The Navitimer’s story begins in 1952, when Willy Breitling envisioned a chronograph that could calculate flight data directly on the wrist. Before GPS and cockpit computers, pilots relied on manual flight computers — the E6B slide rule — to compute fuel consumption, airspeed, rate of climb, and distance. Breitling cleverly miniaturized this concept into a rotating bezel, birthing the Navitimer (short for “Navigation Timer”). It quickly became the pilot’s companion, even adopted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), whose wings emblem graced the early dials.

Over the decades, the Navitimer evolved, but its essence remained: a technical instrument with elegance. When Breitling revived the line for modern collectors, the challenge was this — how to preserve the legibility and presence of a cockpit tool in an era of smaller, fashion-driven watches? The answer was scale.

The 46 mm case was not arbitrary; it was born from function and visual legacy.
In the cockpit, legibility is everything — and the Navitimer’s slide-rule bezel, multiple scales, and sub-registers need space to breathe. A larger diameter allows the scales to be easily read and manipulated, especially while wearing gloves. But beyond utility, the 46 mm case became a statement of continuity: it visually evokes the grand, instrument-sized chronographs of the 1950s–60s.

When Breitling launched the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 46, the aim was to reassert the original spirit of the pilot’s tool while giving it the gravitas of a modern flagship. The size allows the intricate dial layout — tachymeter, telemeter, and navigation scales — to remain legible without feeling cramped. Moreover, it was meant to stand apart from the smaller 41 mm and 43 mm variants, appealing to collectors who wanted the “full cockpit experience” on the wrist.

Model – Navitimer
Reference – AB0127211B1A1
Year – 2023
Size – 46mm
Dial – Black
Case Material – Steel
Bracelet Material – Steel
Movement – Automatic
Power Reserve – 70hrs
Water resistance – 30m
Condition – 9/10
Accs – Full Set
Remarks –