Editorial Breitling Navitimer: The Watch That Does More Than Tell Time

In today’s world, where everything is just a tap or swipe away, from checking the time to doing complex calculations, it’s hard to imagine a time when all of this had to be done by hand. Not just by pressing buttons, but by using fingers, rocks, and, much later, devices like the abacus. But in 1952, something extraordinary happened that changed the game for the world, especially aviation. It was the birth of the Breitling Navitimer, a timepiece that would become a legend, merging precision with functionality in a way no one had ever seen before.

It all began with Willy Breitling, the third-generation head of the renowned Swiss brand, Breitling. He was approached by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in the United States, who asked him to create a new kind of chronograph for pilots, one that could help them perform all the critical calculations they needed while flying. Things like fuel consumption, speed, distance, and even converting miles to kilometers or nautical miles.

Back then, these types of calculations required a logarithmic slide rule. Willy’s brilliance lay in adapting the slide rule from the 1940s Chronomat and integrating it into a rotating bezel, turning the watch into something far more than just a timekeeper. He surrounded the bezel with small beads to make it easier to use in the cockpit, ensuring that pilots could make these calculations even with gloves on. The case itself was 41 millimeters, large for its time, ensuring that the dial was easy to read at a glance.

When the Navitimer was launched, it was an instant hit with AOPA members, becoming the go-to watch for pilots everywhere. But it wasn’t just popular for its utility; it also became a symbol of innovation and precision that you can count on. The slide rule featured on the Navitimer wasn’t something new, though, its roots go back to the 1600s when English mathematician William Oughtred first invented the logarithmic slide rule. But it was Breitling’s genius in incorporating this into a wristwatch that set the Navitimer apart from everything that came before it.

The functionality of the Navitimer may seem complicated at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's surprisingly simple. Let’s take an example, converting kilometers to miles. On the Navitimer, you don’t worry about decimal points; you focus on the whole numbers. For instance, we know that 1 kilometer equals 0.621 miles. To convert kilometers to miles on the Navitimer, you simply locate the number "62" on the bezel, lining it up with "10" on the inner ring. Now the outer bezel represents miles, and the inner ring represents kilometers. Let’s say you want to convert 150 kilometers to miles, just find “15” on the inner ring, and you’ll see it corresponds to 93 miles on the outer bezel, which if you do the calculation is correct. 

Over the years, the Navitimer collection has expanded, offering sizes that are available in 41, 43, and 46 millimeters for the chronographs, with simpler three-hand models available in 35, 38, and 41 millimeters. You can also choose from materials like stainless steel, gold, or even two-tone versions, ensuring that there’s a Navitimer for every taste and style.

Today, under the leadership of Georges Kern, Breitling has embraced its rich history while also looking forward to the future. Last year, the brand celebrated its 140th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Breitling introduced three exceptional timepieces, including a Navitimer, featuring their first-ever in-house automatic chronograph perpetual calendar movement. 

The Navitimer remains at the heart of Breitling’s collection, a true icon of aviation and precision. It’s more than just a watch; it’s a symbol of a time when craftsmanship and functionality met in a way that changed the course of horology positively. Whether you’re a pilot, a watch enthusiast, or someone who appreciates the beauty of well-made timepieces, the Navitimer stands as a testament to the genius of Breitling.