Breitling launches three Navitimer watches

Breitling launches three limited-edition Navitimer watches, and one, in particular, catches my interest. I like airplanes and flying, and I get excited whenever I first fly on a new airplane, like an Airbus A350. I can’t say flying aboard Concorde would be my biggest dream come true because I once flew — yes, actually flew — a Spitfire. The pilot/owner told me that the experience gave me bragging rights, and now, here I am, exercising those rights. Still, I would have loved to travel on the supersonic “White Bird.” Flying across the Atlantic at 2,158 km/h while 60,000 feet up must have been unforgettable. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s maiden flight, Breitling introduces a limited-edition steel tribute. At the same time, two perpetual calendars debut — one in steel and platinum and another in full platinum.

I did board Concorde once. No, twice, actually. The Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, situated at the airport of Le Bourget on the outskirts of Paris, has two Concorde supersonic jets standing side by side. One is the prototype Concorde 001, which also chased a solar eclipse in 1973, and the other is a retired Air France aircraft. I walked through both. It was quite the experience, I must say. Knowing this airplane, created at the height of the jet age, cut trans-Atlantic flight times in half at twice the speed of sound, while flying so high you could see the Earth’s curvature, is awe-inspiring. Can we say the same about the Breitling Navitimer 43 Tribute to Concorde?

Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde ref. AB01389C1C1P1

Breitling launches three Navitimer watches, and the Tribute to Concord takes off first

The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde is has a very special dark blue shade. Apparently, Breitling took inspiration for it from the view that roughly 100 passengers cruising at 60,000 feet had when looking out the window — a rare view of the deep blue stratosphere. A dark-blue-dial Navitimer makes sense, as it’s one of the most iconic pilot’s watches. The contrasting white sub-dials and inner slide rule reference Concorde’s nickname, the “White Bird.”

This “bird” is pretty sizable, with a 43mm case diameter, a 49.07mm lug-to-lug length, and a 14.94mm thickness. It also has the Navitimer’s standard 30m water resistance rating. Under the Concorde-inspired dial, which has the vintage AOPA logo, beats the automatic in-house caliber B01. The movement boasts a 70-hour power reserve, a column wheel, and a vertical clutch.

The Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde is a limited edition of 593 pieces, comes on a blue alligator strap, and costs €9.750/US$10.600. Where does the quantity for this LE come from? Well, it’s a reference to the four very powerful and thirsty Olympus 593 turbojet engines that powered Concorde. The case back shows several engravings. They read “One of 593,” “Tribute to Concorde,” “Jetliner,” and “Mach 2,” the aircraft’s cruising speed beyond the sound barrier.

Breitling Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar ref. LB19211A1C1P1

The Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar in platinum and steel and platinum

The Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar is not new, but today’s platinum-and-steel and all-platinum versions are. First, there’s the reference LB19211A1C1P1, a 75-piece LE with a platinum bezel and case measuring 43mm in diameter with a length of 49.07mm and a 14.94mm thickness. This watch has a lacquered dark blue dial complemented by a black outer slide rule and a contrasting white inner scale. It comes on a matching marine-blue alligator leather strap that tapers from 22mm to 18mm. It closes with a steel folding clasp.

The second version, the reference PB1921251B1A1, has a steel case, a characteristic knurled platinum bezel, and an anthracite dial with a black outer slide rule and a white inner scale. Inspiration for the dial’s sober shade is the quiet depth of space. This “QP” comes on either a brown alligator strap (ref. PB1921251B1P1) or a seven-row steel bracelet (ref. PB1921251B1A1). Both references feature lacquered dials with raised metal rings around the chronograph/calendar sub-dials. The moonphase display at 12 o’clock doesn’t have a metal frame, but it is nicely detailed.

Breitling Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar ref. PB1921251B1A1

A chronograph with a perpetual calendar

The complicated Navitimer QP is powered by the B19 caliber, which debuted in 2024. The automatic B19 is not just a perpetual calendar; it also offers a chronograph complication with a column wheel and vertical clutch. The 4Hz movement measures 30mm across by 8.5mm thick and has an impressive 96-hour power reserve. The chronograph function measures to 1/4th of a second and up to 30 minutes. The perpetual calendar displays the date, day, and month. Of course, it also compensates for the number of days in a month and leap years, a requirement for a QP.

To keep things relatively uncomplicated, the watch’s movement features a one-step crown-correction system that advances all calendar indications together. Two dimple-style pushers at 8 and 10 o’clock enable individual adjustments. Automatic winding is handled by a solid 18K red-gold rotor, visible through the case back’s sapphire display. Both iterations of the Navitimer perpetual calendar, just like the Tribute to Concorde, are COSC-certified chronometers.

Breitling priced the full-platinum-case Navitimer B19 Chronograph 43 Perpetual Calendar ref. LB19211A1C1P1 at €49,000/US$52,000. The steel-and-platinum version, that’s the ref. PB1921251B1P1 that comes on a leather strap and the version with a seven-row steel bracelet, the reference PB1921251B1A1, both cost €32,000/US$31,700.

What do you think of these three Navitimers? Have you picked a favorite yet, and if so, which one? Please let me know in the comments below.