BREITLING RELAUNCHES A CLASSIC
Breitling has been a high flyer since the 1930s, when it set up the Huit Aviation Department to produce cockpit instruments as well as pilot’s watches for civilian and military use.
The aviation heritage is embodied in Navitimer with the hallmark circular slide rule for flight calculations and Ref 765 AVI, dubbed the “Co-Pilot”, launched in the early 1950s.
The design of the Co-Pilot was inspired by onboard clocks produced by the Huit Aviation Department. Following its launch in 1953, it became popular among aviators due to its legibility and rugged construction.
In 2020, the classic chronograph makes a comeback as the stainless steel AVI Ref 765 1953 Re-Edition with an increased water resistance to 3 bar, or 30m.
True to the original design, the reproduction features a bezel secured by three screws, a black face, thin syringe hands, and oversized
Arabic numerals. The colour of the hand-applied Super-LumiNova was carefully chosen to recall the luminescent material on the Co-Pilot. The Swiss brand also released AVI 1953 Edition in precious metals, with the red gold and platinum versions respectively boasting a black and a blue dial. Under the Aviator 8 family, the three new timepieces are equipped with an in-house manufactured mechanical handwound movement.
Breitling doesn’t miss out on offering ladies an aviation-inspired model driven by a self-winding mechanical movement.
The design of the new 35mm Navitimer Automatic recalls the Navitimer Ref 806 with a beaded bezel.
The collection features stainless steel, red gold and two-tone variations, with a blue, copper, silver or white mother-of-pearl dial, for women to match their style.