Since its founding in 1884, Breitling has built its reputation at the intersection of precision timing and aviation. Long before flight became routine, the brand was already developing aviation instruments. By pioneering the modern chronograph and later developing instruments tailored for pilots, Breitling became synonymous with the golden age of aviation, where functionality and innovation were inseparable.
At the heart of this legacy lies the Navitimer, which was born from professional demand in 1952, when it was designed for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). By uniting a chronograph with a patented circular slide rule, Breitling created the first wristwatch flight computer, allowing aviators to perform crucial onboard calculations. What began as a highly practical cockpit instrument soon proved itself across every altitude.
Over the decades, the Navitimer transcended its utilitarian roots, becoming a cultural icon worn by astronauts, racing drivers, and artists alike, while retaining its unmistakable design language. The densely detailed dial, the beaded bezel, and the ever-present slide rule have endured, giving the Navitimer a rare continuity in an industry often driven by reinvention.
In 2026, the brand continues to elevate its rich history. Through the “Navitimer Stories” campaign, these chapters are brought to light across aviation, lifestyle, and technical savoir-faire, showing why the timepiece remains relevant to the present day. The latest releases represent a masterful evolution, blending over 70 years of heritage with modern innovation.
That delicate balance between heritage and evolution defines the collection today. This year, Breitling presents two new interpretations that illustrate just how far the Navitimer has come, without ever losing sight of where it began.
Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde
The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde marks the 50th anniversary of the legendary aircraft’s first flight. It is, at its core, a story about speed, ambition, and a moment in time when the impossible briefly became reality. The Concorde, capable of crossing the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound and cruising at 60,000 feet, was more than an aircraft; it was a vision of the future. Breitling channels that vision into a limited edition that feels both nostalgic and strikingly contemporary.
The watch immediately distinguishes itself through its dial. A deep, saturated blue evokes the stratosphere as seen from the Concorde’s cruising altitude, while crisp white subdials and slide rule elements subtly reference the aircraft’s nickname, the “White Bird.” Limited to 593 pieces—a nod to the Concorde’s Olympus 593 turbojet engines—it carries its narrative not only in design, but in symbolism.
Beneath this poetic exterior lies the proven Breitling Manufacture Calibre B01. This self-winding chronograph movement, equipped with a column wheel and vertical clutch, delivers both precision and reliability, with a 70-hour power reserve. COSC-certified, its smooth chronograph engagement reflects decades of refinement.
The 43 mm stainless steel case is paired with a platinum bidirectional bezel, integrating the iconic slide rule that defines the Navitimer. Water resistance is rated to 30 metres, and the watch is finished with a blue alligator leather strap secured by a stainless steel folding clasp. It is, ultimately, a watch that looks backward with admiration while standing firmly in the present; a tribute not only to Concorde, but to an era of fearless innovation.
Georges Kern, the affable CEO of Breitling, says, “Flying with the Concorde was like nothing else. Today, travel is a necessary step to reach a destination, but a Concorde flight was an experience in itself. It’s only natural that we pay homage to the 50th anniversary of its first flight with our iconic Navitimer.”
Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar
Soaring alongside the Concorde, the Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar looks decisively forward. It represents a significant shift in the collection’s trajectory, introducing a level of mechanical complexity never before seen in a core Navitimer model.
At the heart of this evolution is the Manufacture Calibre B19, a movement that combines a chronograph with a perpetual calendar—one capable of automatically adjusting for leap years and varying month lengths, and requiring minimal correction for a century. With a 96-hour power reserve and a construction comprising 374 components, it stands as Breitling’s most advanced calibre to date. Technically, the Navitimer B19 has set a new benchmark for Breitling, a feat that earned it a 2025 Temporis Award.
Yet, despite its technical sophistication, the B19 retains a sense of visual harmony. The moonphase display at 12 o’clock introduces a quiet, almost poetic dimension, linking the watch not only to aviation, but to the broader cosmos. It is a reminder that the Navitimer, while born in the cockpit, has always been about exploration in its widest sense.
“At Breitling, we have always pushed limits, not only through our iconic designs, but also by engineering exceptional movements that power our watches.” says Kern, “The Navitimer B19 delivers on both sides.”
The two references further emphasise this duality of earth and sky. The first, a 75-piece limited edition, is rendered entirely in platinum and features a deep blue dial inspired by the thinning atmosphere at high altitude, a rich, luminous tone that seems to capture the edge of space itself. The other, combining stainless steel with a platinum bezel, adopts an anthracite dial that feels darker, more introspective, evoking the vastness beyond the Earth.
Both share a 43 mm case, a bidirectional slide-rule bezel, and a refined dial architecture with raised subdials that add depth and dimension. The choice of straps—from alligator leather to a seven-row steel bracelet—further allows each version to express a slightly different personality, while remaining unmistakably Navitimer.
What makes these two new releases particularly compelling is the way they mirror the broader evolution of the collection itself. The Tribute to Concorde stays close to the Navitimer’s origins as a pilot’s chronograph: functional, legible, and deeply rooted in aviation history. Meanwhile, the B19 elevates the Navitimer into the realm of high complication, demonstrating that the collection is capable of far more than its original purpose.
Despite their differences, they are united by a common thread. Both watches respect the Navitimer’s identity, preserving its most recognisable elements while pushing its boundaries in new directions. They do not attempt to redefine the icon, but rather to expand it.
In these latest creations, the Breitling Navitimer proves that true icons do not stand still. They adapt, they improve, and they reach ever higher, much like the very aircraft that inspired them in the first place.
