ExclusiveA Partnership Like That Of Co-Pilots: The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph India-Exclusive

After a spate of India-exclusive editions created by Swiss watch brands, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Ethos Limited, the latest one out is Breitling’s iconic Navitimer chronograph—with a fresh, new ice blue dial. This Navitimer India-Exclusive timepiece is a continuation of Breitling’s rich legacy in aviation timekeeping and creating tools for pilots. It follows the template of the latest Navitimers in the brand’s portfolio—an evolution that was incidentally unveiled last year, when Breitling were celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Navitimer collection.

Before The Navitimer India-Exclusive

It was 71 years ago, in 1952, that the Navitimer was first introduced, by none other than Willy Breitling of the founding family—grandson of founder Léon Breitling. Willy’s idea was to develop a wrist-worn pilot’s tool that would include a chronograph and a circular slide-rule—a scale used to perform flight calculations. It was only two years later that it was christened ‘Navitimer’, after the design was adopted as the official timepiece of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)—the largest club of aviators in the world. A portmanteau of ‘navigation’ and ‘timer’, the name said it all. As civil aviation grew, so did the love for the Navitimer, which even went above the skies, when worn by astronaut Scott Carpenter in 1962. He opted for a 24-hour edition, to tell day from night. Since then, the collection has been nurtured by Breitling, while its iconography has grown.

“We don’t throw the term ‘icon’ around lightly,” says Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling. “The Navitimer is one of the most recognisable watches ever made. It’s on collectors’ lists of the greatest watches of all time. What began as a tool for pilots has gone on to mean something profound to every single person who has had this timepiece along on their personal journey.”

A Distinguished Aviation Instrument: The Navitimer India-Exclusive

And this icon is what we see in the form of the Navitimer India-Exclusive edition as well. While it is quite different from those Navitimers from the 1950s and ’60s, it retains the iconic elements such as the slide rule—an integral identifier of the Navitimer watches today. It’s, in fact, the most distinguishable element for the Navitimer as an aviation timepiece. The traditional template of an aviation watch, seen to this day, comprises large Arabic numeral hour markers and a large crown, for easy reading of time at a glance while flying and for easy setting of time while wearing flying gloves, respectively.

The Navitimer India-Exclusive retains the iconic elements such as the slide rule—an integral identifier of the Navitimer watches today, which is the most distinguishable element for the Navitimer as an aviation timepiece

While the Navitimer India-Exclusive and other new Navitimer B01 chronographs do have a relatively large crown, there are no Arabic numeral hour markers. Instead, we see applied indexes, complemented by sleek, pencil-shaped hands—all with luminous elements. The central chronograph seconds hand is in red, while the sub-dials have black hands—the 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph counters at three and six, and the running seconds at nine. These sub-dials on the Navitimer India-Exclusive are in a silvery hue—complementing the flange with the slide-rule—in contrast against the rest of the dial in ice blue. This contrast signifies that the watch runs on an in-house movement—a distinguishing factor that Breitling adopted about five years ago.

The In-House Chronometer Calibre Of The Navitimer India-Exclusive

In addition to the timekeeping and chronograph functions, there’s a date window at six. It’s all powered by the in-house calibre 01, denoted by B01 in the name of the Navitimer India-Exclusive watch. It can run for up to a significant 70 hours when left unattended on a full wind. Like in all of Breitling’s watches, this one too is a COSC-certified chronometer movement, and it can be seen through the display caseback, around which you’ll also see the unique number for each of the 50 pieces of this limited edition.

The Navitimer India-Exclusive is powered by the in-house calibre 01, denoted by B01 in the name of the watch. It can run for up to a significant 70 hours when left unattended on a full wind

Like in all of Breitling’s watches, this one too is a COSC-certified chronometer movement, and it can be seen through the display caseback, around which you’ll also see the unique limited edition number

A Partnership Akin To That Of Co-Pilots: The Navitimer India-Exclusive

While 25 pieces of the Navitimer India-Exclusive edition come with a blue leather strap, the rest come with a steel bracelet. Both options complement the ice blue of the dial, which features the AOPA logo at 12 o’clock. This ice blue is in keeping with the modern colour palette that the Navitimer collection has been presenting over recent years, including the 2022 70th-anniversary redesign that gave the iconic watch a sleeker, more sophisticated look, even with a domed sapphire crystal glass. This helps in making the large 43mm size of the Navitimer India-Exclusive seem rather agreeable.

Sleek, slender, fresh and modern, but steeped in tradition, this timepiece is ideal to represent a partnership that’s as integral as a partnership between co-pilots. Here is the latest edition of an icon that has endured for over 70 years and counting, quite like the partnership it represents.