Breitling Navitimer 8

At the beginning of the year, Breitling introduced its new "Navitimer 8" line in Europe, which had already been unveiled in China a few weeks earlier. For months, there had been heated debate about the future of Breitling pilot's watches following George Kern's assumption of leadership of the brand. The first hint of this was provided by the five versions of the new Navitimer: Navitimer 8 Automatic, Navitimer 8 B01, Navitimer 8 Chronograph, Navitimer 8 Day & Date, and Navitimer 8 Unitime. Like all Breitling treasures, all pieces will again be delivered with a chronometer certificate from the Swiss testing institute COSC.

New is always better – right?

In this case, we can only agree with this saying, because thanks to the many different models, Breitling has something for every Navitimer fan. Of course, the vintage watches still have their charm – but you should take a closer look at the new Navitimer 8. The most astonishing thing about the new models is probably the complete omission of the slide rule bezel, which, along with the contrasting counters, has been the most important identifying feature of the series since the first Navitimer in 1952. After more than 60 years, the Navitimer is a true icon in the watch industry. The Navitimer 8 Unitime is arguably the one that benefits most from this new development.

The world time watch without a chronograph is easier to read. At 14.38 millimeters, it is slightly thicker than the B01 Chronograph, but the size and water resistance are the same. The Unitime is available with a black or silver dial, and with a crocodile or steel strap. The two models are priced at €7,690 and €8,370, respectively.

The chronograph triumphs

The new top model from the winged brand, however, is clearly the Navitimer 8 B01 Chronograph with the in-house B01 caliber. This special watch boasts a 70-hour power reserve and features Breitling's unmistakable "reverse panda" design, with symmetrical white subdials on a black dial. The date display is positioned between four and five o'clock. The stainless steel case is 43 millimeters in diameter and just under 14 millimeters thick, and water-resistant to ten bar. The timepiece is available in three different designs: with an alligator strap for around 6,870 euros, with a steel bracelet for around 7,540 euros, and as a gold in-house chronograph with a crocodile strap for around 18,850 euros.

In addition to the in-house chronograph, there is also a more affordable chronograph version: the Navitimer 8 Chronograph with the well-known Caliber 13, the ETA-Valjoux 7750 reworked by Breitling. This model is easily distinguishable from the in-house chronograph by the typical arrangement of the totalizers at 6, 9, and 12 o'clock. The date and week displays are also located at 3 o'clock, consistent with the caliber. The case of this model is also 43 millimeters in diameter, but at 14.17 millimeters, it is slightly thicker than the in-house chronograph.

The water resistance remains unchanged. The Navitimer 8 Chronograph is available with a stainless steel case and blue or black dial, as well as a leather strap, for around €4,930, with a steel bracelet for around €5,610, and as a blackened stainless steel version for around €6,090.

Modulation wonder Navitimer 8

Another variant of the Navitimer 8, the Day & Date , features the famous Caliber 45 with the days of the week written out in a large window at 12 o'clock. The date display is located at the very bottom. At 41 millimeters, the case is slightly smaller than the other models. The Day & Date is available with a black or blue dial.

The timepiece is complemented by a leather or steel strap. The models are available for approximately 3,680 and 4,210 euros, respectively. There is also an automatic version, which features three hands and a date display at six o'clock. The watch is available from 3,480 euros, making it the perfect entry-level model. The 41-millimeter steel case of the Navitimer 8 Automatic houses the Caliber 17 and is available either in a natural finish or with a black DLC coating. However, you'll have to dig a little deeper for the second version, which costs approximately 4,640 euros. The dial is also available in black and blue. The natural Automatic with a leather strap is the most affordable version at the aforementioned 3,480 euros; with a steel bracelet, it costs around 4,020 euros.