Here is my 1960 gold plated Navi 806. These watches have a gilt dial and handset as you can see from the pic below compared to the 1959 steel version.

 

This is an interesting one. The serial dates the case manufacture to 1990 - one of 200. Origin has been verified by Breitling, but not the run of watches. Perhaps these were intended as a limited run re-edition during the Schneider-era that may not have been fully made. Anyway, not sure if 29 years qualifies it as vintage but it’s offered as a curiosity.

 

that indeed is interesting. What is the source of the confirmation from Breitling on the production run?

 

Beautiful!!!

 

Let’s see it. Share it here. Remember to create a sales thread if not already done.

 

Great thread. Enjoy seeing all the nice examples shown. I’ve particularly enjoyed Hajo’s early examples, which have periodically appeared on WRUW - tasty stuff!

My 1969 twin jet Box 10 on a Breitling mesh bracelet. Anyone else have an early mesh bracelet?

 

“re-release” HDuck. This forums is allergic to “replica”.

 

My 1960 Navi on a modern mesh and the 1965 Cosmo.

 

The re release 806 is fantastic.You can wear it every day without the worry of damaging a vintage piece.
Buying a decent and I mean collector quality 806 these days cost more than the re released 806.

 

The confirmation is not on the production run, but the case production. Fred Mandelbaum mentioned the entry in the historical records over at Breitling Source, so I reached out to Breitling to see if I could get a copy or image of the record. They would not do that, but in the e-mail reply confirmed the entry, although were clear to point out that there is no confirmed record of a production of re-editions. For all I know I have a franken watch, but it is interesting to note that 200 806 cases were made in the 90s.

https://breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=65873

 

Although Carpenter's watch got waterdamaged during May 1962 spalsh-down & recovery, the Breitling Cosmonaute Navitimer remains the first Swiss-made chronograph wrist watch in spaceflight

 

John Glenn's personal all black Cosmonaute is going on sale in a few days.

https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/NY080119

 

Hi Hajo, nice thread and amazing run of Breitling watches!

A couple of things I wanted to add, although I don't actually own a Navitimer I research into brands and iconic watches just because I love horology and the hobby in general. Firstly if you want to include all of the Navitimers on the "vintage" line I would suggest the timeline might be from 1952-1979. Before 52 is pre navi AVI/Co-pilot series (Chronomat 786), and anything after 1979 IMO isn't regarded "vintage" Navi as the company was sold off.
So I thought it might be an interesting idea to try and list all of the references on here, i'd like other members if possible to try and add variations or references i've missed (if there is a known resource of this out there please point me in the right direction.) I know there are several dial variations of 806 I can't name but would find it interesting to hear from the guys who know this stuff. Also there is a lot of cross over between movements of the Venus178 and Valjoux72 in the early days, i'm not sure if anyone has any better fixed rules as to when and why?

806 - 1952-54 conceptual stage, Breitling lists the navi as 1952 but no refs have been found before 1954.

1954 - First release. val72 version (highly prized). AOPA dial (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association)
1955 - Navitimer with "B" logo instead of AOPA wings/val.72
1955 - Venus178 more massly produced.
1959 - mid 60s, Breitling began replacing all black dials with siver sub dial versions.
1961 - 24 hour version released (replaced by ref 809)
1963-65 redesigned hands and dial with Twin-plane logo emblem. (no longer fitted with all black dials)
1967 - 806-36/806E versions found with Valjoux 7736 (silver subdials)
1968-73 - Lip branded versions produced
1969 - 18ct Gold version
1970-71 - Larger subdials more the norm
1975 - Gruen Navi?

809 - 1962 Navi Cosmonaute, redesigned for Scott Carpenter
816 - 1967-68 Navi venus 178. (val72 in smaller numbers ref 816-72)
1806 - 1969 Navi Chrono-matic (fried egg 48mm)
1809 - Navi Cosmonaute.
1810 - Navi Chrono-matic Yachting
2100 - Navi Quartz 80190 Yugoslav AF.
2300 - Navi Quartz 80970 Jupiter Iran AF.
3300 - Navi Quartz 80972 New Jupiter revision. Miyota Y652
7806 - Navi early 70s. successor to 806
7808 - Navi 1973.
8806 - Navi Chrono-matic cal.11 date @ 6

Movement changes happened mid 60's Breitling chose to change the Venus 178 with a Valjoux 7740, 1969 came the cal.11.

Also OP you refer to your 7650 as a Navitimer Yachting but I can't find it referenced as a Navitimer anywhere, is it similar to the 812 sometimes referenced as Navitimers because they look similar but don't have Navitimer on the dial. Maybe you could clear this up?

 

My 809 from 1969 says Hi

 

So.....I just got my first Breitling. A 1961 AVI 765 "all black". Any chance we can open this thread beyond the Navitimer?

 

Thanks you very much for your Investigation @budgewink. This is great work.
You are correct, the Bereiting 7650 Yachting is no Navitimer reference, that was my mistake.
I don´t believe, that there are Navitimers with V178 from 1953. IMO it is common sense in the community that there was a batch of 806 from the early sixtees with wrong serial number engraving "8xxxxx" instead of "9xxxxx". They pop up from time to time and I have been offered one or two in the past. As they have the "806" engraved on the caseback and also the later bezel it is quite obvious that they are later watches and no "806 pre 806" watches.
HAGWE
Hajo

 

Hi, huge congrats. IMHO the 765 AVI deserves it´s own thread but please feel free to post here

 

Ah. Point well taken!

 

Is this the re-release?

 

Agreed! Until then...