circular slide rule bezel, built for spaceflight and beyond. The clone reproduces the 24-hour layout and the slide rule.

Navitimer 8 and Aviator 8

The Navitimer 8, later renamed the Aviator 8, is a cleaner, more understated take on the classic pilot watch. It drops the slide rule bezel for a simpler rotating pilot bezel, which opens up the dial. The result keeps the aviation character but reads more like an everyday sport watch than a full flight instrument.

These come as time-only automatics and chronographs, usually in 41mm and 43mm, and they're among the more affordable Navitimer options. The clone reproduces the cleaner dial and the simpler bezel.

Navitimer Montbrillant

The Montbrillant has long been a collector favorite, named after the street in La Chaux-de-Fonds where Breitling's first workshop stood. The best-known version is the Montbrillant Datora, which combines a chronograph with a full calendar showing the day, date, and month, making it one of the more complex Navitimer dials. The clone reproduces the complication.

Technical Details and Craftsmanship

The Navitimer's design comes from its professional spec. Every part was built around the pilot's needs, and that functional thinking still defines the watch.

Materials

The Navitimer mostly uses 316L stainless steel, durable and easy to polish, with 18K red gold and two-tone options for a more luxurious feel. The clone reproduces the look in solid stainless steel, with gold-tone plating for the red gold and two-tone references. The crystal is scratch-resistant sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides, because a Navitimer dial carries a lot of information and needs to read clearly in any light.

Movement

The early Navitimer used reliable Valjoux or Venus movements, and the clone follows that architecture on the vintage references. The modern models reproduce the in-house B01 automatic, with a 70-hour power reserve, well above the chronograph average, and the clone movements are regulated to match the COSC standard the genuine watches meet.

Bezel

The bidirectional rotating bezel is the Navitimer's signature. It uses a logarithmic scale that works with the fixed dial scale for multiplication, division, and unit conversion. Few people use it for flight calculations today, but the rotating bezel still feels great to turn, with a knurled or beaded edge that's easy to grip even in gloves. The clone reproduces the slide rule and the bezel feel.

Sizes

The Navitimer spans a wide size range now, from a small 36mm up to a bold 46mm, with 41mm and 43mm the sweet spot for most wrists. The 43mm is still the classic modern size, while the 41mm wears a little more refined. The clone reproduces the full range, so there's a fit for most people.

Water Resistance

The Navitimer is a pilot's watch, not a diver. Most models are rated to 30 meters, enough for rain and splashes, because the bezel construction makes the case hard to seal against real pressure. If you want a Breitling for the pool or the sea, the Superocean is the better pick, and the clone line carries both.

Straps

The Navitimer is known for its seven-link stainless steel bracelet, often just called the Navitimer bracelet. It's one of the most comfortable metal bracelets around, with a polished look that suits the dial. On leather, the Navitimer works just as well, especially on black or brown crocodile with contrast stitching, which gives it a more formal, vintage feel. The clone reproduces both options.

Why Choose vsfactory.cc

Buying a high-end watch online can feel risky, which is why we've stayed transparent for years. vsfactory.cc sells 1:1 clones only, and every watch is opened and checked before it ships. The movement, the dial, the bezel alignment, and the strap are all inspected, so you get a watch that matches the description.

The way we operate is simple: the price you see is the price you pay, and the watch in the photos is the watch you receive.

• Verified pieces: every watch is checked by our team before listing.
• Insured shipping: every order ships fully insured.
• Wide selection: from vintage-style references to the modern B01 chronographs.
• Fair pricing: based on the actual factory and movement, not guesswork.

FAQ

Is the Breitling Navitimer worth investing in? The genuine Navitimer holds its value well, especially the AOPA-logo limited editions and vintage references, which collectors chase and which tend to rise over time. The clone isn't bought as an investment, it's bought to wear, and it gives you the same look for a small fraction of the genuine price.

Does the Breitling Navitimer hold its value? The genuine holds value well because it's one of the most recognizable watches in the world, with steady secondhand demand. The clone sidesteps the resale question entirely, because you pay far less up front.

Is the Navitimer good for daily wear? Yes. The Navitimer works in the office and off duty, and its classic look pairs well with a suit or a casual jacket. Just remember the 30-meter rating, so take it off before swimming or any water activity.

What's the best size for the Navitimer? 43mm is the classic modern size for most people. 41mm works well if you prefer a slightly smaller watch, and 46mm is the pick for the biggest slide-rule clarity and the full oversized pilot look. The clone line covers all three.

What's the difference between the Navitimer B01 and the GMT? The B01 carries the in-house chronograph movement with a vertical clutch and column wheel for smooth pusher action. The GMT adds a hand for a second time zone, and it's usually a little larger and slightly pricier. The clone reproduces both.

What is the slide rule on the Navitimer for? It lets you line up the rotating bezel against the fixed dial scale to calculate speed, distance, fuel burn, and unit conversions. Even if you're not a pilot, it's a quick way to do multiplication and division on the wrist, and the clone's bezel works the same way.

Which Navitimer dial color is the most iconic? Black with silver sub-dials, the "reverse panda," is the most traditional and historically important. Blue and green dials have gained fans in recent years for buyers who want a modern touch in the classic design.