No luxury watch brand has the rich history and heritage that Breitling boasts in the world of flight and aircraft. The Breitling Navitimer, in particular, was a famous pilot tool. The exquisite design of the timepiece and the wide range of uses make it an instant hit.
If you want this fantastic watch, you might not know where to start. This is understandable as this official timepiece for the expert and amateur pilot has a broad collection of items.
Here, we’ll look at some of the best current Breitling Navitimer watches. Also, we’ll discuss critical ways to ensure that you don’t accidentally pick up a forgery.
Top 5 Breitling Navitimer Watches
Breitling has been in the business for over a century. So there is no doubt that the brand has various wristwatch models for different social classes. But what are the five best Breitling Navitimer watches to look out for in 2022?
1. Breitling Navitimer 1 Chronograph 41 Men’s Watch
Breitling Navitimer watches don’t come much better than this. A surprise release in 2018, this 41-mm model watch gives you all to love and little to hate.
The Breitling Navitimer 1 Chronograph 41 has a realistic size giving it an edge over the B01 Chronograph. What’s more? It’s also cheaper compared to the 43-mm Navitimer.
This is one of the first Navitimer watches launched after Georges Kern took over the leadership of the luxury watch brand. It was also one of the things that finally convinced us that the watchmaking legend Breitling would only continue to grow from that point.
The Breitling Navitimer 1 watch spots a vintage look that might not appeal as much to new users. But it’s sure to make hardcore Nav-Heads fall in love with the timepiece at first glance.
With a single-toned dial that only uses depth of color texture to distinguish sub-dials, this beautiful watch has a 6/9/12 register layout that undisputedly gives it its DNA.
The aesthetics of this watch might not compare to the offerings of more standard models. But it has undoubtedly found a niche of its own.
The Navitimer 1 Chronograph 41 presents a worthwhile alternative for those who don’t want to strap an overly shiny or bulky bracelet. So you can replace the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph with this watch.
And, sure, the fact this timepiece doesn’t feature the highly sought-after B01 movement can be a deal-breaker. But when you look at the smaller size and reasonable price of this wristwatch, that just might be a fair enough tradeoff.
So, if you don’t want to cough up too much for your next luxury timepiece and prefer 38 and 41-mm watches, you just might like what you get with the Breitling Navitimer 1 Chronograph 41 men’s watch.
Pros
- It’s decently priced for a high-end Breitling Navitimer timepiece.
- It has a stylish and elegant vintage design.
- It’s a 41-mm model watch.
- Its 6/9/12 register layout gives it a unique DNA.
- It has a decent power reserve.
Cons
- It doesn’t come with the B01 movement.
- The 6/9/12 register layout caters to only a particular audience.
2. Breitling Navitimer GMT World Men’s Watch
Breitling remains one of the few luxury watch brands that make a conscious effort to cater to the timekeeping needs of people with larger hands. You need to look no further than the Breitling Navitimer GMT collection to see irrefutable proof.
Like the previous model, Breitling Navitimer World GMT is an excellent piece that men with larger wrists can show off.
Beyond fitting on your wrist, the Breitling Navitimer GMT gives you much to appreciate in aesthetics.
It has distinguished silver dials giving it an elegant look. Also, it features luminescent markers and hands that make telling time, even in the dark, a simple and brisk affair.
Its case’s finely polished stainless steel oozes class without going overboard to become loud. The case also boasts a 15mm thickness, so the timepiece doesn’t just look bulky.
As its name suggests, this Breitling Navitimer GMT timepiece is designed to help you keep accurate time in different time zones. Its second GMT Time Zone does this for you with a flourish.
This timepiece’s automatic GMT chronometer movement stands out among self-winding chronographs. Thanks to its remarkable precision. The added date feature makes its day-date display that much more comprehensive.
In addition, its simple bidirectional bezel accounts for variables like distance and speed. Also, the Breitling Navitimer GMT has water resistance capabilities up to 100 feet for good measure.
For those who want a beautiful tool for pilots with excellent capabilities, the Breitling Navitimer GMT will deliver consistently.
Pros
- It has a beautiful and elegant build.
- The Breitling Navitimer GMT second time zone works perfectly.
- It’s a 24-hour timepiece.
- It has water resistance capabilities up to 100 feet.
- Its glass is scratch-resistant.
- It has a 70-hour power reserve.
Cons
- It isn’t suitable for people with smaller hands.
3. Breitling Navitimer Chronograph Movement Stainless-Steel Men’s Watch
For those searching for a quality watch to suit their lifestyle, this Breitling Navitimer 1 watch offers a bargain you’ll find hard to turn down.
The Swiss-made timepiece is what you get from the perfect fusion of art and precision craftsmanship.
This Breitling Navitimer 1 men’s watch features a 43-mm case of beautiful silver-tone stainless steel. An attractive black leather strap is attached to this elegant case, making the watch sophisticated.
Its bidirectional rotating bezel features an innovative slide rule that you can put to a host of uses. This Breitling Navitimer 1 watch has a graceful black dial complemented perfectly with index hour markers and luminous hands.
This analog pilot watch also spots the slide rule markings on the outer rim of the timepiece. You also get three amazing sub-dials with the watch.
If you’re like us and enjoy sneaking at your wrist every so often, you’ll love the sight you see every time you wear this timepiece.
This watch runs on the Breitling Calibre 01 Automatic movement. As one of this watch brand’s most iconic in-house caliber movement technology, the automatic caliber assures accurate and consistent timekeeping all year round.
One of the things we love the most about this particular house caliber is that it delivers optimal functionality without dispensing with aesthetics. This automatic movement features 47 jewels, a bitting at 28, 800 VPH, and 346 different parts.
What’s truly jaw-dropping is that, even with all that, the timepiece is still energy-efficient as it offers a 70-hour power reserve.
This Breitling Navitimer 1 men’s watch perfectly balances beauty and precision – the two most important things that make a great timepiece.
Pros
- It features a very innovative slide rule.
- It has an impressive power reserve.
- It offers a wide range of functions.
- It’s water-resistant.
- It comes with a lengthy warranty period.
- It boasts durable and scratch-resistant sapphire glass.
Cons
- It can be extra sensitive due to many complications that the watch features.
4. Breitling Navitimer GMT Automatic Men’s Watch
Earlier, we mentioned the unceasing commitment of the Breitling Navitimer collection to producing large-sized timepieces. The brand pushed that dedication further with the Breitling Navitimer GMT Automatic.
With a case that’s 48 mm wide, you’ll definitely feel you have something on your wrist.
So, two things that the Breitling Navitimer GMT Automatic has over some models are that it’s 2mm thicker and comes with a trusty GMT hand.
Also, unlike the Breitling Navitimer World GMT, we reviewed earlier, this timepiece comes with its in-house made movement, effectively distinguishing it from its counterparts.
What’s more, its Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750-based mechanical movement isn’t just decidedly different but is considerably more attractive as well.
In addition, the Caliber 04 has a window display case back of sapphire crystal that makes it a sort of unicorn among the watches from the brand due to its rarity even now.
Of course, no true Breitling Navitimer can be considered complete without its retro calculator and the slide rule. The circular slide rule on this watch would be vital for pilots, especially if something were to go wrong with the devices on their plane.
Another appealing feature is that you can get it in an 18-karat red gold case or a finely polished stainless-steel Navitimer bracelet. Either way, you’d still be left wearing finely detailed work on your wrist.
The Breitling Navitimer GMT Automatic beats many of its predecessors in terms of pure functionality and ease of use. This is because, perhaps due to its larger size, the information and markers on the dial are far easier to read.
So, if you’re in the market for a luxury timepiece that’s easy on the eyes, amply sized, and highly functional, the Breitling Navitimer GMT Automatic will prove a hard bargain.
Pros
- It’s perfectly sized for large wrists.
- It comes with Calibre 04, which is both beautiful and highly functional.
- It offers accurate timekeeping in multiple time zones.
- It boasts an efficient and innovative slide rule.
- It features an exquisite window display case back.
Cons
- It’s only suited for huge wrists.
5. Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43
The Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 represents all that the Navitimer heritage preaches. We talk about sophistication and functionality at its peak.
Released on the heels of the Breitling Navitimer 8 collection, the first collection launch that Georges Kern oversaw, the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph was subject to many controversies at first.
However, anyone who has taken the time to look closely at the beautiful gold bidirectional bezel and classic slide rule design of this timepiece will know for a fact that this is undoubtedly one of the finest pieces that the Navitimer collection has ever had.
The rework improves on the offerings of the original by affording you beautiful, contrasting sub-dials. This gives the timepiece a chic contemporary panda look that adds to the interesting take of the watch on what the Navitimer is supposed to be.
Also, this model is one of the first watches to ditch the trademark Breitling wings. And, whatever our reservations might’ve been in the past, there’s no arguing the fact that the new design has grown on us.
This timepiece runs on the COSC-certified chronometer movement plus a 4 Hz frequency.
And, unlike its larger 46-mm counterpart, this timepiece will sit comfortably and securely on your wrist. As a result, you can show off your prestigious watch with class.
Pros
- It comes with COSC-certified chronometer B01 movement.
- It has a beautiful design.
- It boasts a minimum 70-hour power reserve.
- It has attractive silver dials and luminous hands.
- It comes with many helpful chronograph features.
Cons
- The Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph has a unique design that can take some time to get used to for more hardcore Navitimer lovers.
Other Breitling Navitimer Timepieces Worth Considering
- Mens Breitling Navitimer Rattrapante Bronze
- Breitling Navitimer Chronograph 41
- Breitling Navitimer Heritage
- Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute
- Breitling Navitimer Aviator 8
How to Pick an Authentic Breitling Navitimer
If you’re passing up on some of the best and most expensive smartwatches to get a Breitling Navitimer, then you clearly have a specific look in mind. Now, here’s where things get a little tricky.
The argument can be made that it takes a trained eye to spot the difference between Breitling Navitimer watches. However, almost the same skill level is required to tell Navitimer forgeries from authentic pieces successfully.
If you’ll not be getting your timepiece from a reliable channel like us at Happy Watches Now, here are a few things to remember when making your purchase.
Check the Date Wheel
This is one of the easiest ways to know if you’re looking at a fake or genuine thing. The date wheel tends to be sunken with forgeries and looks like a hole.
The poor look of fake watches is due to a lack of sophisticated mechanisms, and they can’t compensate for that efficiently.
The Spacing and Design of the Sub-Dials
The sub-dials of an original Breitling Navitimer will never push up to the indices printing. However, this is a fairly common occurrence with forgeries and replicas.
Thanks to the fact that this luxury brand places a high emphasis on accuracy and precision, their sub-dials are never misplaced. So if you spot a timepiece with unevenly placed sub-dials, you’re most likely looking at a fake product.
The Thickness of Your Navitimer Timepiece
Another way to detect whether or not you’re looking at original Breitling Navitimer watches is to check the thickness of the watch case.
While this watchmaker is known for making large timepieces, replicas tend to appear too chunky and bulky. Also, fakes typically lack the thinner and more graceful look of the original Navitimers.
The Details of the Slide Rule
Breitling Navitimers are famous because of their circular slide rule’s accuracy and attention to detail. This is something that many forgeries tend to be unable to replicate successfully.
So, if the markers on the watch you’re looking at are too far from the bezel’s edges, it’s likely fake.
FAQs
Is a Breitling Navitimer Worth the Price Tag?
Yes, a Breitling Navitimer is worth the price tag. While they might command a hefty figure, these watches offer you even more value for the money. Aside from their numerous features at your disposal, they also retain their value well and make excellent heirlooms.
Are There a Lot of Fake Breitling Navitimer Watches Around?
Yes, there are a lot of fake Breitling Navitimer watches around. One of the primary reasons for this is an increasing demand for high-end luxury watches. As such, the rich heritage of the Navitimer makes it a natural target.
What Makes the Breitling Navitimer Collection Special?
Leading chronograph specialists produce it under the strictest manufacturing conditions. Also, because of its high accuracy and precision, it’s an invaluable tool for professionals who want to be able to calculate on the go.
Conclusion
As one of the oldest watch brands in the market, Breitling Navitimer has held to its heritage through the decades. We could only touch on a few fantastic pieces from the unique collections in this post.
So if you’d like to inquire about a specific Navitimer, don’t hesitate to contact us here.
We’re always happy to help!
