The new pilot's watch collection, the Navitimer 8, has just been launched by newly-minted CEO Georges Kern in a global roadshow, spanning Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, then on to Zurich and New York City.
The origin of the 8 in its name comes as a nod to Breitling's Huit Aviation Department, set up in 1938 to produce cockpit instruments as well as classic pilot's watches for civilian and military use. At the time, Willy Breitling chose the name "Huit," the French word for "eight," as a reference to the eight-day power reserve offered by its storied cockpit instruments.
Five distinct models in this new collection take on the mantle to proudly showcase the Swiss company's aviation tradition, drawing heavily on its design DNA and the technical features of the first board clocks and pilot's wristwatches. These include the Navitimer B 01 (with in-house movement and "panda" sub-dials), Navitimer 8 Unitime, Navitimer 8 Chronograph, Navitimer 8 Day & Date and Navitimer 8 Automatic.
Guy Bove, Creative Director at Breitling explains, "With the Navitimer 8, we wanted to create a watch that was in line with our vision for the brand’s future, but which would also pay tribute to the great Breitling watches of the early to mid-twentieth century. From a design perspective, it occupies a unique position between Huit’s onboard clocks and the Navitimer."
Taking inspiration from the archives, the Breitling Reference 768, with its rotating bezel and distinctive triangular pointer, luminous hands against black dials, the Navitimer 8 watches bring back memories of an era of uncompromising flair.
A bidirectional rotating bezel rotating bezel features a handy glass rim with a practical pointer. 60 small recessed grips - one for every minute - allows the wearer to easily measure short time intervals by positioning the pointer at the appropriate distance before or after the hands.
The case also boasts contrasting satin and polished surfaces and its artfully-shaped and updated lugs that facilitate a more snug fit on the wrist.
On the dial, the typography of the large luminescent Arabic numerals, as well as the small triangles and the long minute markers in the so-called railway minute tracks, its luminescent skeletonized hour and minute hands, are all reminiscent of those on Breitling's earliest pilot's watch models. All these are visible through sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating on both sides. The hour and minute hands are additionally beveled to add a degree of sophistication and shine to the dial.
The highlight of this new range, the Navitimer 8 B01 is powered by the in-house Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, and is distinctive with its contrasting sub-dials. The self-winding, 43-millimeter watch has a ratchet-wheel chronograph with vertical coupling and a power reserve of more than 70 hours.
Available in stainless steel with a black or blue dial, or in 18k red gold with a bronze dial, with a stainless steel bracelet or an alligator leather strap with a pin buckle. The COSC-certified chronometer has a transparent sapphire case back.
Each Navitimer 8 watch is water-resistant to 10 bar (100 meters), with the chronographs in the family offer power reserves ranging from 40 to more than 70 hours, depending on the model and movement.
Georges Kern, aptly concludes "With the Navitimer 8... we are honoring not only our rich heritage but also our pioneering role in building chronographic instruments."
"But while the Navitimer 8 pays tribute to our past, it also does something considerably more important. It opens the door to a very exciting future."
True to its new marketing hashtag #LegendaryFuture, Breitling has called upon its illustrious path, under new leadership, to forge itself forward. We look ahead to see what more the new Breitling has to offer.
